My husband and I want to learn how to Kyack.  we need to rent kyacks and of
course to take a lesson.  Anyone know where within an hours drive, this can
be accomplished?  Thanks in advance.

19 responses total.

The U of M Dept Recreational Sports is offering Introductory Kayak
Clinic, at the NCRB Pool, on 27th Oct *or* 10th Nov. Cost is $5.
Those involved should be able to put you in touch with people and
places. Call 313-764-3967.

Another place you could call is Canoe Sport.  They're on North Main
just south of the NEW Center.

Thank you both.  I kind of wanted to start this weekend so Ill try Canoe
Sport first and see if we can get someone there to 1)teach, 2) rent
equipment.  If not, I'll delay gratification and wait till 10/27.  By next
summer, I want to be able to Kyack across Lake Union in Seattle (without
turning upside down.) :-).

You are supposed to turn upside down. That is the "eskimo roll" (or is
that an ice-cream sandwich....;-)). Are you sure you want to drink
Lake Union?

  Eskimo Roll- A complicated maneuver done by crazy people who own kayaks.

 Eskimo Pie- An ice cream treat covered in chocolate. If you eat too many
             you'll be able to roll just fine without using the kayak.

  Polar Bear's definition of Eskimo Roll--- Plump Eskimo wrapped snugly in
whale blubber or seal.
;)

I took the U of M course several years ago and really got a lot out of
it!  The local group calls its self "The Raw Strength and Courage Kayakers
of Ann Arbor" and they put on the classes at NCRB.  Eskimo rolls?  Yes
they will teach you Eastern or western style, depending if you like you
face or not.  I prefer Hawian rolls myself.
 
It is best to take these classes during the winter months since this group
distributes itself throughout wild rivers during the warmer seasons and
regroups at NCRB when the water gets too cold.  They teach paddle strokes
and technique, feeling comfortable while upside down in the water (most
people tend to want to panic when upside down in a "confined" kayak.  They
are, in fact, very easy to slip out of even when skirted in.) At the end of
each lesson they set up gates and the group goes out and does "gate series"
which is a lot of fan and lets you wok on balance and techniques you have
learned.

And you all go out for Chinese food, afterward?

Sounds like they're cooking it while they practice...and stay cool.

I would prefer the Eskimo Pie to an Eskimo Roll.  Did an "Eskimo Roll" once
while canoeing down the Huron after a storm.  We were zipping along at a rpid
(that's rapid folks) speed when a downed tree branch loomed in front of me
(I was first in the canoe).  Like the great sportswoman I am, I grabbed the
tree with both hands and over we went.  Wound up under the boat standing
in what surely was quicksand (also uner the water).  Not a pleasant sight.
Lost the oars, our food, got drenched (it was fall and cold) and to top
it off, almost drowned.  Now that I think of it, cant understand why I want to
Kyack.  Anyway, you can surely understand why I dont want to roll over in
a Kyack. . .and thats why I want lessons.  Come to think of it, my best sport
is read. . .ing.  Safer that way.

I was once rafting down the New River (WV) and was in the bow. We hit
a hole and I went over the front, and was swept over by the raft. It
was a beauteous sight. All around me were bubbles, illuminated by the
light from around the raft. I decided, however, that I really shouldn't stay 
there, so worked my way to the stern, and popped up for air. It was really
quite peaceful under the raft, although I'm sure those in raft were having
a wild ride down the rapid. Fortunately, I did not get wiped away by a rock
or snag. This was not an "Eskimo Roll", but indicated to me that kyakers
could indeed enjoy "rolling".

When I was young, I used to take a yearly canoe trip on the Pine.  One year,
I had a real doofus in the bow of my canoe.  On the Pine, anyway, a bowpern
is supposed to look for rocks and other problem areas and tell the sternpern
which way to steer.  

This idiot would shout out "Rock!" only *after* we would hit it.  So most of
the rapids we negotiated sounded like....Bang..."Rock!"........Smash.."Rock!"
Until we finally scraped up onto a large submerged rock, and the canoe began
to turn circles, with the center of the canoe wedge up on the boulder.
After the third 360, I heard him say, "Rock!"

The bow paddler should also know how to cross-bow paddle, and then would
not have to tell the sternpern anything (unless a double effort were
required). Cross-bow paddling is, in effect, pulling the bow port
or starboard, as needed. The sternper should know how to respond to avoid
going in circle (!).

Your arms must be longer than mine, Rane (or else the front seat in your
canoe is closer to the bow that the canoes I'm used to).

Rane had a point, Kent, it's just that a fast-moving river with a slew of
14 year olds doesn't lend itself as a gentle introduction to canoeing.

In cross-bow paddling you don't reach past the bow - you reach out
port or starboard, and pull the bow over. You can thread a fine course
this way. The trick is to transfer quickly between port/starboard -
experts do some paddle twirling during the transfer ;-). 

This response has been erased.

When doing an eskimo roll, you don't get out of the kayak.  The whole point
being to get upright without taking on too much water, hence the covered
deck and spray-skirt that fits tight around your waist and the opening in
the yak.  The tricky part being how to use your paddle as a platform from
which to right yourself from.  Not at all easy.
I just recently discovered canoing.  Now that I'm no longer single and have
2 kids to boot, the yak isn't getting the use it once did.  We started out
with an old aluminum canoe my inlaws had and then bought our own fiberglass
Old Town Columbia a couple years later.  The Columbia is light, tippy, fast
and loads of fun!  We've even entered a few races and always seem to wind
up with some trophy or another at the end.  Don't know why Old Town has
discontinued it.  Too much of a good thing?  Makes those rental iron boats
feel like paddling a full oil tanker.

My eskimo roll was "no kayak", and I didn't take on any water, either.
I'll let someone else ask why you boot kids.

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