more flatwater training today

greetings everyone,

i did scope out the rivers again today.. and with all the rain overnight and yesterday. the rivers did come up a bit. it seems all that water finally found its way into the waterways.  

I was unable, however, to play in the rivers.  I normally only play certain playholes by myself.  And my brother, who normally kayaks with me, was busy with school work, and studying for his boards. 

I decided on a short after dinner practice session, on the pond at Kennedy Park.  It serves as a perfect practice ground, and its a huge plus that its only 2 mins from my home.  i can tell you all this... learning flatwater tricks on dead calm water is very difficult.  I still am unable to get my bow initiated under water to stand verticle.  i just can't seem to get my "double-pump" move down to do so.   I can sometimes use the plowing ender technique to get my boat to dive a little, but with all that stored air in my jackson kayak, it is very hard to get it to dive enough to get verticle....  this is not the case in my liquid logic.... that has much less volume in the bow, and tends to stand right up,,,, and keep going flipping over lol... im still working on the stall.

My stern stalls are getting much better.  i can almost initiate the bow using a reverse of the double pump going backwards.  I can almost get it to stand up...
I can however cheat a little and stand right up using a different technique that mimics the river current.  I start by paddling backwards and build up a little speed.   i then put my arms over the front of the bow, leaning all the way forward.... and then quickly throw my upperbody all the way back over the back of the boat.... keeping the paddle and my arms straight out,   when its done correctly, the boat with all that speed will push the stern underwater, and then all that momentum from your body shifting will pull it up verticle.  you need to lay flat back on the water and keep your paddle in the water above your head to make adjustments .... its fun

i was able to keep my boat verticle for about 10 seconds tonight.... that is pretty good for me.

I am just going to keep practicing away at it..until i can master some more moves.

anyone that would like to come try this stuff, i have an extra boat and paddle.... you don't have to do crazy moves, you can just come and paddle around the lake a bit...    company is always fun.....

thanks to all the followers....    id love to hear any kayak feedback.... about any kind of kayaking,,, not only white water.. i also love to just kick back and paddle recreational too sometimes... 

that is really the point of this blog.... just trying to get in touch with the paddling community.   id like to go on longer river trips with groups as well...   just reaching out to all the paddlers that may be reading or anyone interested in giving it a try for the first time....

drop me  a line sometime... and feel free to invite anyone you know that may like this blog as well. 
thanks people.....

"find something you enjoy doing.... and never stop finding ways to make it enjoyable" REI