C-Forum

Hi,

I paddle mainly OC1 but does any one recommend paddling C1 or Squirt C1 to better help my skills in my OC1 ?

There's nothing like paddling a C-1 (slalom boat especially) to improve your open boating skills. Balance, lean, water reading and stroke technique are much more critical. And more fun, too.

In general I find all my paddling takes a step up after I've switched around the boats a bit. For basic open boating, I completely agree with Bob - a slalom C1 would be fun and the skills would transfer easily. If you're feeling unstable at all in your boat, try a WildWater C1...once you are even mildly comfortable in one (balance-wise) you'll find all of your other boats feel solid as a rock . C1 Squirt boating is just a whole different (very fun) world, where you're trying to tap into currents that normally you can't (because your boat is mostly on the surface of the water). All of the "usual" "rules" apply...and then some. It's a ton of fun, and a great learning experience about water, but I believe you'd get more easily transferable skills and refining of your technique out of a slalom boat.

Regardless, have fun!

I think that when I switched from OC to C my skills definately improved. They improved again when I went to C-1 squirt. Then I went to a smaller squirt boat. The learning curve continues The squirt is a different world though. Easy water becomes much harder. I love catching the spike here in my playboat, but last night I caught it in my small squirt boat & decided I needed to get off the water

I think a slalom boat or a wildwater boat would definately help. I found my wildwater boat difficult to turn, which forced me to plan ahead.

I got a C-1 playboat that I am almost too heavy for. I use it in the pool in the winter, and at only the easyest play spots. When I paddle rivers, I paddle OC-1. I like my comfort. No straps. No roll. The little boat is good for keeping me loose in the winter, and learnong a roll I will never need in a river. If you can get, or convert a C-1, cheap, do it!