[Sportsandrec] Whitewater Kayaking?

Mon Jun 6 17:54:50 UTC 2011

I imagine that if you're using active echolocation and an oar as a
cane for embankments you could navigate the passages of a waterway,
the major difficulty is overlapping sound from rushing fluid friction.
You'd see the obstacles around you, you'd know which way you were
going due to current, and you'd be able to observe tactile stimuli via
the oars. I'm not sure about navigating splits or forks in rivers,
though.

On 6/6/11, Scott <kmssanderson at aol.com> wrote:
>
> 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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-- 
Justin Louchart
JALOUCHART at GMAIL.COM

"Teachers teaching to disregard possibilities are teachers teaching to
disregard potentials."