I don’t take in all the pool sessions, but I do like to get in a few, especially before the snow comes and brings with it the misery of loading/unloading in the snow and cold.

This last Sunday was the second of the season’s pool sessions sponsored by the Badger State Boating Society (BS2 (supposed to be a superscript 2, but I can’t figure out how to do it)).  Back in the early to mid-’90s, BS2 would have monthly meetings at a bar just northwest of Milwaukee.  I’d go to the meetings and talk to others about sea kayaking, I was always in the minority and that was ok, the love of recreating on the water brought us together.  We’d have a holiday party with big Mike dressed up as Santa, and me as an elf (complete with green capilene underwear and bells).  One year we arrived via a canoe being pulled by some of the club members pretending to be reindeer.  Oops, the canoe was wider than the door.  Everyone had a great laugh, lots of food and drink, along with lots of gifts provided by the local outfitters, of which I was one.  Well, I sure have digressed, but it does bring back some fond memories of nearly 20 years ago!!!

Now, BS2 (that’s BS squared), has given up the monthly meetings at the local club house, and are mainly a group of whitewater paddlers who openly welcome us “long boaters” to share in the wealth of the clean and warm waters of the Schroeder YMCA for a series of pool sessions between December (or late November this year) and March.

As one can imagine, you get a few (5 this past Sunday) sea kayaks in a small section of a large pool, and while there’s not much room to do a lot of paddling, there’s plenty of space to do some rather stationary activities.  The whole idea is to hone the skills in the comfort of the pool during the winter so when we go on the open waters we will be better paddlers.

Here’s some video I shot at the last session–Rick is getting a lot of coaching in rolling and high bracing.  By the way, the video was taken with my Pentax Optio 20W, not my big “fancy” video rig.  Hope you enjoy, and that you too will take advantage of your local club’s pool sessions.  (The music is Jaime RT, Butterfly and the Talking Cat.)

Posted: December 9th, 2009 under Lake Michigan, Ramblings, Uncategorized, videos.
Comments: 4

Over at Silbs Says he is wondering why he is so stiff and sore after a pool session where he was a rollin’ around in the water for a couple of hours (”I Don’t Get It” 12/1/2009).  And, while I wasn’t there, I suspect he was putting his body through all sorts of gyrations that it had not been through for a long time–perhaps since rolling camp 3 or 4 months ago.  I’ve observed him, and others, doing all sorts of rolling, especially some of the Greenland movements, really twisting their body, and throwing their arms out-n-about.  These movements are usually way out of the normal range they put their joints through, and they wonder why they are sore the next day?

Now our fellow blogger and sea kayaker, and roller in his own right, DaveO from the land of purple and gold and all things favre–though we won’t hold that against him, has suggested in a comment to Silbs that the aches and pains are nothing that Bushmill’s wouldn’t solve. I’m not so sure Bushmills’ would “solve” the problem, but certainly could make one forget about those issues for awhile.  Or, “Doctor, it hurts when I do this,” patient says as he hits himself in the head.  Doctor replies, “don’t do that!”  There, problem/pain solved.  Not so easy with kayakers though–when given a body of warm clean water, a boat and a paddle, what’s a kayaker to do?  Roll it!  Then roll over and do it again, and again, and again . . . .

I would submit that for a more permanent solution one should check out Sea Kayak Dot Net where you will find a great series on exercises to do to strengthen one’s self for the paddling and rolling that we do.

I’ve discussed the “get fit to paddle” theme before, so it may come as somewhat of a “beating a dead horse” but I can’t emphasize enough the need, as well as the positive correlation, between being fit to paddle and being a fit paddler.  (Keeping Your Edge, December  27, 2007.)

Ok, so you paddled a lot this past summer and now that winter is here (at least colder air and water temperatures, and snow forecast today), you will cut back to limited, or no, outdoor paddling but maybe a pool session or two between now and next “session”.  Do you really think that you are going maintain the same level of fitness and paddling ability where you left off?  As sea kayakers we need to maintain three levels of fitness:  cardio (endurance), strength, and flexibility.  Just like that three legged stool, without maintaining all three we are going to be wobbley when we get in our kayaks.

