I have number 3
I think it isn’t the most exciting video around but I learned 3 or 4 new things/nuances that I hadn’t seen before so I think that in itself is worthwhile.
Now I have to go back and refresh myself as to what it is I “learned”-). Oh yeah, one was the bow rudder with the blade near the cockpit instead of way foreward.
Bow Rudder
You know, funny you mention that, hare, I tried the bow rudder in the pond behind my house this past weekend and it is hard to do! I mean, once up to speed, sticking the paddle nearly vertically into the water near the cockpit (in front slightly) and trying to control the boat for a turn is seemingly dangerous… the boat wants to tip to that side and pivot around the rudder, but it sure seems odd to pull like that. The bow rudder is a very strange feeling move. on nigelfosterkayaks.com there is a link to minute-by-minute legend of the DVDs that might help you locate the bow rudder section precisely if you wish to go to it.
Why does it say in the DVD insert that this is a ten part DVD series. I guess they pooped out at 6. But would have been nice, for instance, to have a DVD on kayak navigation on big water, for instance. Mapping, compassing, etc.
Good (Moving Water) Move
can get a better idea of what it does better when the water is moving and you have to turn a boat, e.g. getting around a rock, turning bow to face out after low brace on the foam pile, etc.
Besides placement, most folks (me included) tend to think they have the paddle vertical enough when they really don’t.
Yeah, work on a roll too, it helps to with confidence in learning moves where you think you may go over with a mistake.
sing
I just bought "Essentials Strokes"
And have not watched it completely, just wet exit, forward stroke, and sweep. So far it is pretty nice. He’s not super charismatic, but his no-nonsense style is just what I like. It was nice to watch and learn I had been doing almost everything basically correctly. Since I’ve been paddling for a while, I skipped Vol 1, and am watching vol 2 to make sure I am doing everything right, then might buy Vol 3, directional control, and vol 5, forward paddling. I don’t think I’ll need Vols 4 and 6, rescues and rolling and bracing since I paddle SOTs.
Waiting for marketing dept to get a clue
Not sure whose decision this would be but I would be more likely to buy the Foster DVDs if there was some sort of discount on the complete set. $30 a pop, or set of 6 for $180? Duh.
It may be silly on my part but that’s the reason I haven’t bought any of them yet.
…Mike
Cheaper
– Last Updated: Nov-15-05 9:47 PM EST –
On eBay, Adventure Outfitters I bought all six new DVDs for $155 plus $11.25 shipping. That is cheaper than $180. They were top quality, and they are on there now too (this is an online store). I take guitar lessons. They cost $18.50 for thirty minutes. Even at $30 each, these Nigel videos would be $15/30 minutes. And you can watch again and again. And if you sell on ebay or p-net, I would guess you could get at least $15 each for the DVDs in resale. So, pretty cheap, actually.
cooldoctor1
I certainly didn’t mean to suggest that I thought the instruction/information contained in Nigel Fosters DVDs wasn’t worth the price. It’s a fantastic thing that guys like him are willing to put in the time and effort to produce such comprehensive tutorials. They deserve to get paid for their work.
Like I admitted it’s a silly quirk of mine. More procrastination than bargain hunting. I’m really only interested in 2 or 3 of the 6 titles but my obsessive/compulsive tendencies make me want to buy the whole set anyway. There’s something just not right about owning a partial collection.
It just seems very strange to my American capitalist psyche that no discount is offered on the set. I am certain if a discount were offered (like buy 6 for the price of 5) more people who pick and choose among the 6 DVDs would spring for the whole set. In the long run I think Nigel would make more money. And I would not still be wrestling with the decision to only buy the titles I want vs. paying full price for a couple of extra DVDs I’m not interested in just to have a complete set. I know, I’m nuts. But I hope this better explains the point I was making.
I will probably end up buying the set in conjunction with the “Paddling Perks” thing here. I’m definitely gonna get in line for Justine’s new DVD as well.
Hey, speaking of eBay…how do you like that BomberGear Hazmat paddling suit? I’m assuming you were the other bidder. I bought it for the wife and it seems to work pretty well. She came up surprisingly dry after a capsize and Eskimo bow rescue even with the neck not tightened properly.
