Forget tuxedos and gowns. Our drysuits are our most treasured (and most expensive) garments. Treating them well can lengthen their working lives and ensure that they perform their jobs perfectly. We checked in with Matt Porter, Product Manager and Customer Service Supervisor at Kokatat, for advice on extending the lives of drysuits. His advice: 1. Keep your drysuit out of direct sunlight whenever possible. UV degrades both Gore-Tex and latex, shortening the life of the fabric and the gaskets. 2. Avoid insect repellent and sunscreen. DEET is particularly destructive of latex gaskets; sunscreen is also rough on them, so apply it at least 15 minutes prior to putting on your drysuit to allow the sunscreen to soak into your skin. When you reapply, avoid getting it on the gasket. 3. Rinse your drysuit in fresh water, with the zipper closed, after paddling in salt water. Hang it to dry on a wide hanger with the zipper open one or two inches. 4. Clean your drysuit with fresh water. If it smells bad, use a drysuit shampoo or a gentle, bleach-free laundry soap. 5. Never put your drysuit in a top-loading washer; the agitator may rip it. 6. Lubricate metal-tooth zippers with hard wax; use non-wax lubricants on plastic zippers. Plastic zippers should be lubricated every other time you wear your drysuit. 7. Protect drysuit booties by wearing socks and being careful not to walk or stand on surfaces that might damage them while you’re changing. 8. Transport your drysuit loosely rolled with the zipper open one or two inches. 9. Store your drysuit in a dry area on a wide hanger with the zipper open one or two inches. 10. When the DWR wears out (and it will!), try ironing the Gore-Tex fabric on the nylon setting to reactivate it. If you decide to re-waterproof it, use a spray-on product, not a wash-in product, so that it doesn’t get on the inside your drysuit. Dry it with an iron (on the nylon setting) or a hair dryer; never put your drysuit in a clothes dryer. Routine maintenance, such as gasket replacement, can be done at home. Other repairs, such as leaks and tears, should be done by the...

Please excuse our prolonged posting intermission. Lots is happening behind the scenes. This blog will soon be migrating to a new domain. Our friend, the paddler and graphic designer Chris Hoffman of Faucethead Creative, is building us a new website. And our former student, the talented Flo Katzenbach, has created our new logo.  We’ve been paddling, coaching and training. We have new sponsors and are about to get new boats. All this activity has kept us offline, but we’ll be back...

Despite this year’s long, cold spring, we’ve been on the water quite a lot. This has been both possible and pleasurable because we have the three pillars of safe paddling, which are especially applicable in cold weather: knowledge, skills and gear. Sadly, not everyone who goes out to paddle has all three. Early in the season, the lake beckons anyone with a boat. We’ve seen plenty of unprepared paddlers wearing light clothing and lacking solid skills, oblivious to the dangers of cold water. Some get away with it; others become statistics. More than 100 people drowned in the Great Lakes in 2012. An unfortunate number of them were people paddling kayaks who weren’t prepared for the conditions they encountered. Police reports and news stories are quick to call these people kayakers–a label that makes us queasy because it reflects poorly on paddlers with the training, equipment and judgment to stay out of conditions they can’t safely handle. Drysuit, mitts and a wool hat on a chilly April afternoon. Skills maintained in the pool translate to the lake. Rescue practice in cold conditions. The reward is a lake almost devoid of motor boats. And a longer paddling season. Alec confronts a big wave.  Sharon paddles back out for another...

How not to store your paddles. One of the pleasures of writing about paddlesports is the opportunity to talk to vendors about their products. We’ve learned a lot over the years about common problems, routine maintenance and preventative care. We’ll share this information in a series of posts we’re calling “Caring for your gear.” Our paddles were the first serious piece of kit we purchased, so we’ll launch this occasional series with them. Here’s what we learned from Danny Mongno, regional sales manager and field marketing coordinator for Werner Paddles. Ferrules are fragileThe ferrule is the most sensitive portion of a take-apart paddle. This precisely machined part can get jammed, turning a previously two-piece paddle into a one-piece paddle; or the release button can get stuck, causing unexpected two-piece paddle experiences on the water. So treat the ferrule kindly. After each use, rinse it with fresh water and allow it to dry with the ferrule pointing down. Never use any type of lubricant on the ferrule or release button because it can attract dirt or grit. If the button is stuck in, gently press it out with a screwdriver. Keeping the ferrule clean with leftover drinking water. Store with carePaddles can be damaged if other gear is stacked on top of them, so load them last and make sure they’re clear of closing trunk lids and doors. At home, keep them in a dedicated storage area where they won’t fall over or be stepped on. Make your markYou may know exactly what your paddle looks like, but it can get lost in a sea of similar paddles when you go out with a group. Put your name and phone number on your paddle; this makes it less likely that someone will accidentally take it, and more likely that it will be returned if you lose it. Seek adviceIf your paddle is damaged, contact the manufacturer before doing any repairs. Most paddlesports companies offer repairs for a fraction of the cost of new gear, and they are happy to provide information about doing your own repairs when that’s advisable. So call them before you bring out that tube of Aquaseal or that fiberglass repair...

