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Your Kayaking Resource: Articles on Kayak Instruction, How to Roll a Kayak, The Art and Passion of Boating
Viva Voce: A collection of articles about river theory, tales and river magic. Modeled after a confluence: this is a gathering of information from sources and tributaries, all coming together here at the confluence. THE SOURCE: Whether it is kayak theory, first descents or first-hand experiences, here you will find a collection of articles straight from the source-- the Endless River Adventures' staff. . THE TRIBUTARIES: Great adventures, paddling tales and river magic--all stories written by ERA Friends and fellow paddlers who share our passion for boating.
All
Rolling Concepts
Technique/Skill Development
Gear Review
Women & Paddling
River Adventures
Kids & Paddling
Guest Articles
Misc River Magic
Staff Articles
Hand Placement on a Kayak Paddle
06-25-2009
I have personally always used the following pitch when someone asks about a bent shaft paddle:
- If you have wrist/joint issues use a bent shaft
- If you have an extra $100 to spend, a bent shaft is for you
- If it feels good in your hands when you pick it up, definitely buy one.
Having neither wrist issues, nor an extra $100 burning a hole in my pocket, I just never really even gave second thought to my own personal paddle. I survived the drama of switching from a wooden paddle to a synthetic. That was enough “modern” for me...until I made the mistake of testing out one of our AT bent shaft paddles…..
Cata-Kayak Rescue: Improvising an Emergency Evacuation
06-01-2009
In a remote or expeditional situation, getting someone to medical help is critical. The cata-kayak rescue system has been tested and works.
Seat Position in the Habitat
05-09-2009
Then the other day I was perusing the new Wave Sport website, which is pretty snazzy by the way, and got into reading some of the post on their forum. Kelsey Thompson had an interesting point as to where the seat should be positioned to get the boat to peak performance.
The Recovery/Finish Position of the Roll
04-07-2009
Everything I Learned About Boofing
02-18-2009
Everything I learned about boofing…
usually came after missing yet another golden opportunity to pull of a good boof. Watching the ERATeam boofing their way down rivers, I realized that they were the perfect group to share tips about boofing with everyone--hopefully short-cutting the learning process!
usually came after missing yet another golden opportunity to pull of a good boof. Watching the ERATeam boofing their way down rivers, I realized that they were the perfect group to share tips about boofing with everyone--hopefully short-cutting the learning process!
Review of the 2009 Wave Sport Diesel
01-21-2009
If I had to write a short pitch for the 09 Diesel I would use words such as predictable, stable, fast, and easily controlled and rolled. Yes that is
correct, easier to roll. In the name of credibility I decided that the boat
needed to be tested for ease of rolling. Of course the fact that it has been 65 degrees today and sunny this afternoon helped! Ease is the optimum word. There feels like there is less width and the widest part of the boat is not in the center, but forward a little adds to very crisp and smooth rolls. This all equates to the paddler not having to work as hard to get around the boat to set up. As a kayak instructor that teaches rolling on a regular basis this is a welcome addition. Not to say that the original Diesels were hard to roll, but I think what it really comes down to is some minor “tweaks”, and that the sizes fit people better and being in a boat that you fit better in makes a difference.
correct, easier to roll. In the name of credibility I decided that the boat
needed to be tested for ease of rolling. Of course the fact that it has been 65 degrees today and sunny this afternoon helped! Ease is the optimum word. There feels like there is less width and the widest part of the boat is not in the center, but forward a little adds to very crisp and smooth rolls. This all equates to the paddler not having to work as hard to get around the boat to set up. As a kayak instructor that teaches rolling on a regular basis this is a welcome addition. Not to say that the original Diesels were hard to roll, but I think what it really comes down to is some minor “tweaks”, and that the sizes fit people better and being in a boat that you fit better in makes a difference.
Vladimir Vanha En Memoriam by Ken Kastorff
09-02-2008
It was with sadness that I learned that one of kayakings most influential design pioneers passed away recently--Vladimir Vanha.
Making the Transition by Jess Snyder
09-02-2008
Making the Transition by Jess Snyder
Everyone is searching for something in life. For me, faith has been my holy grail. I have been trying to find faith in something my whole life. My destination was reached when I stumbled my way into Endless River Adventures and began my journey into the wild world of whitewater. This is a short piece about how I made the transition from someone who whitewater kayaks to a real boater. You mayask what the difference is, well in my opinion, it is the state of mind one is in when they are in their boat.
Stroke Concepts: Tailored for the beginner and intermediate boater
08-02-2008
Just as boats evolve, strokes evolve as well. As strokes change, so do the methods for teaching each of them. Let’s talk about the sweep. This stroke is one that has evolved with the changes in boat size.
The Kayak Addiction of an Eagle Scout by Steve Augustine
08-02-2008
Steve has been on staff with ERA since 2000. And he has come a long way from a scrawny 14-year old boy scout from Orlando working towards his Eagle Scout to a new ERA staff memebr, to one a top raft guide/kayak instructor/international guide here at ERA. Pulling his story out of the vault was a refreshing reminder of how the follies of youth can lead to serious life changing experiences.
Guest Articles
Now that's what I call High Adventure Summer Camp!
08-02-2008
Now that's what I call Summer Camp! was written by Sara in 2003. It should be no surprise by her enthusiasm that Sara soon joined Team ERA as a guide/kayak instructor and today leads Boy Scout groups through their first High Adventure Experience with us.
Never Too Late for an Attitude Adjustment by Joe Parker (aka: the Colonel)
08-02-2008
If you want a new way to adjust your attitude and shed some of the stress life tries to put on you, consider touring in a sea kayak….You won’t get the adrenaline rush of a whitewater cruise down a Class IV river, but the opportunity to spend some real quality/quiet time with yourself or your sweetie and to see how some of the country looked 200 years ago when James Fenimore Cooper was writing about it has rewards which are equally satisfying.
What does kayaking mean to me? by Trish Parker
08-02-2008
Trish was a long-time member of the ERA family. She has moved out to New Mexico, gone through phases of kayaking, not kayaking, biking, biking and kayaking.... After paddling with her again this spring, it was fun to pull her article out of the vault and reprint it!
There Really is Such Thing as Do Over in Kayaking
07-13-2008
One of the things that our annual Kids Camp teaches all the adult milling about is how much we can learn from our “shorter” kayakers. Future ERA staff member, Erin–a veteran Camp participant set us all straight this year about being able to deal with making a mistake, picking yourself up and going and doing it again. Ouch! We can all learn a lesson from Erin and her experience at Nantahala Falls.
Cart Wheeling through pregnancy by Maria Noakes
07-03-2008
When the blue line shone clearly through the small window of the stick, it was a moment of roller coater emotions. For the first time in my life I wanted to be pregnant, or did I? Thoughts coursed through my veins, pumping out an overwhelming emotional response: did I really want to be pregnant? What would happen to my kayaking, life without kayaking…would I survive?
