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Feature
In Strange Company
By Christopher Cunningham
Editor
During the summer I do a lot of paddling on Seattle’s Lake Union and the ship canal that connects it to Puget Sound. There is a lot of boat traffic along the canal and on the weekends the water never gets a chance to lie down flat. It’s supposed to be a no-wake zone and the speed limit is seven knots. I’m pretty conscientious about the ordinance and I’ve yet to throw a wake or exceed the speed limit. If only I had that much horsepower.
I used to furrow my brow at the sight of those wake-board towboats that can barely be throttled back enough to keep under seven knots and, at that speed, throw a wake twice the size of the wake they throw doing 30 knots. In the canal the wake rebounds off the concrete walls and the water gets quite sloppy.
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Getting Started
By Christopher Cunningham
Editor
Trapped
Just after we released our last e-newsletter we received a new blog entry from Melissa. She was at a training session and working on her rolling. Her attempt failed and when she went to do a wet exit she couldn’t find the grab loop on her spray deck. This was the mishap we addressed in our last newsletter, directing readers to the online article “Entrapments and Exits” from our April 2003 issue. To see how Melissa met the challenge, go to our home page and click through to her account in our “Getting Started” blog.
Sea Kayaker Store
October ’10 Issue
- Black Water: A paddler’s perspective on the Gulf oil spill. by Scott B. Williams
- An Immovable Object: A curious kayaker makes his way to Tremble Island in the middle of British Columbia’s Nakwakto Rapids to see if the island does indeed tremble. by Tom Howell
- Lost at Sea: A Lone Tsunami Ranger Has a Close Call on the Oregon Coast. An experienced paddler finds himself in a struggle against fog and waves. by Michael Powers
- Aftermath of an accident. by Saul Kinderis
- First Aid Navigation. by Joel McNamara
- Kayak Reviews:
- Greenland T by Tahe Kayaks
- Borealis XL by Pygmy Boats
This issue is currently available on the newsstands or from Sea Kayaker in print or digital (PDF).
A Peek at the Upcoming December ’10 Issue
Available in early November
31 Days of Rice, Butter and Lingcod: Soloing the North and West Coasts
of Vancouver Island. Fishing and foraging in a remote region in a skin-on-frame boat. by Kiliii Yu
Pokomoke Sound: Paddling the Pokomoke and Nassawango: This sliver of
Chesapeake Bay offers miles of opportunities for meandering. by Ralph Heimlich
Kayakers as First Responders: A couple in a tandem come to the aid of
capsized sailors in Maine. by Ray and Leslie Wirth
Sea Kayaking in America: the 1920s and 30s: A fascinating glimpse at
the folding kayak craze. by Joel McNamara
Toubleshooting the T-Rescue by Sharon & Alec Bloyd-Peshkin.
Kayak Reviews:
2011 Sea Kayaking Calendars – Order Yours Today!!
The 2011 Kayaking Calendar offers a year's worth of stunning photographs of some of the most scenic waterscapes around the globe. Order one for family, friends or yourself!
What, me roll?!
By Ann Eastwood
Circulation/E-Commerce Coordinator
After taking two private lessons I had picked up the foundation of a roll. What I needed was practice! I took advantage of summer’s early sunrise and launched by 7am to practice at a nearby beach. In the evenings I'd watch Simplifying the Roll with Helen Wilson for tips. The following morning I’d use that information during my practice session.
Most mornings I had the beach to myself. I’d work on my onside and—shudder— my offside roll. I’d switch to a layback when my offside roll failed. Occasionally a mallard duck or Canada goose would stay for the show. The time I've devoted to rolling is invaluable to me as a paddler.
Sea Kayaker magazine offers three instructional DVDs on kayak rolling.
 The Kayak Roll (DV3) focuses on a single rolling technique that falls in between the C-to-C and the layback roll. It emphasizes finesse and nearly effortless technique.
“The tail end of the video provides some tips for instructing someone and a number of diagnostic trouble-shooting tips, showing common errors and how to correct them.” A couple of the tips they share are: keep your head low, and keep the elbows tucked to protect the shoulders. (Reviewed SK August 2002)
 Greenland Rolling with Dubside (DV26) showcases nearly 20 traditional Greenland rolls including layback and forward ending rolls. "Each roll is demonstrated and then broken down into component motions with stop-action and slow-motion footage." Dubside is a good speaker and provides concise explanations.
It’s fun to watch him perform an array of Greenland rolls as well as demonstrate rolling recreational, sit-on-top and folding kayaks.
Dubside is a yoga practitioner and emphasizes that flexibility is an important component of rolling. It’s not about strength. (Reviewed SK February 2007)
 Simplifying the Roll with Helen Wilson (DV40) focuses on the layback roll, and like the Kayak Roll DVD, it can be helpful to concentrate on learning one roll well. Helen provides exercises and tips for practicing a layback with or without a friend. She has some novel and effective ways of describing the correct techniques. She says "place your eyebrows underwater and slide onto the back deck." I’ve often heard that it is essential to bring your head up last, and Helen’s direction to keep my eyebrows in the water assures I’ll do that. She has a unique approach to understanding the effect of body mechanics and demonstrates this with an exercise about how the body sinks if she leads with her head vs. keeping the shoulders flat on the surface of the water. Helen shows you how you can practice this exercise alone or with a friend. (SK August 2010-"Greenland Rolling for Touring Kayakers").
These videos can be a real asset if you’re struggling to learn how to roll. Take a lesson from a reputable instructor or coach, practice, be safe and have fun.
If you’d like to share your experience with us about learning to roll, we’d love to hear from you. Write to us at sknewsletter@seakayakermag.com.
Visit Seakayakermag.com/Online Store to order these products and more online. Or order by phone 206.789.9536; fax 206.781.1141 or mail to PO Box 17029, Seattle, WA 98127 (Email orders not accepted)
From the Advertising Department
The Necky Eliza in Carbon Fiber
By Paul R. Riek
Advertising and Promotions Manager
The folks at Johnson Outdoors are wrapping up what appears to be a very successful year with the release of a new version of the Eliza, Necky’s touring kayak designed by women for women. We reviewed the rotomolded plastic version of the Eliza in our December 2007 issue. It was a hefty 55 pounds and pink (go figure), but it performed well and after we’d finished testing, our editor’s younger sister bought the kayak that appeared in the review. He likes his little sister.
The Eliza has been well received for the past several years, but the new version, a featherweight 40 pounds in carbon fiber, is the essence of elegance in black. “The Eliza carbon is a premium touring kayak,” says Sara Knies, Necky Kayaks Marketing Director. “Combining top quality materials, the Eliza is an incredibly lightweight, dynamic kayak that can withstand a pounding and carry a load without compromising performance.” I’d be inclined to agree. The carbon Eliza is being released this fall. Look for it at http://www.neckykayaks.com/.
Sea Kayaker magazine, independently owned and operated since 1984
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