Before you start sea kayaking | select the right kayak

[@garychristensen4115]

As a relatively new sea kayaker (Water Dancing Solace 18 XL), I love your videos. Getting my kayak fitted to me properly was a game changer. As a 60 year old, I use wood greenland paddles, also a game changer. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@flatheadfletch]

Update ! I finally bought my first new Sea Kayak after years of research and trying different models ! The P&H Volan 160 is my dream yak. At 16’ and 23” wide weighing 42 lbs it’s an absolute stealthy fast yak. I have loved all your videos over the years Paulo, thank you so much for introducing me to the Greenland paddle, I was using a bent handled Werner carbon touring paddle for a couple years, the Greenland paddle has made me become more at one with the kayak and giving me greater stability in any condition. Thanx again !

[@garyhakala5168]

The difference between a kayak and a boat is like the difference between driving a car through the forest or walking through the forest. BTW if Greenland paddles were superior. Olympians and people like Frea Hoffmeister, Cris Duff, Nigel Foster, Nigel Dennis, Ed Gillett, etc would have used them for their epic expeditions. Both types of paddles are acceptable and have their place, but to say Greenland paddles are superior may be more of a personal preference. You are a purist and that's fine. Overall a great video

[@DancingWithTheSea]

I absolutely agree that all types of paddles have their merits and choosing one is a matter of personal preference. The goal of my channel is not to claim that Greenland paddles are universally superior, and everyone should use it. But rather to highlight their unique qualities and techniques. I'm glad you found the video valuable overall, and I appreciate the feedback. Many paddlers who switch to the Greenland paddle are extremely grateful they did. It’s about finding more of those people and giving them the information they need to make an informed choice, and that's precisely what I hope to provide with my content. Happy paddling!

[@0fficialnomad]

Inspiring, thank you. Definitely want to get a greenland paddle and start developing skills as I adventure.

[@peterhansen767]

Great video, thanks a lot for your calm advice. Greetings from Germany.

[@MrAussieJules]

Ive had second hand plastic , current designs " storm" for 10 years...tough, easy to do small repairs, fast, good storage. I like plastic cos i dont have to be super careful on beach pulls, hitting rocks etc.

[@johnmcadam7493]

Been watching your videos for some time now. Inspiring. It speaks to me on so many levels. The COVID lockdowns got me back into kayaking-camping. The freedom is incredible. The need for "bush" therapy is what we all lack these days. Love your philisophy. Strange segway... The way you speak about the Kayak-Greenland paddle is very similar to how the Old Kokodon Judo / Aikido techniques are taught: from the hips ... it's a dynamic sphere. I have a Euro paddle and I'm not comfortable with it. I watched you using the Grrenland Paddle and I immediately see the connection to the jo ( staff ) in japanese jiujitsu. The way you move in the cockpit with the GP is eactly the same way you move with a jo: a sweeping circular motion. Avoid using small joints and small muscle groups: generate power from the hips and keep your elbows near that point of reference ! Thank you !

[@Usonian7]

First video I've seen of yours. I was worried you wouldn't be making new videos, I enjoyed your cadence so much. Then I am checked your page and was relieved lol

[@jeffgraves4579]

Thank You ! The Back Country for some of us is the only place to be complete. Outstanding video you Sir are a inspiring speaker able to put into words what those of us blessed to experience nature in more remote places. Awesome !

[@flatheadfletch]

I have tried a Dozen kayaks over the last decade, Kevlar,fiberglass, plastic ! Haven’t found the perfect one yet. Loved them all except one. I did find the perfect paddle for any and all !! Gearlab Greenland Paddle. Maybe one day I’ll find the kayak that matches. Perfection

[@bushbeatnik4480]

funny how the reflection is not blurred out around 2:53 you cheeky devil. I have made now three paddles trying to dial in what i like and what fits well and just figuring strokes and such out on my own- proly with bad habits LOL. Your vids are great and am sure your all of your online stuff is great as well but just not the same as on water practice and instruction. Cheers and hope you are well.

[@romanmunter800]

When I first started, I was an idiot and took an open top 10ft rec kayak out in the sf bay, I almost drowned from how brutal the waves were. Very scary experience.😂

[@BigDaddy-je2nq]

I just got back from sea kayaking in my 10ft pelican, it handled really good on the waves but it was terrifying when I felt the waves bending the plastic cockpit 8km away from town lol I was ready to stand on a rock until S&R came looking

[@lawrencewitt7548]

Your videos are always very informative. Thank you

[@neilcraven6806]

Can you do fishing out of the sea kayak?

[@kensei1972]

" Why disturb the wildlife when you don't have to?" I have been aggravated with the noise of a Euro blade for this very reason.

[@thecount1001]

if you're making noise with a 'euro blade', whatever that is, you're doing it wrong.

