I am sure that many people know about or were involved in the tragic Hurricanes that hit us in the South pretty bad. I live in Louisiana where we were safe from it but still though my heart goes out to all those who had to deal with losing their homes etc. We have dealt with this a few horrible times already and now we really know how to survive.
…so the past Month most of the waters I Kayak in were closed off due to high water and not to mention this strong wind that never seemed to go away.
Well…yesterday I finally was able to get in my Kayak again and it is just like riding a bike…it felt like I had never quit…I mostly Kayak the Lakes during this time of the year when it is hot (bear in mind I have only been Kayaking for about 3 Months now but have come so far I mean this Kayak feels like it is an extension of my body).
I really do not remember how I stumbled upon this sport. I just remember one day after getting a fresh haircut I decided that I would go out to Lakefront and get some sun. I did not see any Kayakers but I believe it was me seeing one outside of Dick’s Sporting Goods that must have gotten my mind focused on a Kayak…because overnight I really wanted one. I almost bought a $200.00 Kayak from Academy and thought to myself that this is too good to be true and they look cheap…so I did a ton of research as I suffer from severe OCD.
…so for my body weight and size I went with my beloved Jackson Journey 14’ and could not have made a better choice for my first Kayak…and I will have more. : )>
…but God the Lake was so calm so I paddled a really long distance out in the lake…then I put my Jaybird X3’s on and played some beautiful music through my iPod and just took it all in. Here I am all alone deep in the waters taking in the vitamins from the sun just completely isolated from people and the World I mean this is a perfect Morning just so Beautiful…
I stayed out there for a couple of hours practicing some maneuvers etc. then out of nowhere I hear lightning far away and then the sky starts getting kinda dark…but I do not panic…I SMILE. : )> I just know that big waves are coming to give me a challenge along with the wind and now my adrenaline is already pumping and I quickly put my Sprayskirt on as I can feel the wind all of a sudden without a warning pick up so I switched from my low angle paddle to my Corryvreckan which has more than enough blade to move me around and get me out of trouble. So I just stayed out there as the waves out of nowhere started getting really big. This is a bit of an exaggeration but I felt as if I was in that movie “the Perfect Storm” with Mark Wahlberg and George Clooney only these waves I was dealing with were far smaller…but big enough to intimidate me and get my adrenaline really pumped and going. I love this feeling and have always been a competitive person…it just runs in my blood and as a guy I think I get it from my Mom,lol…because she is crazy too…not stupid, just crazy. I just have so much confidence in myself that even if I do flip over if I cannot manage to roll well I have my paddle float/bilge pump, my PFD of course…just make sure I do not let go of my paddle and get my fingers wrapped around that deckline rope quick…but no panic.
I handeld everything surprisingly very well. This particular Kayak can handle some serious waves. I do have to say that a smart track rudder is something I am going to have to eventually put on my Kayak especially for those windy days.
This Kayak I have is wonderful…and yes it is a heavy Kayak but like I said this is my very first Kayak and I fit in it so perfectly. I am a strong guy so I can muscle this thing around and when I switch over to the Corryvreckan this paddle is almost the same as engaging 4x4 on my Toyota…the torque from the Werner Corryvreckan is about as good as it gets.
I am just so grateful that I have found something in my life that allows me to have that wonderful feeling I get when I am out in the waters free in my Kayak.
Now I am saving up for an all Carbon Werner Ikelos 215cm straight shaft. I am currently using a 210cm Corryvreckan which is awesome for river runs…but not so great for long Journeys… I tried out the same paddle in 220cm and at 5’11" it was just way too long. It amazes me how much of a difference 10cm makes as being an American we mostly go by inches…but now I know. I really want a 215cm as I know this will be the sweetspot for me for a combination of torque (even though it is less than the Corryvreckan but one will not fatigue as quick with the Ikleos).The thing is I started out as a High Angle paddler from the start and did not even realize that I was paddling this way until someone pointed it out to me. For some reason high angle paddling is the most natural and comfortable way for me to paddle. I would consider a nice low angle paddle but still I really want that Ikelos Carbon 215cm paddle…I can then hang it on my wall next to my other Paddles that I have. : )>
I love this sport as it is extremely therapeutic…who needs drugs when I can have that freedom out in the open waters, swamps, rivers, lakes…when I Kayak there are certain times when I will just stop paddling and just sit there and relax and just take it all in…put on some really good music from my iPod…and just smile. : )>