Nigel Foster - The Art of Kayaking: Everything You Need to Know about Paddling

FALCON GUIDES

An imprint of Globe Pequot

Falcon and FalconGuides are registered trademarks and Make Adventure Your Story is a trademark of Rowman & Littlefield.

Distributed by NATIONAL BOOK NETWORK

Copyright 2017 Nigel Foster

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages in a review.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Information available

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Foster, Nigel, 1952- author.

Title: The art of kayaking : everything you need to know about paddling / Nigel Foster.

Description: Guilford, Connecticut/Helena Montana : FalconGuides brick, an imprint of Globe Pequot Falcon and FalconGuides are registered trademarks and Make Adventure Your Story is a trademark of Rowman & Littlefield, distributed by National Book Network, [2016]

Identifiers: LCCN 2017001071 (print) | LCCN 2017003149 (ebook) | ISBN 9781493025701 (pbk. : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781493025718 (ebook) | ISBN 9781493025718 (e-book)

Subjects: LCSH: Kayaking--Handbooks, manuals, etc.

Classification: LCC GV783 .F789 2016 (print) | LCC GV783 (ebook) | DDC 797.122/4--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017001071

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.

The author and Rowman & Littlefield assume no liability for accidents happening to, or injuries sustained by, readers who engage in the activities described in this book.

How on earth did I come to learn enough about something I love to write a book about it? Thanks. Mum and Dad. You, my earliest inspiration and guidance, still never cease to amaze me with your wisdom and great example. Without you kindling the fires, I would never have gone exploring by kayak or otherwise, or started designing or writing.

And following on in time, my wonderful daughter, who first kayaked at the age of four and long ago far surpassed my expectations and hopes, and Alex, her husband, also inspire me to continue.

Thanks to Sharon, my first wife, who always encouraged me in my business of kayaking and writing, who joined me on many adventures and shared my love of outdoors. Without your support I may never have finished my very first book. This now is my eleventh.

I have the best siblings: My sister, always suggesting gems of places I should go to paddle with glowing descriptions that tempted and intrigued; my younger brother, always the creator of great questions; and my older brother, the role model I chased from behind. I am extremely lucky to have such a great family.

I am also blessed with a great network of friends around the world, without which I surely would have long ago stopped traveling and exploring, and may have lost my dreams.

Of many dear friends, I would like to specifically thank Roland and Britta Johansson, Tomas Ohman, and Joel Rogers for their unhesitating help in getting me the photos I needed for this book. I would also like to thank my close friend Drew Delaney, a true explorer and adventurer whose images may still appear, although sadly he cannot.

Among the friends I am fortunate to have, or have outlived, I count a number of influential characters from the kayaking world whose books you may have read, whose opinions you may have heard, whose ideas may affect how you paddle, or whose kayak or paddle designs you have seen, if not used. Among them too are those whose exploits are incredible and groundbreaking; paddlers who will surely continue to inspire from generation to generation. For my own part, I have often paddled against the tide of current opinion, style, or trend, seeking a path that seemed true only to me. I love it that every one of the characters I mention has at least the same passion, sensitivity, and obstinacy as I do, and seldom the same approach. The world is better off for the different opinions and different styles. Although I do not agree with all the opinions, I recognize that clones do not drive progress. Thank you all for your steering influence, whether by like poles or opposite. Your influence helps shape our sport.

The production of any book takes much more than writing. Thanks to all at Globe Pequot and FalconGuides for your belief in me. It is your persistence through the tedium of fact-checking, graphics, copyediting, and production that make my ideas appear in the form of a cohesive book. While I have had the pleasure of meeting only a few of you, I do sincerely appreciate your contribution.

Finally, I have a wonderful wife, Kristin, who believes in what I do and shares in what I do. Kristin, you have no idea how much that means to me. Thank you.

Nigel Foster

June 2016

Nigel kayaks: Its what he does.

I began as a teenager, inspired by my older brother and encouraged by my parents. Wheeling our kayaks two miles downhill to reach the sea was just the start to our challenges. We little knew how little we knew.

Acquiring a new skill was like finding a fossil on the plowed, flint-cobbled fields we passed on our way to the sea. A rare occurrence, for although we passed fields on our way we had other matters to mind. When I launched my kayak I wasnt thinking about learning, I was thinking about paddling. I managed to roam in my kayak without learning anything much of value about paddling at all. Kayaking simply seemed very accessible.

Of the many ways to learn kayaking, mine was mostly error and trial. I laid down a wonderful foundation of poor technique that took years to unravel. While trying to establish better habits I began to see how useful the details were and how they all worked together in a stroke. I also discovered how quickly habits form, and how difficult it is to change them later. These were key concepts that helped me when I began instructing.

Early in this book I introduce basic elements that will get you afloat without bad habits. Although you can work fine with just these main points, you can add flavor to them as I dissect each technique, add finer detail, and introduce more complex moves. I also explain why and when you might find such moves and details useful.

Everything you do in your kayak should be made to measure. Very few techniques are ready to wear. You must adapt techniques to suit your physique, your flexibility, your confidence level, your equipment, and your needs. I offer alternative approaches that achieve similar results, so you can develop your own preferences and paddling style, which will differ from mine.

I am driven by curiosity and my mantra: Minimum effort for maximum effect. There are many nuances that can each improve performance. I enjoy paring down what I need to do to the absolute minimum required to do what I want to achieve. This demands groundwork and understanding not only the skills involved, but also the equipment and the environment. Some technical moves will only work in certain conditions, while others require specific equipment. You cannot expect the same result from one paddle as from another, or with one kayak versus another. I have enjoyed using my understanding of how I use equipment to help me design kayaks and paddles, which in turn has helped me further develop my paddling skills.