[@BigDaddy-je2nq]

@@thecount1001 The euro blade is quite if you’re going slow, but a decent pace will always sound like a toilet flush

[@henrygerwien186]

@@BigDaddy-je2nq 🤣🤣🤣

[@markph0204]

Also you always give great advice you should seriously consider personal training I will fly up as soon as Covid blocks lets me etc.

[@DancingWithTheSea]

Thanks, I do some coaching. You can find out more here: www.dancingwiththesea.com/kayak-coaching/

[@L2FlyMN]

Looking at the sea kayak with rudder. Need speed & efficiency to go against the current in the Mississippi River as well as rocker for Lake Superior & possibly even the gulf?

[@Drivin_Sideways]

I need to know if my old town loon will be safe to go out into the ocean, but instead all this channel can tell me is that I need to get a greenland paddle. Im almost sold on it at this point 😂 do they work in calm waters?

[@paulvanoosten8338]

Love your videos Paulo. How far back should you be able to bend when you are in your kayak to do a good roll? Can you touch the back of your head to the read deck? I can only get so far back. I have a 17+ ft touring kayak. Specifically a fiberglass SeaLion by AquaTerra.

[@philipoakley5498]

The comment about wide boats tipping with the waves is worth noting for those that are now improvers and are wondering why the bigger waves feel so intimidating when you boat was 'great' and stable when you were a beginner. When you move up to a V shaped hull (cuts through the waves) you then should decide if you are light weight day paddling, or weighted big trip paddling (and how heavy you are)to enure that the boat isn't bobbing about on the edge of the keel because, overall, you and you kit are too light for the design of the particular boat. Plenty to think about.

[@kentuckybourbon5270]

Is your paddle custom made ?

[@DancingWithTheSea]

The one made out of wood yes. A happy client made it for me.

[@jakebrakebill]

Great job Paulo

[@PTcruser65]

Dud, Thank you!! I'll be back!!!

[@MD-ok2oo]

I wonder if the same principle applies to large lakes with small waves?

[@christinamrtn7]

I think they do. We paddle on Chapala, Mexico's biggest lake, which is not usually very windy. (Usually..) Most people in our club paddle narrow-ish 16+ footers, after years or trial and error and 'want a new boat'. I recently took out a wider, recreational kayak I used to love years ago, and was amazed at how wobbly it felt. Not to mention, speed! The wider boats are just so painfully slow, and on a big lake, you want to cover some distance! I also switched from a Wilderness Systems Tempest 170 to a snug 165, and feel more secure and less pushed around by the wind. It is not just a touch shorter, but the front deck and cockpit are MUCH more flatter and narrower. First I was like, uuhhh, no more donuts, ever! But now I do feel like I wear it. My thighs contact the braces very easily in this, and it does feel more stable in wind and waves that way. Still non-denominational about paddles, got Greenland and love it for playing and bracing, but find it a bit easier to keep up with hubby with the Euro.

[@markph0204]

Do you have any recommendations for a Greenland paddle?

[@DancingWithTheSea]

I like the Gearlab Paddles a lot. gearlaboutdoors.com/collections/paddles

[@jakebrakebill]

I'll second that, I just got one from Gearlab per Paulo's recommendation and love it.

[@akakitai1110]

build one yourself Cape falcon KAyaks has great videos on this topic and it's (probably) cheap. Way cheaper than buying a Greenland paddle for sure!

[@pennymercer4158]

I bought a used Kayak called Old Town Millennium..it came with paddle, a PFD and skirt...then I bought a kokolat drysuit( the warmest the ocean will get here, Newfoundland, Canada is about 11 degrees celcius the coldest about 0.3 degrees Celsius so I had to buy one,), and a Kayak roof rack lift system..I have never been in a Kayak in my life...I will have to teach myself and go by myself...First thing I intend to do is paddle out from shore far enough not to Crack my head off the bottom or touch bottom and capsize the thing and exit it and try to get back in..once I got that I guess I'll have to learn the roll techniques..once I got that and can go straight, backwards, turn and stop I guess I'm ready to explore! Does anybody know if this Kayak is a good one? I will buy a greenland paddle before I start trying to learn

[@jasonsinatra9457]

You should practice a wet exit and self rescue in a warm place with warm water (preferably a pool even) where there is someone there to watch you and intervene if you get into trouble. Practicing a wet exit and self rescue for the first time when you have never done one before when you are out at sea (even close in)a with noone to watch your back, is a terrible idea. You should practice rolling in ideal conditions first and then work on things more as you progress in competence out on the water. Maybe that’s not what you meant but that’s how I took it.

[@hansruf502]

Which kayak do you love the most?

[@DancingWithTheSea]

I haven't tried all kayaks but I like my Greenlander pro for expeditions, and my Tahe marine for day trips.

[@n-da-bunka2650]

Short answer... find one you can "WEAR"

[@DrScotavious]

why do you need an email address to teach kayaking? seems hella weird.