Topic: Starting Up: Advice? New Member.

[ChristianG]

Hello Luc.

From what you say, you seem to be about the same size as a few of our members, and they have no problem rolling their boats...

Our club has 2 more pool sessions, you can find the information here:
http://www.cdb-ottawa.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?topic=4252.0
While the sessions appear to be all booked, just show up anyway, there's always room for more.

For all the rivers in the region, you would be fine in, say, a Jackson Super-Star or Mon-Star... You can also try a Jackson 4-Fun. You would also like the Wavesport Fuse 64. I would personnally resist the temptation to go for a so-called 'river running' boat like the Wavesport Diesel, Dagger Mamba, Jackson Hero and the likes. It's not that they're bad--in fact, they're too good, too big and forgiving; in the end you would not learn as fast and likely develop bad habits (like leaning back). You would also find it frustrating on local rivers when everyone else will be playing on the waves using their shorter boats while you sit in the eddy because you're in the wrong boat...  Oh, and definitely stay away from the Pyranha Ammo: one of the hardest thing to roll and no real advantage over anything else.

Hoping to see you soon,

--Christian Gigault, treasurer

[Micratech]

Agreed on the pool session - grab one if you can.  Not sure what the schedule is, someone in the club should know - please post.  

Typically the club recommends taking a white water course, but with your canoeing expertise you have
a very good head start.  If you do take a course I recommend MKC - I've taken their courses twice.

Another option for you to learn your roll is come out to Bate Island (Island Park bridge) in the spring
(or late spring, depending on your tolerance for cold water)  On Thursday nights club members meet there, paddle, practice rolling, and go for a beer afterwards.  There are several members who have spare kayaks, you can possibly arrange to borrow one. (I have one, I can lend it to you, but its a bit big).  

Don't worry about boat size - there's something for everyone.  Just try a few boats to see what you like.

If you are comfortable hanging upside down under water, you'll eventually get your roll.  No worries there.
Let me know if you have any more Q's.  

BTW, yer gonna have a blast!


Mike R.

    

[lafreniere.luc]

Thanks for the advice. I've already been invited to a pool session through private message tomorrow night. The guy is bringing some gear for me to try out. Pretty friendly dude. I'll definitely make sure to try different boats before I buy and hopefully I'll be one of those people who gets the roll relatively fast.

I'll bring goggles and get a nose plug, not a bad idea at all. As for the colder paddling, I think that will wait a little bit. We'll see how things go first.

Thanks for the reply!

[waverider]

Rent a boat first and see if there is a place in a pool session. Alot more fun in warm water that -1. Because your head will be always in the water. Most boaters at the pool session will help you to roll. Bring a pair of scuba gogles and nose plug a lot more easier when you can see under water. Most whitewater stores will guide you in a rental. Try a rounded bottom boat first, a lot more easier to roll than a square bottom boat. Some people will get it on their first few tries others will take hours. Go see some used boats on "boatwerks". You should be able to get a good used boat for about $500-$700 plus equipements. For cold water paddling you need a dry suit with attach feet I find these suit warmer on the feet, gloves, hoody,booties,helmet, ect.... If your going new you'll be paying around $3500 you might even go over $4000 for all the package equipement depending on the paddle, spray skirt, ect....
Have fun shopping but try out at least 4 boats before buying.

Richard Lacroix

[lafreniere.luc]

Hi everyone,

Well I just signed up yesterday. I'm officially interested in starting whitewater kayaking and I'm hoping there are a few people out there willing to guide and help me out.

Here's my story...

My name is Luc, I'm 29 and I'm a fairly heavy guy (205 lbs and only 5'8"). I'm currently changing my lifestyle (food habits especially) and have now lost 25 lbs in about a month and a week (used to be 230 lbs). I'm still hoping to lose quite a bit more weight... but I am trying to be realistic. I absolutely love canoeing and whitewater canoeing and have been doing it for years. I now want to try something new and so enter whitewater kayaking. I've been fascinated with it and decided this is my summer. Rather learn this now than wait until I'm older. I'm totally willing to buy and completely equip myself but I would like to try a few times and see if I can learn the roll first. I don't want to invest a couple of grand and realize I can't do it or I suck at it.

My current knowledge is all self taught. I usually do 4-5 day whitewater canoe trips every year. My list over the years include:

- Dumoine (3X)
- Noire (1X)
- Petawawa (1X)
- Lower Madawaska (1X)
- Spanish (2X)
- Little French River, around 18 mile island (1X)
- Coulonge (to be done this summer)

I've also done flat water trips including:

- Mattawa (1X)
- Lady Evelyn Park (1X)
- Killarney to Pickerel river (1X0

So I have some general whitewater reading skills and techniques... by no means an expert.

Now that you know a bit about me, my questions...

Q. What general approach do people recommend for me? I'm thinking of finding a place to rent the gear and start maybe at a pool session to try and learn the roll before summer. Does that make sense? Then I would hope to find a group to take it slowly... with people willing to guide me on my very first time out and to be patient with me. Any recommendations where I can start off? People I can contact? I looked into courses but I find them relatively expensive. I'd rather start off on my own and get the feel of the kayak first. Once I have that, then maybe I'll be willing to spend money and learn specific techniques instead of wasting my time going for a swim every 5 min.

Q. Considering my weight/height, will this be a significant challenge in learning the roll? I get the feeling the lighter the better, but is my weight going to cause major problems learning the roll? Also, can this be a significant issue in purchasing my whitewater kayak? I see many of them are rated for smaller people than myself. What would I have to consider being heavier?

Q. Anyone out there considered newbies? Someone I can start with?

Salut!

Luc