Last week I was on vacation in Utah, just north of Marysvale. One morning I took a guided whitewater trip on the Sevier River; most of our group went with the large raft, but three of us chose to go it alone in NRS inflatable kayaks. Our trip was about 10 miles long, and included [...]
Since my last post, I have added the following gear to my complement:
- AT4 E play paddle (small-diameter bent shaft)
- Stohlquist women’s Cruiser PFD
- Warmers 1/2-finger Barnacle gloves
This last weekend I went out kayaking on a local reservoir with a friend on Saturday and Sunday. We mostly chased each other around on the water, getting [...]
The way I see it, if I’m really going to get serious about whitewater kayaking, there are certain things I need: kayak, spray skirt, paddle, PFD, helmet, and a dry top (or other insulating layer, e.g. neoprene top). I’m also tempted to get a pair of paddling gloves.
I have the kayak and spray skirt. They’ve [...]
As promised, a report on my first “real” excursion in my new Fun:
It was windy out on Boulder Reservoir last weekend, as happens rather frequently in Boulder, and as a result I had to fight for every inch. In my old kayak, this would have been fair grounds for throwing a real fit; in the [...]
Preliminary findings on my 2007 JK Fun:
So incredibly comfortable. Wow. I know my opinion in this matter is just another drop in the metaphorical bucket; however, I’m pleased enough with my boat that I’ll go ahead and add my voice to the multitudes that sing the praises of the Jackson Kayak design team.
At Confluence Kayak [...]
As of this afternoon, I am the proud new owner of a Jackson Fun.
This weekend kayaker is going kayaking this weekend!
Yee-haw!
I began my forray into the wide world of kayaks with the following criteria in mind:
1. I really want to paddle whitewater.
2. River-running is what caught my interest in the first place (as in, “ooh, that looks fun, I want to do that!”).
3. The more I see, the more I really want to try playboating.
And [...]
I had the opportunity to test-drive a Wavesport EZG the other day out on the reservoir. It was just as squirrelly as my clunker, but vastly more maneuverable. I entertained myself by doing flat spins, which are (as I discovered) pretty easy to do in the right boat, and quite fun.
I also used a different [...]
I went up to Lyons, CO, a couple of Saturdays ago to be a spectator at the whitewater events of the Lyons Outdoor Games. After the events were over, I had the opportunity to meet Eric Jackson and Nick Troutman. (I have to be honest, for a while these guys have been up near the [...]
I can’t complain too much, because when I went looking for a kayak last year, all I really wanted was a cheap, functional boat that I could paddle around the reservoir once in a while. I found a Perception Dancer on denver.craigslist.org, packaged with a paddle, spray skirt, PFD, throw rope (not that I’ve ever [...]