Qajaq Rolls

Initial impressions of a cedar GP

Christopher — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:18:48 +0000

My first Greenland paddle was made by Betsy Bay. Betsy Bay paddles have a distinctive shape and construction method that sets them apart from more the traditional carved shape Greenland paddles. Since starting with the wooden paddle I have exclusively used Novorca carbon fiber paddles. I have been reading about paddle flexibility and hearing people … Read more →

Apostle Islands Trip

Christopher — Mon, 21 May 2012 18:59:42 +0000

This past weekend my father and I went to the Apostle Islands for a three night kayak camping trip. We were greeted by gorgeous weather and glassy smooth water when we put in at Little Sand Bay. We had left the Twin-Cities at 4:30am so by the time we reached our first destination (Sand Island) … Read more →

Roll of the week, #3 – Standard Greenland Roll

Christopher — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:04:31 +0000

The Standard Greenland Roll is perhaps the most recognizable of all the Greenland rolls. The importance of learning the correct body motion with this roll should not be underestimated. It is possible to complete this roll using the incorrect body position throughout. The paddle sweeping in a wide arc can provide considerable righting moment to … Read more →

Roll of the week, #2 – Balance Brace

Christopher — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:08:15 +0000

The balance brace is a maneuver that many people learn when they start down the path of learning Greenland style kayak rolls. It has many uses, I like to cool down using it on hot days, you can relax and regain energy in this position in rough water. You can most importantly use it to … Read more →

Apostle Islands Chart

Christopher — Thu, 03 May 2012 19:52:02 +0000

In a couple of weeks I am going to the Apostle Islands for a kayak camping trip with my father. It will be his first time in the Islands. In preparation for the trip we worked on creating useful navigation charts, using information from http://paddlinglight.com I was able to download a high resolution raster version … Read more →