How to Rescue A Swimmer: By Landon Shulz

 First you go behind your buddy paddling and watch him flip. You then watch them struggle to roll and try to help them but sometimes you cant help. Then they swim you tell them where to swim and they go there. Hopefully they have their paddle with them, so you don’t have to get it. But if you have to, you chase the paddle down and get it and put it basically inline with your paddle and paddle normally. Then you chase their boat and get their boat into calm waters. Then you do a little trick to get it empty then, toss it to shore get them in their boat. Now they have been rescued.

Beatdown Thursday: By Lev Weisswasser

 So many keeners come in to their first beatdown Thursday super nervous, which makes sense as you are charging into massive holes and then just trying to hold on. To make it less scary I’ve made a 5 step guide on how to have fun.

1. On the first week of keeners go into right side Phil’s with no paddle to get to know what it feels like

2. Once in right side try to get in a stable side surf

3. When you start getting window shaded just wait ten seconds before you swim as it may just let you up.

4. If you do need to swim leave a little extra wiggle room with the amount of air you have as pulling your skirt is extremely hard

5. If and once you swam, swim left to avoid downstream consequences.

If you followed the step’s correctly you have just hand paddled right side Phil’s on the first Thursday of keeners, now go retrieve that sick footage. Or hope that minibus comes in so you can do a quadruple air screw.

First Week at Keeners- Bye Andy Verant

During my first week I improved in all kinds of ways. My freestyle skills have improved a good bit, but what really improved was my fear. During our first lap down the main channel I was scared out of my mind when we got to coliseum, and I was not used to huge waves like the ones on the Ottawa. Throughout the week my fear turned into excitement and eagerness as I got more and more comfortable on the huge waves and big rapids.

A huge part of what has helped me conquer my fears were my coaches always helping to push me out of my comfort zones. There have been so many times where I have been pushed out of my comfort zone, and I have become more confident in my abilities every time. 

Overall the first week of keeners has been an amazing experience, and I am looking forward to the coming weeks

How to surf right side of Phil’s: Bye Theo Bronson

During my time at keeners I didn’t surf the right side of Phil’s but I will be teaching you how to do it! First make sure you peel out of the Eddie above Phil’s and there are 3 waves before the big hole. The second wave has a peak where you want to be a bit to the river right of this will set you up to hit the meat of Phil’s! Usually I would suggest entering phils facing upstream because it is easier to control, but you are going into the right side so it doesn’t really matter how you go in because YOU WILL GET WORKED!!!! Then once you are in phils there are a couple things you need. Number 1. Someone videoing you from shore for the epic footage, Number 2. Air in your lungs (take a huge breath) Number 3. A huge smile and the mindset of a true beater! If you have all these things you should have the best beat down ever! Have fun!

How to Rescue Swimmers: By Magnus Monson

        At keeners many people swim out of their kayaks, specifically on Thursdays at Phil's hole on the Mccoys rapids. The first step to rescuing a swimmer is recognizing that someone is going to swim, a few early signs of a swimmer include a paddler entering a rapid without a paddle, flipping over, and missing lots of rolls. The second step to rescuing a swimmer is making sure that they are okay, once they are okay you can rescue the paddle of the swimmer as well as the boat. Once you have the boat you dump it and push it to the side of the river, after this you will need to consult the swimmer and make sure they are not traumatized from their swim, if they are make sure that they are not embarrassed and are okay to continue paddling. Once the swimmer is ready and able to kayak, get the swimmer back in their boat and the swimmer will be able to continue down the river.

A Short and Eloquent Collection of C1 Haiku’s - By Mason Galway

 Half of the paddles 

Twice the Brian’s, skill, and effort

Flat water very slow

Flip over off side

No I do not have two blades

Roll up I am sad

Boat is tape and foam

Every day my boat fall apart

At home I fix it

A How To Guide and Anecdote About Being Beaten Down in Coliseum: By Connor Clemens

 First, you do a perfect beginning to the right line. This line involves paddling far right in order to avoid the Big Kahuna Wave. Second, Accidentally crash into the second wave and get flipped. Then, promptly roll up and see that you are about to go into Third Wave sideways. With immense skill turn straight and with no speed attempt to punch through it. If you have done all the steps correctly; you should be, excuse my language, absolutely fudging thrashed. This may include: several forced back loops, some sweet back surfing (that you totally meant to do), and several more back loops. In the end, you should be held upside down, stuck in the wave, unable to roll!

