Round-bottomed boats; just outside of the comfort zone

Had a great final class with my girls last evening. I wasn't really sure what we would be paddling quite frankly; I knew that the hurricane heading into the Gulf definitely had the potential of kicking some wind our way.  I noticed as I drove over Clark's Bridge that the water looked a little bit choppy, but it quite calm on the boathouse side. Gooood.

The back-up plan had been to take out the big, heavy orange rec k-2's that we usually use for moonlight paddles and the middle school league. The weigh about 70 pounds each and have no steering system to speak of. I don't usually like to take these on a paddle of any distance, because they are wide and force you to paddle outside of your usual motion. It hurts a little after a while. Glad we could avoid them.

As we got down on the dock, the Terrapins middle school team was just finishing up. This times out well for us, because they have the trainers that we need, and we don't have to carry them down!  Before too long, we were able to get out onto the water.

Sarah had brought her husband along to take some photos, which tells me she enjoyed the class to the extent of wanting to document it, although the water is really low and you can definitely see that in the pics. At this point the girls are both really comfortable in the boats, so we paddled around the beach area and headed toward the course.

What a difference! Really windy on the course side of the bridge. We all decided that if this was going to be a paddle about enjoyment versus balance, we should turn around and head back by the boathouse. The difference was crazy. It was becoming obvious though, that the tropical winds were headed our way. We paddled for another hour, in and out of coves along the way. On our way back, the winds were beginning to gust a bit; that combined with a push from a speedboat just out of the no-wake area definitely gave us a crazy ride back. Up and down, and a little bit sideways...too cool! Even Charlotte, who was a little more nervous when it came to balance, commented on how much of a rush it was.

When we got back to the dock, we switched out one of the trainers for one of the "homemade" k-1's, the Leviathon. These boats were locally made from a Wenonah mold. This is one of the first "tippy" boats that we put people in. The Leviathon is actually flat along the hull, and therefore is a bit more forgiving when you think you are going to flip. It actually gives you a third option besides the tried and true slapping of the water or the "one hard stroke" method, which I tend to use. If you feel you are going to flip, give a jerk of your opposite hip and it puts you upright. It's really kind of neat, but the boats feel a little clunky, so most paddlers tend not to stay in them long-term.

As I thought would be the case, Sarah took to it like, well, a fish takes to water. She did great! No flips, no issues at all. Charlotte, not so much. But I was really, really proud of her for pushing off of the dock and going for it.

It was a great last night of class. I bet both girls are equally proud of the way they got into that boat and went for it.

In life, you only regret the things you DON'T try.

TKM

Cowabunga kayak!!

Had a great paddle last night. There a 2 girls in my current session who are quite a bit of fun. I'm so glad that they both let me talk to them into going out in trainers; those boats are so much lighter and faster than the big rec boats, plus you can actually steer them.

The lake was so flat last night that it didn't even look like water. Does that make any sense at all? It was a no-brainer to take them over to the course side. I was thinking that since it was a weeknight, and school is in session...obviously there will be little or no boat traffic course side.

Hahaha.

Typically when we paddle up the course, that's the time when we work on full technique. Up until then, I stress things such as knees together for balance, leaning forward, reaching, spearing the fish, position of hands on the paddle. Really good technique encompasses a bunch of different actions which culminate in the stroke and rotation. It's a lot to think about when you're praying to God "please don't let me flip." I've found that going upper buddy initially and then working on the legs and rotation makes it easier to isolate the different components. This is the approach I take with students no matter what age they are.

As we go up the course, I always show the class the tower and the finish line. We talk about sprint kayak, marathon, and what we do at the club. Once we pass the 500 meter mark, it's all about technique. Both girls were really receptive to learning how to twist properly, so we began working on pushing off the footboard, straightening the leg, pushing the butt cheek back off of the seat with every stroke.

Things were going really well. All of a sudden we were joined by 3 boats ; 2 pulling water-skiers, and one with a wakeboard. Things got interesting pretty quickly!! The girls did me proud. They both addressed each side wash as they came in and paddled through. At this stage they aren't ready to take them from the side, but that's fine . The important thing is to remain composed and action-oriented.