There’s plenty of information available to help guide us, here are a few of my favorites (in addition to the aforementioned Sea Kayak Dot Net):

• Fit to Paddle: The Paddler’s Guide to Strength and Condtioning, by Rocky Snyder, Ragged Mountain Press, 2003.
• Book of Body Maintenance and Repair, by Marilyn Moffat and Steve Vickery, Owl Books, 1999.
• Yoga for Paddlers, (DVD)

Something to think about, something to do, and certainly some good study materials.

As for me, I visit the athletic club 3 times a week, go through a series of stretches and core exercises virtually every morning, and I watch my weight (didn’t gain any over Thanksgiving, and didn’t starve either!).  I also study the reference materials, and search for more.  Most importantly, I have fun!  Now, if I manage to do this with my work schedule, you can too.

Get fit to paddle and be a fit paddler!

Posted: December 3rd, 2009 under Fitness, Health, Sea Kayaking, Uncategorized.
Comments: 4

It’s a travel video (aka a journey), no it’s an instructional video (aka coaching) — stop you’re both right! Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown is indeed both. It is, in my opinion, one of the best, if not the best sea kayak instructional video produced to date. Besides Brown being one of the top coaches in the United Kingdom, the camera work and editing by Simon Willis is superb! There’s close ups, there’s wide shots, there’s shots from different angles, there’s actual speed, there’s stop action, there’s slow-motion. To accompany the great video work, Brown and Willis have an uncanny ability to describe what we are seeing. They are so effective that even though I was sitting on the couch or in a chair during my viewings, and not my kayak, I found myself moving my body as though I was in the kayak. The sound quality is excellent throughout–often on-water videos have a lot of wind noise, or just poor voice quality. Neither are issues with this production. The progression of initially teaching the strokes in calm water, then showing how they are put to use in more lumpy conditions is very effective.

The journey is fun too. The group of 9, covers the usual wide range of experience levels one gets on such a trip.  They explore the shore of the west coast of the Isle of Skye, Brown’s home waters. I’ve been all over most of Scotland, but never to the Isle of Skye, so this is certainly a treat for me. And, who can argue with a campfire complete with local music and Talisker single malt whisky?  These are a few of my favorite things!  The only nit that I have is that I would like to have seen some coaching of those on the journey by coach Brown.  On the other hand, that could have pushed the production beyond the limits of watchability; but I do enjoy, and learn much, from watching other instructors and coaches do their thing.

Within the past week (mid-November) the NTSC version (this is the US version that will play on DVD players in the United States, as well as certain other countries) has arrived in the warehouse in the US. While distribution is starting out slowly, I’m certain that it will be available soon at your favorite paddle shop. Can’t wait? I couldn’t either, so I contacted the US distributor directly and they shipped my copy directly to me. I’m told that Sea Kayak should be available to order from the distributor very soon.  In the mean time, if you are in the “can’t wait category”, send an email to sales@helipress.com and order directly.

You should already own the book Sea Kayak A Manual for Intermediate and Advanced Sea Kayakers, by Gordon Brown (Pesda Press, 2006), now get the video.  However, be warned that the video only covers a small portion of the book, and we are told that there will be future videos produced to compliment the book.  I can hardly wait, but guess I have no choice to do so!

Finally, for a preview, click the image of Gordon in the tidal race:

DVD Trailer

Posted: November 24th, 2009 under videos.
Comments: 1

This is a MUST HAVE book for the sea kayaker looking to improve, and for every instructor/coach!  Now that you know how I feel . . .

As the name implies, Sea Kayak Handling by Doug Cooper is about strokes and maneuvers—not about seamanship, rescues and all the other things related to sea kayaking.  Rather Sea Kayak Handling (SKH) is about moving a sea kayak through the water efficiently, effectively, and safely (as it relates to injury prevention).  While the “subtitle” says it is “Essential Knowledge for Beginner and Intermediate Paddlers”, I’ll bet those who consider themselves beyond the intermediate level will learn a few things from studying this manual (you don’t simply read a book like this, rather you study it).  I know I did, and continue to do so! 

