A Struggling Kayaker

A beautiful day to be hit hard by the struggle bus. Today really shook my confidence.

[@pop4725]

The best thing you can do for yourself at this point is get a good roll, it’ll keep you safer and it’ll also be much appreciated by your paddle friends, swimming is for fish 🐟

[@cthomassimpson]

Thank you all for the feedback. I clearly have a lot to learn, but that comes from time in the seat. I haven't gotten the hip snap yet, and I lift my head too soon. And I have no edge control at all. Pool practice is nothing at all like being in swift current. I had been a raft guide 30 yrs ago, so I thought I knew something. A kayak is a very different experience. I very much enjoy learning new things, and this one comes with some scrapes and bruises. Thanks for watching. I put these up mostly for myself (I tend to over analyze myself, and it helps to see the err in my ways). Your comments and feedback is very welcome!

[@CDSeater]

Keep at it, everyone swims. As people have already mentioned. Getting the roll right will build the confidence, but also practice your High and Low braces they'll help so you don't have to roll so much. :)

[@davidcarthy9077]

The advice I would give. Get in the hole. choose the smallest hole on the course, get in a side surf and learn to escape. You'll learn how to high brace and hold your edges. those skills are transferable everywhere. its not always about just successfully getting down the course. have a play around.

[@ScottJohnson-pb9dj]

I just got back from the NWWC. I've called myself a solid class 3 boater with a decent roll. I never swan more than I did in the two days I was there. I could power down the channel, but if I flipped, I swam almost every time. It really crushed my confidence. In the end I discovered that my roll fails in the boiling turbulent water. Something to note, the smooth channels have no features to slow the water so the eddy's and runouts are brutal in comparison to a typical class 3 river. I got tired of swimming and ended up just doing roll practice in the eddy's of the instructional channel and I still swam a lot! I did put myself in the eddy lines, so it was my own doing. I read something about leaning to roll without being in the typical setup position because turbulent water will sometimes prevent you from being where you want to be. Time for a lesson on my combat roll...good luck!

[@jonathanmcelhinney5782]

Good for you letting out and having a go. From watching that it looks like you just need to practice your edging more and know when and where to put the boat on edge. Combine that with more positive forwards paddling and you'll be fine. A decent roll will come with practice, but learn to read the water a bit better and you'll have fewer issues that require a roll.

[@zachariahschiada2440]

Hang in there. I’ve only been to the ww center once, but I thought it was a bit difficult because of the swirly eddies and current different than what I’m used to in central NC. I think if you get your roll and keep practicing there you’ll be in good shape. Fun place to learn, but definitely more challenging than some videos make it look.

[@davidcelliott]

At least you tried, and that is key. My wife was an instructor and she would really push people to make real attempts at rolling before giving up. People still thank her for that.

[@happymoniker]

As others said, keep trying and work on your roll. You will get more comfortable as you go. Try to lean forward and keep paddling when going through rapids, it will increase your stability. A couple of USNWC specific tips. 1) next time i suggest just spend some time running the instructional channel on the left of wilderness for a bit until your boat control feels better 2) on M wave, aim for the crease on the left side of the big curler, you will lose less speed and it will make it easier.

[@user-ez3fn1ix3g]

Good job getting back in your boat till you finished the run! If you keep doing that it will eventually click

[@BradDavis1974]

This was a rough day, but the fact that you kept getting back into your boat and finished the lap is admirable. Have you had any instruction? If not, I would highly recommend it. I took 5 consecutive days of instruction a few months into my first year of kayaking, and it made a world of difference. Professional instructors can spot what the student is doing wrong very quickly and work with you to correct it. Whitewater kayaking is an awesome sport, but unless someone is lucky enough to possess super-human natural ability, they are gonna need some help along the way. Hang in there. It'll get better.

[@cthomassimpson]

No lessons yet. It's becoming clear that I need professional guidance.

[@michaelcarter3149]

​@cthomassimpson it really does make a huge difference. We have Tvcc here in Chattanooga, it's 20$ a year to join. Idk how close you are, but you might still be able to sign up for paddle school, it's next weekend. It's like 80$ for the weekend.

[@robertdonohue6304]

If you don’t turn over you don’t need to roll. You need to learn how and when and most importantly which direction you should be leaning. Also practice your brace will help too. Besides that the line you take down the rapids are important. If you hit the feature straight on you are much less likely to flip.

[@pilotjt]

stick with it. Keep working on that roll. Best to hit Mwave left or right of center.

[@freibier1197]

Try getting some low and high brace coaching. The high brace will make your roll stronger when it comes. It will also prevent a lot of capsizes. Great video, we are all in-between swims 😀🏆

[@kffilm5478]

what a beautiful park to go kayaking in, its great to se you are pushing your self and even trying to roll! a tip to improve your rolling is to take it slow and look at the paddle blades then it will come natural, once u hit your first combat roll you will be alot more confident in your paddling and a new world of paddling will open up, have a great one!

[@cthomassimpson]

Thanks for the advice!! I am feeling hurried, but Ill keep at it.

[@jasoncowan98]

Good for you for keeping at it, kayaking is a very mental sport. You'll get there! Hang in there!

[@cthomassimpson]

Yes. I am seriously struggling in my own head, but Im also stubborn and wont quit till I learn it!

[@parkerstacks3861]

Hang in there bud we were all beaters at one point! Take advantage of the pools and get that roll dialed-in 😊 watch EJ's strokes and concepts videos and practice proper technique.

[@cthomassimpson]

Thanks for the encouragement!! I spent today in the pool. Need to learn to slow down, keep my head down, and snap the hip. I'll keep at it!

[@steveevers542]

Nice work sticking with it. I can tell by your forward stroke that you've not taken a lesson before. Take a lesson (or a few) and learn the rudiments before trying to increase rapid difficulty. There is a lot of nuance to paddling whitewater that you will not learn from trial and error or youtube videos.

[@user-du3yq9td3m]

Удачи. Я не поняла ,что ты начинающий. Думала балуешься. 😂

[@opcfoundationtac]

On ur second flip you hesitated on ur last left stroke. Dont stop paddling in the middle of the whitewater.

[@opcfoundationtac]

Any ww kayak is much more stable when moving forward relative to the water

[@atwood123456]

I'm at the center all the time. If you see me out there (blue supernova, black gear, purple/black helmet) say hi. I wouldn't mind boating with you. My crew and I are also on KZbin. We are Jer kayaks and the portage posse.

[@cthomassimpson]

Thank you!! I've been watching the portage posse. I'll certainly look for you.

[@user-du3yq9td3m]

Он боится . Не уверен. Поэтому и переворачивается. Надо вставать . Учить эскимосские перевороты. 10 эскимосских переворотов на время. Без этого нельзя в порог.

[@opcfoundationtac]

Starting out is frustrating. Have u taken a lesson?

[@raymondwilson2933]

Where is this. Looks awesome.

[@cthomassimpson]

US National Whitewater Center in Charlotte North Carolina

[@user-du3yq9td3m]

Добыпендривался 😂

[@dstanley7333]

I take it you dont river paddle on your own you seemed to rely on other paddlers to help you that i take werent in a group with you. Paddlers will always help each other but till your experience is better you should be alone even on a course like that