Surfski Knowledge Base

Bob Putnam <putnam_rea@…>
12/25/07 #3939

Last April Deep Cove Kayak was hosting a stroke clinic with Imre
Kemecsey, 6AM - 8AM. Imre was standing on the Government wharf and
we were paddling out and back. I was paddling my Vajda sprint boat
(very tippy) and showing this newbie sea kayaker how not to scoop
water at the exit of his stroke…1st bonehead move…well I did a
good job of demonstrating the “scoop” and pulled myself into the
water.

It was cold enough that there was ice on the sea wall. Shrinkage was
instantaneous! The sea kayaker didn't know that he was going to
rescue me but I wasn't going to float around for too long explaining
it. I climbed up onto his back deck and sat up while uprighting my
sprint boat and tried to dump most of the water out. Having coach
flatwater paddling kids I had performed this maneuver many times
before, but the combination of the cold and being a bit panicked I
was having a difficult time. I finally decided to get re-enter the
sprint kayak….2nd bonehead move…so I could paddle to shore.
There was still some water in K1 and when I finally got myself in all
the water rushed to the bow of the bulkhead-less kayak and the bow
went down like a submarine. The kayak literally dropped out from
under me.

Back in the water, and worrying about my $3500 sprint boat going to
bottom caused me to feel very panicked…thing weren't going as
planned. However, I was able to supress the panic. Profanities were
flowing from my mouth faster than bids from an auctioneer, I climbed
back onto to the back deck of the sea kayak and told the guy to
paddle for shore. I grabbed the sinking K1 and my paddle and lay my
head on the deck and kicked like crazy. It took us about 5 minutes
(seemed like 20) to get to the nearest dock.

I hauled my sorry ass up onto the dock which was covered in ice and
dumped the water out of my K1. I was already starting to seize up. I
noticed the dock-owner looking out his window, sipping his morning
coffee, wondering what kind of idiot would be kayak/swimming on a
morning like that.

30 minutes later after a hot shower and breakfast I was still
shivering uncontrolably. Imre thought this was great and gave me the
gears all through breakfast. “I am a kajak coach, not a swimming
coach” Imre said with a thick Hungarian accent and laughing heartily.

Although the seakayaker had never done anything like this before I
have had the opportunity to practice it many times, mostly while
goofing around with racing club kids. So, I am not saying anything
new, but I would like to re-enforce the importance of practicing all
this stuff. Having practiced these kind of things makes the
difference between, panic in an out of control situation or being
able to take it in stride because you have done it before.

Because of all the work Kathleen has been doing lately she probably
felt pretty confident rescueing the kayaker. The work is paying
off.

Next season at Deep Cove Canoe & Kayak we will certainly be singing
this song to all of our regular paddlers who typically become
complacent about risks and overconfident in their abilities. Many
think that because they paddle 2-3 times per week that they are
experienced. The typical scenario for seakayakers and surf ski
paddlers is that they start paddling, take a capsize course or try to
remount their skis once or twice and then start paddling and then
don't practice these skill for many years.
Enough typing
Happy Holidays
Bob