Above my pay grade! Kayaking some Gnarly action for fun?

[Doug SC]

I'm too old to even think about doing this. My roll is iffy but one thing I do know you want a blade in the water at all times in the rough because if you lift both blades out and hold them out you give up any control of the kayak.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLCaRBnMqLI&list=RDhLCaRBnMqLI

[Grith]

I used to run grade 4/5 rapids and the occasional waterfall and even taught at this level briefly. Also surfed big ocean breaks in tiny playboats and played canoe polo. With enough practice you can develop what we used to call a bomb proof roll. Not sure I could still roll up a fully laden sea kayak without my paddle ( hand rolling ) but I could at one time even manage that! 🙂You cannot view this attachment.

[Captain Kidd]

Wow! Makes me wonder how to do the ocean in a kayak.

Have you been following Peter Frank? He's doing the great loop in a kayak (he calls it a canoe) and he's doing it backwards (clockwise).

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1238476683274973

[Captain Kidd]

Shannon Christy

I recently read an article about expert kayaker Shannon Christy and her tragic death while preparing for a race on the Potomac River. I didn't save the link, but found this one:https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2442083/Extreme-kayaker-Shannon-Christy-killed-2-days-60-Minutes-Sports-profile.html

Obviously a dangerous sport! (as are many in the "extreme sports" category)

[Chris Muthig]

I kayak alot, the only rapids I've been on are at Gilchrist blue springs (santa fe river) and Juniper springs, but those were fast moving ripples at best, and didn't last long.  Nothing compared to what I used to call rapids.  I currently have 6 kayaks, and live right in the middle of the best kayaking springs in Florida, out in Ocala national Forest.  Best in this area, in order of my personal preference, is (1) Juniper Springs (faster current, narrow, mostly tree covered, but a little more advanced than an amateur paddle), (2) Silver Springs (deep, crystal clear, tons of oversized fish and manatees, also see Rheesus Monkeys around every other trip, birdlife is exceptional there), and (3) Rainbow river, also clear, faster moving, more wildlife, but no return trip so you have to paddle with the current then against the current.  Honorable mention would be Salt Springs since I like to fish, and I've caught catfish on one trip, jacks on another, and tons of ladyfish on another.

[Doug SC]

I have done white water in tandem and solo canoes with airbags but not in Kayaks.
I Love both Juniper Springs and Silver Springs and mostly use a canoe for them. My first trip down Juniper Springs run was with my Dad back in 1968. Years later when I lived in Welaka (where 2 of our 3 kids were born) we would often camp at Salt Springs. I also deer hunted the area in the Salt Springs unit when it became part of the Ocala Forest.


Siver Springs
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Juniper Springs

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[Doug SC]

Shannon Christy

I recently read an article about expert kayaker Shannon Christy and her tragic death while preparing for a race on the Potomac River. I didn't save the link, but found this one:https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2442083/Extreme-kayaker-Shannon-Christy-killed-2-days-60-Minutes-Sports-profile.html

Obviously a dangerous sport! (as are many in the "extreme sports" category)

I remember when that happened. A lot of the other kayakers there that knew her were deeply affected. Low head dams and some rapids have hydraulics that can hold you down in an endless loop trapping much of what goes into them. Sometimes if you are capable of swimming to the very bottom you can get spit out. Though coming out of the PFD is often required to do that (very risky). Getting caught under water pinned against a sweeper like the top of a downed tree is another killer. If you capsize you want to stay at the surface and swim hard to try and stay above the limbs in the water climbing out if possible. The water doesn't have to be moving very fast to pin you if it is pressing against your whole body. Moving water has hidden hazards even if you aren't doing an extreme sport.

Here are two examples of how a hydraulic holds things.

This is a rescue discussion.
https://www.canoetripping.net/threads/video-paddler-and-boat-trapped-in-low-head-dam.129515/

This is tragic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKMkXLLBnAQ
 

[Captain Kidd]

The water doesn't have to be moving very fast to pin you if it is pressing against your whole body. Moving water has hidden hazards even if you aren't doing an extreme sport.

I've rafted the Nantahalla River numerous times. Even though it is a relatively mild river, I've experienced the power of that moving water. You have to respect the water!!!!