…Mike
Mork from Ork
– Last Updated: Nov-16-05 6:09 PM EST –
I feel like Mork from Ork, Mike. I mean, this thing is blue. I don;t know what to make of it. I might get nailed by some alien basher if I'm seen wearing this thing at the local marina, my put-in. Does you wife get ridiculed for wearing it? I am serious. I am ashamed to put it one, and the one time I wore it in my livingroom for my wife, she wound up on the floor laughing and saying, "Nanu nanu" Harry Houdini would have a tough time getting in and out of this thing. My first drysuit, Mike, so maybe it's me. Bottom line for me and my suit: I'm ascared of it. Thoughts?
space suit
LOL that’s funny.
The Mork image never occurred to me (until now) and my wife hasn’t expressed any fashion complaints. I’m certain if she thought it looked bad on her she wouldn’t wear it. We both, however, normally put on, and take off, the technical outer layers at the put in. I’m also fairly certain she wouldn’t wear it into a store.
I think it’s going to be hard to avoid the “space suit” look when it comes to dry suits. In a very real sense that’s what they are. I personally prefer a solid color to that diagonal blue/yellow scheme that Kokatat uses on some of their suits.
BomberGear stuff is top of the line IMO but they do run a bit small. I tried to get into the medium Hazmat suit but there was no way. I’m 6 foot 165lbs and can wear almost anything medium sized except one-piece coveralls. I don’t think I will relate the Mork from Ork similarity to my wife.
…Mike
Maybe I’m being a…
– Last Updated: Nov-16-05 8:50 PM EST –
...ninny here, Mike. If you and your wife say this is the way these suits are supposed to look, then I suppose I'll take your advise and try to put it on at the put-in (rather than going into 7-11 with it for a crueller and a cup of java), and maybe, just maybe, I won't get shot. National Enquirer would pay the big bucks for a front photo of me, spead eagle on the boat launch, with some Elmer Fudd's Gore-tex boot on my chest and a shit eating grin on his face.
I wonder if Nigel wears a blue dry suit. If he did, it'd be more cool. He is like the Tony hawks of kayaking; not much to look at, but a powerhouse underneath. He likely needs more than a size medium too.
I will try the suit again. Honestly. I never would have if you did not mention it here.
costly and dead boring
Nigel is a great paddler and technically sound instructor. I would love to take a course with him someday. However, I’m afraid I couldn’t join your club because I find these videos to be terribly boring and tedious and considering they are videos…made with people…in kayaks… on the sea… I do expect more fun, laughter, playfulness and some goofing around in surf or big waves, all the while practicing the techniques! the rescue video in particular should have taken half the time to do the skills in heavy water, I mean come on. and mighty expensive to boot. my recommendation: for serious Nigel lovers only.
I’d say
– Last Updated: Nov-18-05 3:21 AM EST –
It looks like Nigel wears Kokatat.
(photo link removed)
Tony Hawk’s in the house!
That ain’t Nigel. Did you have an imposter run your clinic?
oops
Oh geeze, are you serious? I didn’t attend that class. I just remembered seeing the pics awhile ago and assumed that was him in the first pic.
You’re pullin my leg, aren’t you.
…Mike
Honestly, I don’t think that is him.
At least in watching the six hours of video, I don;t see the same guy in the video in those pics. Someone else on pnet could verify, I am sure. I ike the pics, though. Must be with telephoto lens. Especially the one with a yellow yak breaking through the waves.
I guess from the fact that
you [evans] didn’t respond there isn’t anything constructive to say about the video’s teaching methods.
hey is that him with the lampshade on?
wow, what a looker…
I am writing this 19 years after the original post. I have been kayaking for nigh on 40 years. I am entirely self-taught, save for a rolling class. I am planning a long trip next year and figured I might need to get up to speed on braces, self-rescue and my very rusty rolling. I bought the whole series of Nigel Foster’s DVDs off of ebay. I discovered that there were a lot of things he talks about and shows that I had never learned. It’s been invaluable to me.
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Nigel has a very logical approach to boat handling, particularly in his “wind and waves” live course, which I was fortunate to take twenty years ago (I’ve never seen the videos). He’s also funny as hell in person, and encouraged us to go paddling in Shetland, which was truly the kayaking experience of a lifetime.
We’re both GP users and have had the good fortune to spend time with Greg Stamer as well. Like Nigel, he’s an exceptional instructor and a really nice guy.
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I just bought his 2017 book “The Art of Kayaking.” Haven’t gotten into it much yet, but it does seem to have “Everything You Need to Know About Kayaking.”