Beaufort Poem Scale  by Alice Oswald As I speak (force 1) smoke rises vertically,Plumed seeds fall in less than ten secondsAnd gossamer, perhaps shaken from the soul’s hairbrushIs seen in the air. Oh yes (force 2) it’s lovely here,One or two spiders take offAnd there are willow seeds in clouds But I keep feeling (force 3) a scintillation,As if a southerly light breezeWas blowing the tips of my thoughts(force 4) and making my tongue taste strongly of italics And when I pause it feels differentAs if something had entered (force 5) whose hand is lifting my page (force 6) So I want to tell you how a whole tree sways to the leftBut even as I say so (force 7) a persistent howl is blowing my hair horizontalAnd even as I speak (force 8) this speaking becomes difficult And now my voice (force 9) like an umbrella shaken inside outNo longer shelters me from the fact (force 10)There is suddenly a winged thing in the house,Is it the wind? from Conversations with the Wind by Alice...

Still wintry, but calm and ice-free. Time to paddle! With the ice mostly melted and the air and water temperatures in the mid to upper 30s, we decided to go on the first relatively long paddle of the season. After months of confinement in swimming pools, it was exhilarating to be out on open water yesterday. On the Chicago River, water taxis were practicing man-overboard drills. A few hearty tourists took part in architectural boat tours. A man-overboard drill on the Chicago River. It took several minutes to gain the attention of the lock tender at the Chicago Harbor Lock. “Kayakers to Chicago Locktender. Request passage from the river to the lake.” Everywhere we looked, we saw evidence of how low Lake Michigan’s water level has become. The river banks are higher than they were. Previous water levels are evident on the sides of the locks, far above where the water currently laps the walls. The difference in height between the lake and the river is no more than an inch or two. Out on the lake, wooden pilings that date from the shoreline construction of the early 1900s were exposed to the air. Paddling past the Chicago skyline. Great Lakes freighters motored in the mid-lake shipping channel; helicopters occasionally whirred overhead. But the lake was otherwise quiet–just us, the birds, and one fishing vessel out catching perch. In a few months, we’ll be cautious about collisions with inebriated recreational boaters; now we realized there’s nobody here to harm us–or help us. It was one of those low-risk, high consequences situations: the chances we’d capsize or otherwise need assistance were remote, but if anything bad were to happen, we’d be on our own in a dangerously cold environment. Alone on the lake, and not too far from shore. That had been part of our risk assessment before we got on the water. It affected our choice of route (near shore, 18 miles, with plenty of places to stop if necessary), timing (late morning to late afternoon, with plenty of daylight hours to spare), clothing and equipment. Light winds and a stable high pressure system added to our positive assessment. We brought a four-star kit and were prepared if the journey took longer than we had planned, and could help each other or summon help. As usual, we had also filed a float plan with trusted friends. But all went well. Though our hands and feet were cold at times, the pleasure of being out on the lake again overwhelmed any discomfort and made us especially appreciate the miracle of hot water on demand when we got home afterward. Loading up afterward, looking forward to getting warm...

Thumbs up for the WMCKA symposium, one of the family friendliest paddling events in the midwest. We have a special affection for the West Michigan Sea Kayakers Association (WMCKA) symposium. Held on Memorial Day weekend at YMCA Camp Pendalouan near Muskegon, Michigan, the WMCKA symposium is notable for: World-class guest coaches/speakers. This year, Nick Cunliffe of Kayak Essentials in North Wales, will join the talented midwestern coaching staff and offer an evening presentation. A huge assortment of on-land classes in the mornings. Participants can learn about navigation, weather, VHF radio use, dressing for paddling and many other essential topics. An even larger assortment of on-water classes. From strokes and maneuvers to rescues and towing, the phalanx of dedicated coaches offer a myriad of courses for beginner through intermediate paddlers. The beginners’ track. Novice paddlers can comfortably start with courses on boat fit and wet exits, and quickly progress into courses on basic skills. The kids’ program. This popular program, for ages 7 to 14, helps kids build skills while playing games, and includes time on land doing summer camp activities with Camp Pendalouan’s wonderful counselors. BCU 3* training and assessment. Participants with intermediate skills can challenge themselves in Bonnie Perry’s two-day training and opt to follow it with a one-day assessment. Neptune’s treasures. This pop-up consignment shop allows participants to buy and sell used gear, from wetsuits and PFDs to kayaks. The sense of community. Everybody stays together at the camp, either in tents or small cabins, and eats together in the large dining hall. Evenings include speakers, parties and plenty of social time. The dining hall. For a small fee, participants can take advantage of communal meals. Big Blue Lake, where the on-water courses are held. Now in its 24th year, the WMCKA Symposium is always adding something new to its offerings. This year, it is hosting a Coach Level 1 training and assessment May 21 through 21, immediately before the symposium begins. This is the first symposium we attended–the symposium that set us on the path of long-term paddling and coaching. Registration is open, affordable, and limited to 170 participants (and 25 in the children’s program). Sign up here.   Communal (and free!) camping at Camp...