SKH is very detailed in the description of each stroke and maneuver, and is supported by clear photographs of what is written—after all, a picture is worth a thousand words.  The publisher (Pesda Press) has further supported SKH by posting on their website video clips of Cooper performing the strokes and maneuvers.  So, if a picture is worth a thousand words, the video is priceless.  Ah, the marvels of technology! Furthermore, the videos are there for the viewing even if you don’t buy the book—something for free, how wonderful is that???

I remember back many moon ago (many, many, many moons ago actually) when I had one of my first in-depth sea kayak strokes and maneuvers lessons.  Scott Williams (Sweetwater Kayaks in Sarasota Florida) came to Milwaukee to conduct a class for the local sea kayakers—this was at a time when I personally knew all by name (but I digress).  After the lesson, and over dinner with some good beer, Scott and I were talking and he suggested developing bullet points for all of the strokes and maneuvers.  It was during this class and the ensuing discussions with Scott that the whole concept of boat, body and blade really began to jell in my mind.  The next morning, as I prepared breakfast, Scott sat at my kitchen counter and “scratched” out the key points for each stroke/maneuver that we had covered the previous couple of days in the boat, body, blade format.  And, I still refer to a subsequent edition of this document.

Doug Cooper has used a similar format, added exceptional photographs, and it all comes together with the video.  Further, Cooper adds valuable sidebars on equipment and environmental considerations, as well as valuable “Top Tips” for the reader.  If you are an instructor/coach, the “Top Tips” will add to your instruction kit.

Warning:  Do not be tempted to jump directly to the first stroke presented (high angle forward) without first reading the preceding pages as they cover all the basic information forming  the basis of all the strokes and maneuvers.   Posture, connectivity with the boat, power transfer from the body through the boat and paddle, and developing the “feel” for the boat—these are the all important “foundation skills”.

While the first stroke presented is the high angle forward, the second is the low angle forward.  This lends credence to the value of both depending on the environment and the equipment.

If your local shop doesn’t have it, Amazon.com has the book listed as $12.27 add shipping ($4.00) and it will be one of the best sea kayak reference books in your collection for less than $20.00!  I ordered my copy directly from the publisher in Wales and paid about $22.00 with shipping, and I received it in under a week from across the pond!

By the way, for seamanship and other things related to sea kayaking, I highly recommend Gordon Brown’s Sea Kayaking, A Manual for Intermediate & Advanced Sea Kayakers (Pesda Press, 2006), and watch for the soon to be released in the US DVD featuring Gordon Brown—I’ve seen clips and it is GREAT!  To view clips for yourself check-out Ocean Paddler Magazine’s website.

Posted: November 9th, 2009 under Reviews (books.
Comments: 4

Flat line, a bad thing!

It had been one of the busiest shifts that we had worked in awhile, maybe ever, for my partner and me. First emergency call came to us within about 2 minutes of our shift starting, didn’t even have time to give the squad our usual thorough check over. . . just the basics: green bag, blue bag, OB kit, AED, oxygen, check, roll!

Four hours later we finally get a chance to get fuel. Just as we are thinking about the shift coming to an end, at least the end is only two hours away, which means maybe one more call, our squad phone rings and dispatch asks if we are clear of fueling yet. “Just clear”, I respond. “Ok, got a 10-17 with fire coming to your screen.” The screen starts squawking with “emergency pending, emergency pending” being announced. As I hit the enroute button which silences the announcement and sends a signal to dispatch that we are rolling, I read the address out lout to my partner. She hits the lights and the siren and begins to maneuver the squad through the city streets, we’re 4 to 5 minutes away. The nature of call is “unresponsive”. As we approach the intersection from the north where we need to turn to the address given, we see the responding engine coming from the south. As in kayaking, the gross tonnage rule applies and we yield to them. As we turn the corner we see a group of people mid-block on the left, one of them is doing CPR on someone lying in the easement between the street and the sidewalk.

