[Sportsandrec] White water kayaking

[Jessica Kostiw]

Kelly,
That's really cool that you were an instructor!  Can I ask which rivers you
boated on?  How long have you been blind?  I agree with you 100%, and assure
you that I am going about this slowly and in a safe manner.  As I stated in
a previous message, I am only in a tandem kayak.  My home river is the
Rappahannock, which is certainly nothing like the Colorado, or Potomac.  In
two weeks I am doing the Middle Yock in  Ohio Piol Pennsylvania.  I have
found a number of alternative techniques for what I am doing now, but wrote
the list to see if one day going down the Colorado or a river at that level
would be possible.  

If you miss kayaking, I would be happy to share with you the little things I
have found to make it possible.  I thank you for chiming in.  You are
exactly the type I was hoping to contact.  I would love to hear more!

Jessica

-----Original Message-----
From: sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Thornbury, Kelly
Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2011 6:11 PM
To: sportsandrec at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] White water kayaking

When I was sighted I was a white water kayak instructor/guide, and since 
going blind I've been on several white water trips through the local 
college. I would like to start out by saying that I am a very strong 
proponent of independence and doing things as a blind person that sighted 
individuals do. That being said, I also accept that I need to apply certain 
limitations on what I attempt to try, like riding my bike alone along a 
roadway for example. For me, white water kayaking is one of those activities

I don't try or support doing alone as a blind person. I'm sure many people 
will disagree with me, and in some situations I would navigate a river in my

own craft in a group, but true white water conditions present a number of 
unforeseeable conditions that make the risk of injury (or worse) and those 
risks aren't worth jeopardizing your health over just to say "I did it." 
When I do get on the water in anything over a Class III, I travel with an 
experienced kayaker in a two-person craft. The boat I have is admittedly 
more like a small raft (inflatable), but this boat is more stable in the 
rough water and may be a confidence booster to anyone with limited kayaking 
experience.

Again, I'm sure many would disagree with my "don't try it alone" thinking, 
but with my experience I am very aware of the risks involved. Check out the 
two-person option, its not the same as flipping your own craft through a 
gnarly section, but I still enjoy it every time I get out on the water.

Good luck and enjoy the river...be sure to bring your waterproof camera.
Kelly


_______________________________________________
Sportsandrec mailing list
Sportsandrec at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/sportsandrec_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Sportsandrec:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/sportsandrec_nfbnet.org/jessicac.kosti
w%40gmail.com