There was one instance where a boat shot out of one of the many coves along the course and curved around in front of us. I paddled through what ended up being the convergence of the front and side wash. I can say that I have NEVER paddled through such waves. They actually splashed into my boat...I though I might flip but kept stroking hard and made it through!  I must have really been pushing off of the footboard, because my leg was twitching for a couple of moments afterward. What a rush!!!!!

After all of that excitement, we headed back to the boathouse. It calmed down significantly, which was great because we were all very hungry and a little tired.

Another awesome day on the lake. I love my life!!

TKM

little bugs and tippy boats

Last night the paddling conditions were absolutely perfect. Well, besides the little bugs, but I'll get to that in a minute. The water was flat, there a little bit of a breeze, it was cooler than it has been, and the boat traffic was down in no small part because of the fact that school has started here.

As a got out on the dock, my former middle school team was just finishing up their practice. I was glad to see it was them, because I needed a couple of their trainers for my students. Plus, I was able to ask one of my former athletes, Trey, to perform the all-important flip drill for my two ladies who would be paddling those boats for the first time last night. This drill is important so that the paddler knows that they have to recover the boat if they flip as quickly as possible after their own safety is ensured. Otherwise, the boat is gone until the next 50-year drought. Not even kidding.

At any rate, the girls and I took off on their first adventure in the trainers.(The little gnats were insane. I can't remember a time that I've had to smack so many of them, or accidentally breathing them in through my nose.) Not cool. Sarah was game, but Charlotte was really nervous. It's really important that I'm able to talk them into keeping the knees together and finding a focal point right from the beginning so that they aren't tempted to look at the paddle or twitch the whole time. These boats are a lot more responsive to uncertainty than the ones they used in the first class. But, these boats are faster, lighter, and much easier to steer, so the majority of the students prefer them. It really is a challenge for the comfort zone at first, however.

We paddled down to the end of the lake on the boathouse side and into a cove. Sarah was doing really great, paddling almost rhythmically with the ease of breathing. Charlotte was still moving in a measured sort of way, wondering if the next stroke she took would be the one that would keep her from keeping the round side down.  Confidence. That's the difference. You are stripped of so many layers out here on the water. You are operating on a basic level. That's not a bad thing, but your weaknesses can be easily exposed. This is where I so often have chats with people about how they are doing something that they NEVER would have imagined doing before. Be proud. You may have just changed your life forever by getting in that little racing boat and propelling it down the lake.

That's kinda big. Funny how when people think about it in those terms, they lean forward a little more, stick that paddle in a bit further up (spear the fish!!) and paddle as they breathe. It's a wonderful thing to watch.

We ended up paddling around toward the venue, just short of the tower. Saw a water skier over there, and I decided that we would save that challenge for the next class. Charlotte's confidence was in a good place, and I didn't want to do anything to hurt that. Besides, I needed to get back and clean all the little bugs off of my boat, and Sarah needed a drink of water to wash down the bug that was stuck in the back of her throat.

It was a good paddle. I know Wednesday's will be even better.

TKM

Steven heads back to school..

Well, a long time before I ever thought about being thekayakmom, I was just "Mom." As my son prepares to leave to go back to school again, I have those mixed feelings that so many moms get as their little boys grow up into being young men.

For the first eleven years of his life, it was just Steven and me. We lived in Pittsburgh, and I think I can take a little bit of credit for the sports fanatic that he has become.  We went to Steelers games, we went to PNC Park to see the Pirates play; they usually lost. He got to see Mario Lemieux play at the Civic Arena when he made the ultimate comeback after buying and saving the franchise. I watched him play football, and worried with all of the other moms about how he could get hurt.

Eventually we moved down here and he got a step-dad. That part of it hasn't always been easy, but the bond between he and I has remained really strong.  We've gone to sporting events together here, but when he chose a school he wanted to go back to Penn State.

He's on the 4.5-5 year plan with a double-major. I didn't really expect him to be home this summer, but with the late addition of the second major, he didn't really see the internship happening. Selfishly, I was really glad to have him here with Mom for one more summer. I can see the changes, and I am so proud of him. We both know that he's kind of a Momma's boy, but I guess that happens when it's just the two of you for so long.