How to Escape a Whitewater Hole When Swimming: By Aidan Kilkenny

  

1. The first step to escaping a whitewater hole is to remain calm and composed.

2. Try to swim towards the surface of the water as quickly as possible.

3. Use your hands and arms to push yourself upwards and away from the hole.

4. Once you reach the surface, take a deep breath and assess your surroundings.

5. Look for the nearest point of safety, such as a rock or shoreline, and swim towards it.

6. Avoid getting caught in the same hole again by staying alert and aware of your surroundings.

7. If possible, try to swim with the current rather than against it to conserve energy.

8. Seek medical attention if you have sustained any injuries or feel unwell after escaping the hole.

How to get the best beat down in Phil’s Hole: By Brewer Olup

The first thing you want to do to get the best Phil’s beat down is understand the water level and how the water is moving. Then, you need to enter the bay and paddle to the eddy below corner wave. After leaving the bay, find your way up the trail to the rapids put in. Once you are there, you have a couple of options, and this is where the fun begins.

Before putting in on the water you need to have a detailed plan in your head. If you are really feeling risky you can leave your paddle behind and do your best hand-paddling. When you made your decision, you’re already halfway there. Now all you have to do is the actual beat down.

When entering Phill’s Hole(on either side) the trick is to make sure it grabs you. Though right side will grab you almost every time to ensure success lean towards the hole (I recommend facing the bow down stream and leaning backwards for the best results). Once in the hole, it is in your control until it is not. If you really want to put on a show then lean up stream for the most intense fun window shading of your life.

HOW TO WATCH LEV WISSIWASSER GET BEAT DOWN IN PHILS: By Mack Johnson

1. hike up to the top of the island at Mccoys 
2. put your kayak in the water and insert your knees into the boat and put the skirt over the cockpit rim
3. run any line you want down macoys and eddie out on river right 
4. take out and hike up to viewing position 
5. get hyped for Lev to get absolutely throttled with no paddle
6. get as close as possible to phil’s hole without falling in
7. watch lev bravely hand paddle down into phil’s hole
8. watch the carnage and enjoy!

Embrace the Thrill of Kayaking: Why Writing Blogs Can Be Pointless and Dumb: By Nolan Adcock

 1. The Call of Adventure:

Instead of being confined to your desk, kayaking offers an opportunity to embrace the great outdoors.

2. Physical Fitness and Well-being:

Writing blogs often involves sedentary work, which can negatively impact our physical health. Kayaking, on the other hand, provides a full-body workout that strengthens muscles.

3. Mental Refreshment:

While writing blogs can sometimes lead to mental strain or creative block, kayaking allows you to escape the screen and immerse yourself in the therapeutic effects of nature.

4. Connecting with Nature:

Blogging can be isolating, with limited interaction with the natural world. Kayaking brings you closer to nature, encounter wildlife, and appreciate the beauty of rivers.

5. Social Bonding:

Rather than sitting alone at a computer, kayaking offers an opportunity for social interaction and bonding. Joining a kayaking group or inviting friends along on your adventures can foster connections.

6. Stress Relief:

Writing blogs can sometimes become stressful and overwhelming, especially if it's your sole focus. Kayaking provides an escape from daily pressures, allowing you to unwind and relax.

7. Developing New Skills:

While blogging may improve your writing skills, kayaking introduces you to a whole new set of abilities. Learning to navigate the water, master paddle techniques, and handle different water conditions can be challenging.

8. Exploring New Places:

Instead of being confined to your home or office, kayaking takes you to breathtaking locations. The Ottawa River offers a variety of stunning spots to explore.

9. Environmental Awareness:

Writing blogs about environmental issues is one thing, but kayaking allows you to actively engage with nature and witness the beauty firsthand. 

10. Creating Lasting Memories:

While blog posts can be forgotten with time, the memories created during kayaking adventures can last a lifetime. kayaking allows you to create meaningful memories that you can cherish.