Paddling on The Dark Side

I’ve got a confession to make that runs counter to my sea kayak soul. I’ve been paddling with those “other” people lately. No not the whitewater others. Worse. The sprint paddling others. Yes, those paddlers who paddle insanely tippy boats with no spray skirts and no PFDs. I know I should be ashamed but … it is so much FUN!

It all started when I kept running into Washington Canoe Club folks at the various races I go to. They kept saying “come paddle with our Masters team”. Rich Libby added my name to the WCC masters’ email list and I started finding out about their plans and training schedules.

At the spring racing camp with Holm, I fully realized the value of coaching for the first time and wanted more. So one Tuesday night I wandered down to the club. Derek, the WCC coach put is in team boats and I was in a boat with three other women. That was a first. I had never even paddled a tandem before let alone a K4 sprint boat! It felt tippy but not too bad and boy could we ever fly across the water.

After practice that night, Derek said I should try a K1. I think he just wanted to see me swim. The boat he got off the rack was an Orion. Now, I don’t know much about K1’s but I do know that this boat is tippier than a typical K1 trainer. It looked so skinny, I was a little worried. But I put it in the water, adjusted the seat, got in and started paddling … and just kept paddling. Bill and Derek were both watching from the dock waiting for me to tip over but it didn’t happen. I happily kept the hull side down and stayed dry. I made some big circles and while the two inch waves felt more like two footers I managed them all with a good amount of bracing.

For my first month of practices at the club I had been to I’d been in team boats. It was fun to work on matching strokes with others and learning balance. But let’s be honest, I much prefer to paddle my own boat.

So two weeks ago I got my first shot at a real workout in a single K1. Mind you that I had probably paddled the Orion a grand total of two other times and very casually at that. When I arrived for practice Derek tells me it is training time and from now on it is all K1s, to get the Orion and to go warm up. I get in it and feel really comfortable – surprising since I hadn’t been in the boat for awhile. I paddle up to three sisters and then down to Jack’s to say hello. Coming back to the docks Derek says I look good – I’ll take that as a compliment!

Then he put us through our paces – 300, 500, 750, 1000 meter sprints in succession. Each time I started off the line strong, kept upright and paddled hard. I consistently was in the lead and having a ball. The highlight of the evening was when, at the end of the practice, Derek said that perhaps I should try to join one of the elite paddler practices and then proceeded to show me the types of boats I “should” be paddling! Another insane compliment.

Up until now, I have had the unique experience of learning to paddle a K1 without also having to work on my swimming skills at the same time. However, I think that is about to change. For next week, Derek said its time to get a “real” boat. I’m scared just thinking about it. Stay tuned.