IMPROVE YOUR CREEKING SKILLS

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IMPROVE YOUR CREEKING SKILLS

SO YOU WANT TO BE A HARD CORE KAYAKER

Many "hard core" creekers discredit playboating from their daily kayaking routine. Aside from the separate set of skills required to run the s#*t, playboating, without question, solidifies all around kayaking skills.

First off, paddle dexterity is the ability to maximize use of your blade by putting pressure in the right place at the right time. This is absolutely essential to be a good playboater. If you wiff a stroke, you are likely to fall on your head and flush out of the hole. On a creek you could miss your line...

Second, edge and overall boat control is obviously a huge part of being a skilled kayaker. Keeping your weight over your boat at all times is the fundamental basis behind clean cartwheels and clean lines.

Third, staying oriented will always be your friend. Did you ever roll up surprised at which way is downstream, then play it off and just catch the other eddy? Playboating is absolutely the safest and most fun way to master orientation. Don't make the mistake of practicing this on a creek, you will get thrashed.

Fourth, so there you are, in the rapid. You ferry out into the current and the brown hump that looked like a boil was actually a rock, you flip upside down and your heading backwards towards the lip of the waterfall. You think..."Roll!!" right? Which side should you try? In my experience, the fastest roll is typically the best, on the right, left, back deck or standard. It doesn't matter. Get up as fast as you can so that you don't eat rocks for lunch. Rolling is not something that gets practiced all that often creeking. However, during a playboat session you will most likely be upside down several times during every ride.

Finally, playboating is a great workout. I'm not talking about flexing for your girlfriend or boyfriend. I'm talking about punching through a big hole or being able to paddle out once you get stuck.

No matter how good of a creek boater you are, playboating will improve your all around skills. But don't make the mistake that if you¹re a good playboater you will be a good creek boater. There is a necessary set of skills for that also... coming to you next time.

Jed Selby Article contributed by Wave Sport

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