Summer paddling, warm sun, time to get wet!
That first video is about Skulling for Support, skulling is an awkward stroke and there is lots of arguing about whether it’s any good for anything, I think it is as learning tool at least, pushing the paddler to let him-her-self go over, accept the fall while staying relax and letting the head fall first. If you can skull, bracing and rolling are just around the corner, and it’s a good way to cool down!

Re-enter and roll is just a fast way to get back in the boat after a wet exit, the up of this rescue is that it get you back in the boat right away, the down is that the boat is full of water, hard to paddle. The key is to get back and sit yourself all the way in the sit, legs under the thigh braces before you start the roll itself. As the name suggest, you have to STEP 1 re-enter and then STEP 2 roll.

Finally a Cow boy rescue, if you know a way to empty the boat prior to the rescue, you can possibly get the best of both worlds, a fast rescue (under 30 sec) and yet a dry boat. Caution, emptying the boat can be challenging, and almost impossible in most cases if the boat is loaded with gear. Never less, the Cow Boy teaches you a lot of the basics about rescues, you’ll need coordination, balance, A LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY, and a plan. Try it out on a warm day!

Hope you enjoyed and got some ideas… some of those same strokes view from away are on that video

Crossing the Ditch, a BOOK by
By James Castrission

“Our journey across the Tasman was frightening at times. Sharks tearing at our hull, 30-foot waves crashing over our kayak, and the possibility that the stern of the boat might be ripped away; these were all very real fears. Who were we to take on the Tasman Sea? But the little kid inside me screamed, ‛Go on, mate, give it a go.′” – James Castrission

Sounds Frightening with a big F to me… the rest of the story HERE… On paddlinginstructor.com/

You can also watch on youtube the presentation of the book and some videos  or visit the official website, this is the story of Two paddlers going from Australia to New Zealand with their paddles… have to say Bravo!

Notification about our speaker at the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre in Sidney for next Tuesday, July 14th at 7PM. Admission is the cost of admission to the Centre, $12/adult. Free for those with a season’s pass. There are no more talks scheduled for the summer.

A beautifull paddle into Saanich Inlet, ragged coast line, little boat traffic, and if you put in at Brentwood Bay you can always visit Tod Inlet on your way out.