New to kayaking terms?

It has been a while since we had raging waters in the James River, but when we do, the kayakers are in heaven. What are they doing out there? Kayak Moves The waves and hydraulics at the fish passageway before you create ideal conditions for kayak competition moves. The best occur between 4.9 – 5.5 […]

August 31, 2011; 6:07 AM • by Phil Riggan

It has been a while since we had raging waters in the James River, but when we do, the kayakers are in heaven. What are they doing out there?

Kayak Moves
The waves and hydraulics at the fish passageway before you create ideal conditions for kayak competition moves. The best occur between 4.9 – 5.5 feet on the Westham gauge (646-8228).

Look for these activities
Rolls – The boater rolls over and pops back up again. (This is the most basic move and is a mandatory skill for all whitewater paddlers.)

Surfing – The boat stays still in fast moving water by riding on the top or upstream face of the wave.

Ferrying – The boat moves across the current from one hydraulic to another.

Cartwheels – The boat stands on end and rotates in a circle pointed at the sky. Cartwheels can be vertical…or at a lower angle.

The Loop – The boat does a complete forward somersault.

Look for this equipment on paddlers
Helmet – You can hit your head when you roll.

Lifejacket/PFD – You need to float if you come out of your boat.

Spray skirt – A piece of neoprene rubber that keeps water out of the boat. It slips around the paddlers waist and stretches onto the cockpit rim.

Wetsuit – Tight neoprene, allows a thin layer of warm water against the skin; used in cool weather conditions.

Drysuit – Loose coated nylon and insulation; keep paddler totally dry; very cold conditions.

Look for these features on the boats
Blunt, rounded bow – High volume allows space for feet and legs.

Low, flat stern – Low volume allows back of boat to go under water to allow for tricks.

Short, wide, stubby shape – Allows both easy maneuverability and ease of entry and exit.

Paddler sitting with a double-bladed paddle – This is a “kayak” – easiest to master and most popular river craft…and one of the few Eskimo (Inuit) words used in English.

Paddler kneeling with a single paddle – This is a “decked canoe” – like a kayak, but offering a higher vantage point, greater paddle reach and more maneuverability, “half the paddle, twice the paddler.”

August 31, 2011 6:07 AM 0