He's leaving Sunday, taking his new car and his bird back up there with him. I'm off next week, and I'll spend a lot of time on the water just thinking about how wonderful it is to be his mom and how much I cherish time with him. I am so proud of him. I tell him, maybe ad nauseum.  Lol.

Be safe babe. I love you.

TKM

A morning off...I'm okay with it, I guess.

I am off on Tuesdays, and look forward to getting out there in the early morning quiet. I can get a lot of thinking done, organize my day, and I feel like I'm starting the day off in a healthy direction. It's raining here on Lanier, but it's hard to complain because we so need the rain. It seems that every time we get a downpour, the Army Corps of Engineers is there to suck it right back out and send it downstream. These less violent rains are the only way that we get to keep to water and bring the level back up.

My new Adult Learn to Kayak class started last night. Only two students this time, a couple of girls who were referred by the group who took the last session. As I looked at the weather radar, I actually thought about canceling last night. I didn't, and I was glad.

There was so much activity over there last night!! Athletes were cleaning and wrapping up their boats to load them on the trailer for the long drive to Seattle for nationals, and at the other end, there was a meeting upstairs for the BBI program. The BBI program is the name of our middle school kayaking program, and besides being a really great sport to get your kids involved in, it's the feeder program for our sprint team.  My girls and I picked out way through all of the activity and eventually were able to find them a couple of paddles, some life jackets, and recreational kayaks.

There was an eery sort of calmness on the water last evening. I could see weather heading in our direction from the west. But, after some initial training on how to hold the paddle and how the "twist" works, we set off. My intention that first class is always to get them to paddle all the way down to the docks on the other end, which is a distance of about one kilometer. Didn't really happen last night, because the rain started and didn't show any signs of going away. All of the outdoor activity with the older kids had long since gone away, so we put up the equipment, closed up the boathouse, and rescheduled class for another day next week.

As I walked out to my car, I saw all of the very young kids streaming into the boathouse. I thought about the first time Steven and I walked into that meeting. It seems like a million years have gone by. And I felt my heart warm as I experienced one of those random moments of gratitude.

I am a lucky girl.

TKM

So much to do! Gotta get it together...

As this Olympiad comes to a close, I can't help but think that sprint canoe/kayak is about to become a lot more popular. I have long thought that this is the best sport nobody has ever heard of, but hey, not they have.  I think the time is here to get organized for what's ahead.

Anyone who knows me also knows that I consider myself an ambassador to the sport. They also know that I will talk about it with anyone who will listen. I have begun arranging opportunities to get out there and introduce myself and the sport, and I'm really excited about it.

Without getting into the whole business plan, let's just say that if I have anything to say about it, America will know what this sport is all about. Everything from "What is it?" to how it works, the physical and mental benefits, where you can find a program, everything.

I have also really begun getting into the paracanoe realm. I've been learning more about how it works, recruiting potential athletes, and how to get some equipment here. There will be some unique challenges, but I am ready for them.

It was so exciting to see the 200m races, especially on TV. I really think that those races in particular will bring a new pool of sprint folks. I hope I'm right, but time will tell. It most certainly is the time, however, to get out there and talk to folks.

For now, that's my focus. I'll keep you posted. If you see a crazy lady chasing after you with a paddle in one hand and a pamphlet in another, it could be me.

Seriously.

TKM

water safety and education is no joke. Seriously.

On my way over to the boathouse this morning, I heard another person drowned in Lake Lanier yesterday. It's hard to believe something that I love so much can be such a horrible thing for other people.

It doesn't have to be that way, guys.

When I was coaching middle school teams, flipping the boat and recovering it was something we had to cover within the first 30 minutes of the first practice. I really believe that many people drown not so much because they can't swim well, but because they panic. When you flip, or fall off a dock into the lake, whatever, you need be able to wrap your mind around the situation so that you can get out of it. Survival is as much mental as it is physical.

There is always one kid who flips and doesn't recover the boat quickly, so we have to dive in and save the boat, and the kid. These kids are usually around 10 years old, and it didn't occur to me right away that this moment is HUGE. These are the kids that you MUST get back into the boat that day, or they may turn into adults who have a fear of water.

