Kayak People - Ry, Miller, Etc

[thewalrus]

Took the Trak out for it's shakedown run today. Forgot my paddle at home, so I had to buy one the paddle-fest event we were at. Hence the stickers still on there. My wife took the picture from her kayak - an inflatable Innova Swing 1.

[ryguy79]

Sweet!

Also that is one long boat. My boats are 8'6" and 6'6".

[ryguy79]

In other kayak news, I bought a river runner/play boat. Have only had it in the ww park so far.

[thewalrus]

[thewalrus]

[ryguy79]

Just 2 boats now, but they are my 5th and 6th ww kayaks. I've been through a few. With the exception of my Jackson Karma, I've bought them all used and broken even on them all overall when selling.

Class I water is really flat water, but moving flat water. You could easily paddle it in a walmart kayak.

Class II is where it starts to get fun, but is still pretty simple and low risk. I've not paddled beyond III+, have not been able to justify the higher risks and time it would take to be a class IV boater with young kids. The harder end of class III is plenty of fun in a kayak for me. I was paddling class III in my first season, when I had considerably more free time as I started boating before my daughter was born.

In short, if you're going to get into whitewater, do it before kids.

This was the hardest thing I've done so far, III+ to IV at higher water.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oY_-yLp9ois

[ryguy79]

I also did my 2 day swiftwater rescue on that stretch and have purposefully swam most of those rapids. Not so fun, but invaluable.

[ryguy79]

Now I really want to go boating, but with band stuff this weekend and family in town the next, it'll be at least 2 weeks.

This is class II. Easier and harder ends of the II spectrum IMO. Waves, but straightforward, few to no rocks/holes to avoid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYHL2pxK9ZE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9jV_qwnZEk

Class III from the driver's seat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_miPYY_zX30

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z09VslhU174

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMjKVSo9F1w

[ryguy79]

And this is big water class IV, filmed by a paddling buddy of mine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akYj7PxqsMw

[thewalrus]

[Swerve]

Kayaked into the city on Saturday with a group of Turks. One couple were capsized by a helicopter.

[ryguy79]

Well that was fun

[thewalrus]

[ryguy79]

Class III, pretty straightforward. Run is called The Chutes, for obvious reasons. There's a few of these, but they all end in calm pools. Rest of the run is easy but fun class II.