C-Forum

Use the cross over stroke to compliment the spin momentum of the boat into a vector, simply put, it compliments a carving turn...

Joel wrote: "For big water, an effective cross is only going to be useful if it is effective."

Exactly. And I'd add -- "For big water, an effective cross is only going to be effective if it is effective."

In all seriousness, Joel makes a great point about keeping one's chest open. Great advice. Almost always right and yet strangely hard to employ (much like myself . . . )

Another way I like to work on linking cross strokes is to eddy out on your cross bow side using only cross bow strokes. If you are a rightie, pick on eddy on river left. As you approach, make your last five or six strokes be cross strokes. Never go to your onside. Do this while heading into challenging eddies. Don't let the boat get turned upstream. Put in at Swinging Bridge on the NF Payette without scouting. Ignore that last bit of advice. But not that advice.

Alden

Spent an hour in the boat last night and really paid attention to Joel's advice about cross strokes and it made a big difference. I have really been "curling" when doing those, exaggerated by a short paddle and trying to reach way out. That muscle I pulled *didn't hurt* when I let Hulk Hogan pull his string, but did when I got "sloppy". I felt a difference with my onside as well. Always learning...

I was lucky enough to hit Race Creek wave on the Salmon this weekend and to make it down to Hole-in-the-Wall on the Grande Rhonde after work on Monday.

(You know you live in Idaho when driving 3 1/2 hours round trip on a crazy dirt road to nowhere is your idea of park and play).

Both spots are river left eddies and I'm a righty. Was still switching to my onside as I entered the wave, but still a great way to get cross stroke practice.

Playboating in general seems like a great way to build skills. I hit a roll monday without setting up! I flipped to my offside and just kept the momentum going. I was stoked!

Now I just need to learn a backdeck and on offside roll.....

kaz wrote:Or you could do what I do........close your eyes.

JK

uh... John... yer blind man.

why else would anyone paint their boats like you do? (notice his white cane for hooking rocks and gates)
[img]http://images.boatertalk.com/boatertalk ... c5yu8j.jpg[/img]

q;why isn't Kaz allowed to compete in whitewater rodeo's?













a; cuz it scares the $hit out of his dog {RIM TAP}

humor is good... remember folks... paddling is supposed to be fun like internetting.

Philcanoe wrote:
my attack was not being personally vindictive (I do not know you)...

No, apparently you do not know Jim Michaud or you wouldn't have shot your mouth off.

"evidently we're talking so far over your head, you can't even recognize what everyone else (so far) is doing"

Sounds pretty personally vindictive to me.

You may think the Grand Canyon is a cakewalk and trash Jim for thinking he has some advise to offer after running it 25 times. Apparently his advise worked out pretty well for a nervous paddler who was not familiar with big water.

Whatever you have run that is bigger and harder than the Canyon, you should have a bit more respect for someone of Jim's stature, IMHO.

Decker's got a point here, people. Now, I know that sounds strange in itself (and believe me -- nobody's posts have caused me to reach more for my stress toy over the years) but, yes, in some ways big water is about relaxing. Reliquishing control. Not getting excited by every post on the Liquid Lounge. Being loose. Acknowledging that Kindergarten-level Photoshopping may have its place. Unclenching. I don't personally have any experience with any of this. My motto has been "closed boat / closed mind." But I really think we can all learn "smomething" here.

Good day,

Alden

Alden wrote:Decker's got a point here, people.
Alden

*\o/* CONGRATULATIONS ALDEN *\o/*


"Tell him what's he's won Johnny"
"Well Alden... You've just won a free rubber chicken, a basket of delicious tomato's and an all expense paid trip to Kinko's"


see... fun is good now and then... paddling = fun

p.s. what's a "decker"???

Craig,
Is that a wood shaft paddle or the longest T-grip I have ever seen.
Great pic
B

cbcboat wrote:Craig,
Is that a wood shaft paddle or the longest T-grip I have ever seen.
Great pic
B

It's a wood shaft... Bailey (Clinch River) just wraps the shafts in a carbon sleeve to prevent ply seperation... it's bomber!!!