Adults can be the same way. We often take new folks out in the Kirton Commander k-4. This is a big, heavy, stable boat. This doesn't mean it can't be flipped. And if it flips just right, you can be underneath it under water.  At that point, you can panic, or you can say "I'm under this boat, I'm underwater. I need to grab ahold of it and push it in the opposite direction that I swim." That's a big deal. If you are panicking, that might not happen.

So what am I really saying?

Parents, teach your kids to swim. You may not like water, but this is one of the biggest gifts you can give your child. You never know where it will come into play in their lives. And, it can open their lives to so many great experiences. And adults, it's never, ever too late. Find a program and learn to swim.

Then, I'll see you on the lake.

TKM

Saturday morning, I love you.

Saturday mornings are the best. For one, it's the only day of the week that I feel like I can let go completely of my "real job." But more importantly, I get to do two things I truly enjoy; paddling and karate.

Work is especially stressful at the moment, and exercise has always been a good way for me to manage that stress. The lake was terrific today; mirror flat, with little boat traffic because it's overcast and a day on the lake must not look like a good bet today. There was a slight breeze, and no sun. Almost perfect. I  don't have to think about technique on days like this. There are no balance issues. My body knows what to do and I just let it take over, as we make our way down to the other end of the cove. In the zone, baby.

So peaceful out there this morning. The fish seem to know that they are safer than usual today, and they make themselves known. I sometimes wonder if they follow the kayaks around because they know we are one of them. Lots of nature to see today. Saw some large birds, and a couple of good-sized turtles. They make me feel as though this is their world and I am blessed to be a part of it. I paddle back and forth on the boathouse side listening to rhythm of my own breathing and the occasional splashes from my friends with gills.

Before I knew it, I had to head back home. There will be more paddles, God willing, but this one was unique. I appreciate it as such as I prepare to move ahead with the day.

Make every day special.

TKM

cheering for Tim, and his mom..

I enjoy the Olympics, always have. Being involved in the sport of sprint kayak has really given me a new perspective, and frankly, a new respect for the process.  An Olympian is not made overnight. Not even close.

I first met Tim Hornsby and his mom Patti almost ten years ago.  Our family was new to the club, and although he was still a teenager, Tim was one of the elder statesmen at the club. My son thought he was pretty cool, a beach bum kind of guy. Good with the chicks, fast on the water, and the kind of kid that all moms want their sons to be. Tim had actually joined LCKC some years ago after meeting a representative at a boat show in Atlanta and was one of the first members. His mom brought him all the way up to Gainesville for practice many times each week. I can't imagine the dedication it took on her part; we live five minutes from the club, and I remember grumbling about it more than once at 5 in the morning. Wow.

I got to know Patti during the first trip the club took to Lake Placid, probably 7 years ago. Junior and Senior World Team trials were that week, so many of the parents were there to cheer on their kids. It was a big deal for many of them...Steven was a non-contender at that point. I remember in a cafe in Lake Placid with Patti and another mom Deb, whose son did not make the team. Deb was sobbing, and Patti was comforting her. I know now that I was just along for the ride then. I was in the infant stages of the relationship that one has when your child commits to a sport long-term. As we sipped our chai tea lattes, Patti told us about how she was so proud of her son for working through the problems he had initially. I remember especially that he would sprint 500 meters and then throw up in the lake because his acid reflux was so bad. We all bonded over how the boys could make one pair of spandex go a week without washing them. Lake stink, sweat, goose poop. What a combination!!  When I left the cafe that day, I felt like I had become one of them.

Didn't really get to know Tim during that trip, that came later on over the years. But I can tell you that Tim always flashed that great smile and gave a hug, and more importantly, something encouraging to say about Steven. In fact, after Steven dropped out and left for Penn State, Tim was the first one to ask me how "Stevie" was doing. Those things mean a lot.

Olympians are special athletes. Sure talent matters, but the "want to" has to be big. Massive. It's such a long time between when you first sit in that boat, trying not to flip it, and when you line up for your country. So many who have that Olympic Dream fall short. And Tim is a special athlete, and just a good kid. I am proud to know him, and feel blessed to have experienced the relationship he has with his mom Patti.

I am cheering most enthusiastically for you both as Tim lines up for his 200m sprints and represents our country.  Well done, Mom.

TKM