Chicago paddling in August….brrr!
Every city seems to claim the saying, “If you don’t like the weather, just wait a minute.” Here in Chicago, we can say, “If you like the water temperature, enjoy it while you can!”Two weeks ago, at the start of the Foundation Safety and Rescue Training class at Geneva Kayak Center Lakefront, the water temperature was a balmy 70 (or thereabouts).…
read moreAnother terrific Ladies of the Lake symposium
Ladies of the Lake is a unique symposium. Put on by Downwind Sports and sponsored by Impex and Werner Paddles, this all-female kayaking event features one day of local paddle tours, two days of instruction, a featured guest instructor, and a themed costume party complete with a raffle of gear generously donated by its host and sponsors.…
read moreThe cure for hot weather
Getting on the water at the Big Rock Quarry.
The forecast on Sunday was 94 degrees and sunny. A perfect day to either hide inside someplace air conditioned (library, movie theater, frozen food aisle) or go outside someplace wet.We were scheduled to teach a Level 2 class for Geneva Kayak Center at the Big Rock Quarry in Sugar Grove, so outside and wet it was.We love teaching this all-day class, which is typically the second class students take after a two-hour intro class.…
read moreRope!
During Thursday’s FSRT, Alec waits to catch a throw line and be towed into shore.On Thursday, we assisted as Scott Fairty of Geneva Kayak taught Foundation Safety and Rescue Training, a prerequisite course for the BCU coaching track.This is a fabulous course for anyone who intends to paddle a kayak or canoe on anything other than small, flat bodies of water.…
read moreA neighborly full-moon paddle
For years, our neighbors have patiently put up with our yard full of kayaks and drying gear.
The way our yard typically looks.
Actually, they’ve more than put up with it.…
read moreBut it sounds like "paddling"…
Bicycling and kayaking have a lot in common. They allow you to cover distance at a human-scale pace, enabling you to actually see and even engage with what you encounter on your journey from here to there.…
read moreRobert the rainmaker?
Here comes the storm! Our last day at Adventure Crafters 2009.The day before we left Maryland, we decided to go for one last paddle with Robert. It had been a hot day, and building cumulus congestus clouds suggested a short window of opportunity.…
read moreThe "psychological tow"
The day before we were scheduled to teach a leadership and rescues class at Adventure Crafters, during which we planned to teach towing techniques, we went for a social paddle with co-owner and instructor-in-chief Robert Schrack.…
read moreLeadership and Rescues class
Practicing T-rescues in the Chester River.
On Sunday, we taught a class called Leadership and Rescues. This five-hour workshop was designed to cover the essential assisted and self rescues, including variations appropriate for specific conditions, as well as basic towing techniques.…
read morePitch-perfect pitchpole
Setting out into the surf. It didn’t look very challenging.Surf landings are exciting and unpredictable. Yesterday, we practiced launching and landing with our friend Robert Schrack in a tricky shore break near Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware.…
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