Having spent significant time with Shawna Franklin and Leon Somme of Body Boat Blade this past year, we’ve become fans of the Haghighi: the extreme-edge quick turn technique created by Leon’s dentist, Dan Haghighi. It’s one of the skills we practice during the winter months, when we do most of our paddling in swimming pools and we need small-space challenges. Body Boat Blade just posted it on YouTube: In addition to the technique itself, here are some things to notice in this short video: It’s structured more or less in the IDEAS format, one of the go-to coaching methodologies.  There are demonstrations done without talking. There are multiple viewpoints and perspectives on key points. They emphasize proper biomechanics to avoid injury to joints. They reveal a sense of humor. It’s harder than it looks, and (as with other techniques) good coaching can help you learn to do it. If you give it a try, post your thoughts...

Over the past several years, we’ve moved away from polypropylene and polyester thermal layers and toward merino wool, which feels great, insulates even when wet, effectively wicks moisture away from our skin, and doesn’t get stinky like synthetics. But the wool tops and pants we own aren’t designed for paddling, and they have seams that can chafe when we spend hours on the water. Alec in his WoolCore after a comfortable day paddling in 36 degree air temps and 16 knot winds. (He wore it under his dry suit liner and dry suit.) So when we heard that Kokatat was going to make paddling-specific merino wool insulating layers, we were excited. The new WoolCore garments are made of a 50/50 blend of merino wool and polyester. They merino comes from non-mulesed New Zealand sheep; the polyester is added to enhance durability and speed drying time. All of the cutting as sewing are done in California. We each got a pair last November. We were surprised by how light they were and wondered whether they would provide sufficient warmth. But we were impressed with the fit. The arms are slightly shorter than usual to keep them from extending under dry suit gaskets–a feature that worked well for Sharon but not for Alec, whose shoulder-width to sleeve-length ratio is unusually high. The back is slightly longer, providing good coverage while seated. The waist band on the women’s pants are especially nice–a wide, yoga pant-like band, ideal for people (like Sharon) who don’t like an elastic band around their waist. Best of all, there are no seams on the shoulders to cause chafing under a PFD, or under the armpits to cause chafing during repeated paddling motion. This is achieved by the large gussets under the armpits. The jersey-style neck falls below the dry suit gasket. The large gussets under the arms ensure no seams where they can cause chafing. The wide, flat waistband on the women’s pants is especially comfortable. We put them to the paddling test, wearing them as the first layer next to our skin. They were very comfortable, wicked moisture exceptionally well, and didn’t stink after days of repeated use. Even though they started to pill a little bit after several months of wearing and washing, they haven’t lost their shape. Adding them beneath one other light to mid-weight layer made all the difference; we now use them when we would otherwise use silk-weight BaseCore. They’ve become our go-to base layer for paddling, and we’ve found ourselves wearing them for cross-country skiing and other outdoor activities, too. (But because the WoolCore isn’t completely opaque, these garments aren’t ideal for wearing to the pub or on the street.) Other...

Comparing notes before the start of our pool session. Our pool presentation at Canoecopia 2013 was on the kayak self-rescue known as the scramble. Our goal was to show the rescue, explain how to do it effectively and efficiently, answer questions from people who’ve found it difficult to execute, and have fun in the process. Warming up by playing on our boats as people came in and found places to sit and stand. The keys to success with this rescue are: maintaining your grip on the boat and paddle finding the best position for getting on the back deck  floating your body to the surface before launching on to the back deck pulling the boat under you, not yourself onto the boat establishing and maintaining balance while pivoting to face the bow getting into a “jockey” position moving forward, thighs to wrists, until you’re over the seat dropping into the seat and maintaining balance while bringing your feet in Most of the questions involved problems with: gear management getting on the boat moving toward the cockpit maintaing balance To address these, we shared strategies that work for paddlers who are larger or less agile than we are. We also demonstrated that with good technique, this rescue works even if you have long legs or a very large chest. Sharon getting up on the back deck wearing two PFDs. Back on the boat in spite of the extra large chest. We shared several games that help develop the skills this rescue requires. Judging by the smiles on faces all around us, we weren’t the only ones enjoying ourselves. It’s helpful to have a strict time limit. With only 20 minutes per pool session, we had to focus on the essentials and make every minute count. We’re hopeful that with practice and good coaching, those who came to our presentation will be more successful with their future self-rescues. Thanks to Keith Wikle and Aaron Litchfield for taking photos while we were on the...