As we roll to a stop, the firefighters are jumping out, and we are doing likewise. There are now six trained professionals on-scene and the by-stander steps back. Without saying more than one or two words between the six of us, one firefighter readies the AED, which will also analyze the cardiac rhythm and deliver shocks as appropriate. My partner kneels at the head and carefully straightens out the neck to get a patent airway. I check for a pulse as another firefighter is checking for responsiveness. Non-responsive, no pulse and not breathing. We know what needs to be done and as if we had worked together as a team for ever, we set about the task of trying to save a life. As one firefighter readies the airway materials; I cut-off the person’s shirts so the AED can be attached. There are no visible signs of trauma. Chest compressions begin. AED is attached. Not a shockable rhythm, continue chest compressions. A paramedic rig arrives, along with several police cars. We lift the lifeless body onto the cot and place it in the back of the med rig. An IV line is started to get medications on board, they could make a difference. The patient is intubated and connected to a bag-valve mask that will force oxygen into the lungs, it’s all about getting oxygenated blood to the brain.

More police arrive and are canvassing the area. What happened to this guy? The medications work and bring the heart into what is analyzed to be a shockable rhythm, shock delivered. No change. Continue chest compressions. The firefighters take turns doing compressions, the effectiveness of compressions decrease as fatigue sets in, and doing chest compressions is hard work! At this point there’s not much for my partner and I to do. If we weren’t blocked in by all the other responders we could leave. I’m glad we can’t. Not only am I an EMT, but I also teach CPR, a real life experience to use in my teachings!

We answer a couple of questions the police have for us. I tidy up the equipment still on the ground where we started. As the patient (aka “code”) is worked, several police officers, along with my partner and I, stand at the back of the ambulance looking in at the lifeless body on the cot. Another shock is delivered by the AED, still nothing.

After about 50 minutes, and following their protocol, the paramedics determine that further efforts would not convert him. Compressions are stopped, the breathing via the BVM is stopped, the monitor turned off, and the body covered with a couple of sheets. A police officer with a mobile ID gadget takes a couple of finger prints and within a couple of minutes has a positive ID from the marvels of cyberspace.

In this case we know what the outcome is, which we often don’t. We still wonder why? What happened? What took the life of this 25 year old? We have a theory, but we will most likely never know for sure.

I’ve been called to the scene where someone was discovered a few days after dying, and I’ve had patients who were pretty close to death, this was the first “fresh” PNB (pulseless not breathing) for me. And, it was a good team effort between all the EMS on scene! Unfortunately this teachable moment doesn’t have a positive outcome, never-the-less it is a valuable experience.

Oh what a night!

Posted: April 24th, 2009 under Emergency Medicine, Uncategorized.
Comments: 3

Just completed day 5 of a 7 day Wilderness First Responder class that I’m an assistant instructor on–it’s the first of it’s type that I’ve assisted with.  Great students, great curriculum, great lead instructors that I’m privileged to be be working with.  Here, Chicago sea kayaker John Martin has managed to wrap himself around a tree while going to the aid of some of his friends.  The two students are working to stabilize him so he can be evacuated to a nearby trauma center.  By the way, the woman holding John’s C-spine stable is from Southern California–yep, she came here to take the class before heading off to Ecuador in a few weeks!  Can you say “climate shock!”

Posted: January 7th, 2009 under Uncategorized, Wilderness Medicine.
Comments: 2

One of the things that I’ve been fortunate with during the past several years has been the mentoring that I’ve received along my journey to become an Open Water Instructor Trainer with the American Canoe Association (ACA). During this journey Sam Crowley, an Instructor Trainer Educator, has been my mentor. Sam and I have spent countless hours together on the water, on the shoreline, in the classroom, around the table, on the telephone, over lunch, over breakfast, over dinner, over cyber space (email), as well as snail mail, and even over a beer. During these sessions Sam has provided me with the feedback to facilitate my becoming a better instructor, and an instructor trainer. I’m thankful for his time, energy, mentorship, for his professionalism, and his friendship! Thanks Sam!!!

For more about Sam checkout Sea Kayak Specialists web site.

