[Sportsandrec] Whitewater Kayaking?

Mon Jun 6 17:44:35 UTC 2011

Scott,

There are a handful of resources related to tandem cycling. One of the newer 
ones is www.bicyclingblind.org

I raced road, track, and MTB for a while.

Also was an alpine ski racer around the same time.

Glad to hear that others share the aspirations.

Lori

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott" <kmssanderson at aol.com>
To: <sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, June 06, 2011 1:40 PM
Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] Whitewater Kayaking?

>
> Thanks for sharing, I have always wanted to try rowing or crew so hearing 
> about is inspirational to me, please post as much as you want. I have a 
> tandem kayak and use it quite a bit but have not yet had the opportunity 
> to try Whitewater. Sounds like a blast.
>
>
> Does any tandem rode bike or Downhill ski? These are the sports I live 
> for.
>
>
> New to list,
> -Scott from NH
>
>
>
>
> ---- Original Message ----
> From: Audrey Farnum <atfarnum at gmail.com>
> To: Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List 
> <sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Mon, Jun 6, 2011 9:19 am
> Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] Whitewater Kayaking?
>
>
> Jessica,
>
> I know Tanya! She's the one who talked me into rowing. That's so cool!
> I do 99% of my rowing on the Oklahoma River from the Chesapeake
> Boathouse in OKC. I have friends who keep boats at Lake Overholser so
> I row there with them occasionally. That's where I've done
> recreational kayaking and rowed singles. Less traffic and fewer
> obstacles to worry about.
>
> My knowledge of white water kayaking is limited to having seen it back
> in the days when I could see, so basically, I know nothing.  I for one
> find your descriptions to be fascinating. Write all the long emails
> you want. I figured tandem was probably the way to go but I know what
> you mean about wanting to go solo. I've rowed single a few times and
> it is really cool to be out there just relying on my own skills to
> power the boat. It's a great way to work on balance. I know in a
> single, if the boat is wobbling, there's no one else to point the
> finger at. A coach can tell me all day long that doing this or that
> will mess up the balance but I didn't really get a full understanding
> of cause and effect until I rowed a single. I do really enjoy rowing
> with other people but I know I'd be a better rower if I could spend
> more time in a single. It's just hard to find the time to do it with
> all the rowing I do already.
>
> Audrey
>
> On 6/6/11, Jessica Kostiw <jessicac.kostiw at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Rodger, thanks for the suggestion, anyway.
>> Audrey, it sounds like you know a little about whitewater kayaking...
>> When I started about a year and a half ago, I very much had the attitude 
>> of
>> how hard can it be?  In a nutshell, I had no idea of what I was getting
>> into... so I am not surprised that the list doesn't seem to.  Now that I
>> have been doing it for so long more questions are arising.
>>
>> List, I don't mean to keep stressing how different whitewater kayaking is 
>> to
>> sound elitist.  There are just a multitude of very specific issues that 
>> come
>> up that wouldn't with recreational kayaking.  The most blatant is the 
>> types
>> of rivers that you go on, which are the type that you would whitewater 
>> raft.
>> But then with rafting there are a number of others in a boat and a guide
>> telling you exactly where to go.  In a kayak it's just you.  The second
>> biggest difference is the kayak itself.  The recreational kayak has a
>> completely open top, while the type I am referring to is closed, with a 
>> very
>> small section open to fit you in.  The kayaker wears what is called a 
>> skirt
>> which tightly fits around the rim, or shaft, of the area where you are
>> seated.  It holds you in place.  The edges of a whitewater kayak are much
>> rounder than the recreational type.  They are designed to flip easily, so
>> your hip muscles become very critical.  Flipping in a whitewater kayak is
>> commonplace and even part of the fun.  This is where "rolling" comes in.
>> The kayaker learns to ride themselves using there oblique muscles to 
>> right
>> the kayak from completely upside down to right side up.
>>
>> So,  here is where many of my questions come into place.  So far the only
>> way I have figured a blind person can do all this is in a tandem kayak.
>> This has worked well, though one day I would like to do it in a single if 
>> I
>> can find a way.  I sit in the front as the power, while Jon my boyfriend
>> sits in the back and steers.
>>
>> I was about to go more into detail, but don't want to bore people if no 
>> one
>> is interested.  I would love to go more into detail if people want to 
>> hear
>> and are able to maybe help me think of alternative techniques, but also
>> recognize that long emails are annoying sometimes.
>>
>> Audrey, which rivers do you boat on?  My best friend Tanya rows in 
>> Oklahoma
>> City.
>>
>> Jessica
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Audrey Farnum
>> Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2011 8:31 AM
>> To: Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List
>> Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] Whitewater Kayaking?
>>
>> Roger, Rowing is a completely different deal than what she is asking
>> about. Jessica, I'm a blind rower and I've done recreational kayaking,
>> but never white water. I don't know anyone who does it but that's very
>> cool. I'd be interested to hear about what alternative techniques, etc
>> you use. I'm particularly interested in how you deal with orientation
>> and steering. I think it sounds fun but I'm pretty sure I'd end up
>> splattered on a rock. When I've kayaked, I go with other kayakers who
>> give me verbal directions to keep me going the right direction. It
>> works ok in calm water but I don't know about doing that in a white
>> water setting. Of course, I haven't done it much so maybe I'd get
>> better about staying straight with practice. I prefer rowing though so
>> I devote all my spare time to that. Kayaking is just something I do
>> every now and then with friends.
>>
>> Audrey
>>
>> On 6/1/11, Roger Acuna <kearney125 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> One person I know of is an olypian rower.  She may be able to provide 
>>> you
>>> with valuable  input.  Her name is Airael  Gilbert who works with Guide
>> Dogs
>>> For The Blind.  I'm sure she would be happy to speak to you about this 
>>> and
>>> you may contact her there by calling: 800-295-5040.
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Jessica Kostiw" <jessicac.kostiw at gmail.com>
>>> To: "'Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List'"
>>> <sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2011 9:37 AM
>>> Subject: [Sportsandrec] Whitewater Kayaking?
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hello All!
>>>> With summer upon us, I have a question.  Does anyone on the list
>>>> whitewater
>>>> kayak or know of any blind whitewater kayakers?  This is very different
>>>> from
>>>> regular recreational kayaking.  I have been whitewater kayaking for a
>>>> little
>>>> over a year.  There is more involved as far as alternative techniques
>> than
>>>> one would think and I would love to compare notes with other blind
>>>> whitewater kayakers.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks and hope all are staying cool and enjoying the exciting sports 
>>>> of
>>>> summer!
>>>>
>>>> Jessica Kostiw
>>>> P.S. If anyone would like more information on whitewater kayaking I 
>>>> would
>>>> love to talk.  My boyfriend is an instructor.  :)
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>>> [mailto:sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Everett Gavel
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2011 4:31 PM
>>>> To: sportsandrec at nfbnet.org
>>>> Subject: [Sportsandrec] The Get-Fit Guy on Triathlons & Training
>>>>
>>>> Here's a neat column on Triathlon training & more on
>>>> Triathlons, from The Get-Fit Guy. It's in text and
>>>> audio as well:
>>>> http://getfitguy.quickanddirtytips.com/how-to-train-for
>>>> -a-triathlon.aspx
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> If I want to be realistic -- or maybe just not so crazy
>>>> as some -- I think I can safely say the closest I'll
>>>> ever get to participating 'in' a Triathlon is to be a
>>>> volunteer on the roadside, handing out cups of water,
>>>> or Gatorade, or whatever. ;-)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Strive On!
>>>> Everett
>>>>
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>>>>
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>>>
>>>
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