Why Swimming is Okay - Mark Wilson

     Wet exits are something that while learning to kayak can be very embarrassing and is sometimes shamed. Although a consistent roll is a necessity to progressing quickly in kayaking, I think that swimming should be almost encouraged.

     For a long time I've struggled to get my roll every time in whitewater. The swirling water and rocking of my boat made me very anxious underwater and I would usually swim very quickly. Whenever I swam I would get very angry at myself, think I was bad at kayaking and often I would yell at and criticize myself in the eddy after emptying my boat.

     However, I have realized during the first three days on the river at Keeners that it was all in my head and it was nothing to get angry about. Swimming helps a developing kayaker learn. I strongly believe that as long as a swim is somewhat safe (eg: most of the Ottawa River) and it isn't disrupting other paddlers’ enjoyment of the river (eg: if someone in the eddy waiting to surf something leaves to come help you) a swim should be celebrated. But after celebrating the great learning experience it's important to try again. Maybe go up and run the rapid again. Catch that wave again. And actually learn from the experience and fix what you did wrong last time. Or roll successfully with more confidence.

     Swimming rapids is also something we practice here at Keeners because it is an essential skill.

     And best of all, swimming can be fun. Personally I love swimming sometimes.

     

Overall, while it is usually discouraged, wet exiting is an essential skill that can even be fun. And most importantly, it can be something to be proud of.

The Perfect Meltdown By Jack Carroll

           Hey readers, my name is Jack Carroll, I am 16 years old, and this is my third year in the amazing keener program. I live in Canada, more specifically approximately one hour north of Toronto in a little town called Tottenham. One of my favourite lines on low water Coliseum is the infamous meltdown. A meltdown is when you are pushed underneath the water by in your kayak by two downward streams of water. This line is a great way to run Coliseum when you have exhausted all of the other lines. This line is scary at first but once you have mastered the technique the meltdown can be a lot of fun run and watch.

           This Line is best run between 2 to 0 on the gauge. The meltdown ledge is located on the right side of Coliseum right near the shore and is easily seen from the left shore. The perfect meltdown zone is on the upstream side of the ledge. This is formed by water falling of the ledge on the river right side and water folding in from river right. These two streams of water create the perfect place to disappear under the water.
           To perfectly execute this line begin by paddling up around a small wave located at the top on river right. This is the best way to line your self up for this line. If you paddle at the seam straight on your bow begins to meltdown before your stern. As you float around the corner line your self up as if you are going to boof the ledge. Instead of following through with the boof at the last second give up. this will set you up in the perfect position to meltdown. When you float over the edge lean to the right into the curtain of water. Suddenly you will feel the river grab your boat and suck you under the water. It will be swirly under the water and if done correctly you will pop out of the water a few feet down stream. You are then in a position to run the rest of coliseum on the river right side.

           Today I had one of my best meltdowns ever the level was around 2 so the meltdown was in its more burly conditions. When I dropped over the edge the air around me all of a sudden became dark water and my paddle was wrenched from my hand. A second later I found my self on the surface, luckily I was right ways up, so there was no issue with hand-rolling. I then navigated the rest of the rapid safety with a smile on my face, It was Awesome.

The Keener Experience (David Koyrakh)

Three days into Keeners and the fun has already begun!

Hey there, my name is David Koyrakh. I am a beginner play-boater and this is my second year at Keeners. I chose to return for a second year because it is truly a great experience and I want to get better at kayaking.

We started off the day on the water by splitting into groups. My group was lead by Kalob (shout out to Team Alpha!). To kick things off we went to surf Babyface and then we paddled the Middle Channel. At Babyface I had my first real surf, which lasted about one minute! For readers that have never surfed a wave before, it felt a lot like wakeboarding or sketchy tubing. Needless to say it was one of the funnest minutes I have ever experienced. Catching your first wave is like a playboater`s first steps, and Babyface is perfect for that.

Throughout the day we surfed a couple holes and I worked on strengthening my whitewater roll. Here at Keeners we improve quickly because we kayak for three weeks straight with some of the best kayakers on Earth. But Keeners doesn`t just make you a better kayaker, it makes you a better person.

Here we learn independence, communication skills, proper etiquette (both on and off the river), and how to take care of our environment. Every morning we are expected to do the morning exercise, cook breakfast, and, most importantly, clean up after ourselves. On Mondays we have Speech Night, where we take turns giving `speeches` to the group. Yesterday was the first speech night and the topic was the Icebreaker Speech. Writing weekly blogs and giving speeches improves our people skills.

To wrap this up I would like to give a HUGE shout to our coaches, keener moms, Mr. Kowalski, and everyone who helps keep this program alive. Without Keeners there would be a couple extra hundred bored thrill-seeking teenagers (a dangerous combination) wasting their potential every summer. Thank you!!

David Koyrakh's Post

Hey, my name is David. I am 14 years old, from Minnesota, and this is my first time at OKS.

I got into kayaking after going to the Banff Mountain Film Festival's Radical Reels tour about a year and a half ago. The videos showed me how amazing kayaking is, and were one of my main inspirations to start. A few weeks after seeing the film festival I bought a kayak, and went out on the lake behind my house almost everyday. I also went to local rivers every week or so.
I learned about the Ottawa Kayak School through kayaking videos, and I decided that I really wanted to go after doing some online researching about it. After some convincing, my parents were willing to let me go. I signed up for keeners, and my dad and I went on a three day road trip to get here. My dad is going camping/kayaking for a week with his friend and taking a whitewater class here at OKS for one week.

I've been having an awesome time here. I have been paddling with the teen camp this week to learn how to roll, and so far I rolled in whitewater three times. I will join the keeners on the river soon (one or two days?).

Anyways, that's all for today. Make sure to check back every Thursday to read my blog!