As I start another chapter in my life, that as an instructor with Wilderness Medical Associates, I look forward to the mentoring I will receive from Ann Dunphy. I had the pleasure of assisting Ann last May with the Wilderness First Aid class for Rutabaga. Being the first class that I assisted with, I was pretty much an observer. In the coming months I will be teaching Wilderness First Aid and Wilderness First Responder classes with Ann, as well as other lead instructors. This past year I assisted four different instructors, all of a very high quality—which speaks highly of the process that WMA uses to select and train its instructors. I’m pleased to have Ann as my mentor, we have a lot in common—besides the love of teaching and emergency medicine, we both enjoy kayaking and a good beer! 

For more information about Wilderness Medical Associates checkout their web site at wildmed.com.

Posted: November 28th, 2008 under Friends, personal.
Comments: 1

I always have an interest in what’s happening on the lake, Lake Michigan–my home water.  Besides the weather links listed on the weather page (see Weather Links in the side-bar) on the site here, there are a few more links that you may find useful as well–at least I do.  So here they are, along with my comments.

If you have a favorite weather/conditions site, send it to me and I’ll get if posted.

Nearshore Forecast

This is a new and improved format (longer range and graphics) of the nearshore text forecast that we’ve used for many years http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?site=LOT&textField1=42.9916&textField2=-87.8159

Water Temperatures

Great Lakes Coastal Forecasting System—Lake Michigan Surface Temperatures (note:  use the two drop- down lists to navigate to additional data http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/glcfs/glcfs.php?lake=m&ext=swt&type=N&hr=00

Mid-Lake Buoy East Souteast of Milwaukee http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=45007

CoastWatch

http://www.coastwatch.msu.edu/michigan/m.html

Note:  Cloud covered areas of the lake surface cannot be read accurately by NOAA satellites so the computer program colors them black. Areas near the black masked cloud cover may not be as precisely reported as those some distance from the clouds. CoastWatch images are generally representative of surface temperature conditions, they are not as accurate as your road atlas.  Some areas are masked with grey color because the computer program has indicated the temperatures presented are probably cloud temperatures. The air temperature at the tops of clouds can sometimes be very nearly the same as the surface water temperature of the lakes below. The grey-scale masking indicates that the accuracy of temperature reporting is lower at this time.

http://coastwatch.msu.edu/twomichigans.html

Webcam links of current nearby Lake Michigan water conditions (“nearby” to Milwaukee that is)

Milwaukee Harbor

ftp://ftp.glerl.noaa.gov/realtime/mil/mil1.jpg

Various possibilities for viewing current conditions in Milwaukee (warning:  can be a bit putzie)

http://www.lakefrontcam.com/

Sheboygan

http://www.visitsheboygan.com/BlueHarbor/view.htm

http://www.visitsheboygan.com/live/view.htm

Then there’s this bit of info, similar to the weather rope we used in the navy –

Posted: October 9th, 2008 under Lake Michigan, Sea Kayaking, Weather.
Comments: 1

Welcome to the new and improved site for Seakayakerjb Speaks and wildernessconnection.com!

(At least I think it’s improved.)

I decided to roll my long standing (dormant) web site (which I’ve had since 1993, long before web sites were as popular as they are today) and the blog together.  This combined blog and web site is something others have done and I really like how they flowed.

My goal is to post a blog at least once a week, and if I have something to say more frequently, well I just might post more than once a week.

I’d really like for this to be a communication means and look forward to comments from the visitors (yes that’s you)!  So, post your thoughts . . .thanks!

The web site is still undergoing some work, but it’s work is in progress!  Some of the things to look forward to include a section for students where they will find materials related specifically to their class they took from me (sea kayaking, wilderness first aid, or CPR).

I hope you find this useful and I do look forward to your input.

Posted: August 15th, 2008 under Ramblings, Uncategorized.
Comments: 3

In just a few days now the Vernal Equinox will be upon us (March 20th this year).  Canoecopia has come and gone, which is the beginning of spring for the paddling community around here.

 St. Patrick’s Day is also on the horizon . . . many will drink green beer, which I don’t understand at all.  I prefer a simple toast with a pint of Guinness, or a glass of Irish whisky, which I shall do.

 All that’s left is for the weather to cooperate and get on with it!!!  SPRING–let there be SPRING!

Posted: March 16th, 2008 under Ramblings.
Comments: none