Posted by Greg on
April 18, 2020
I nudged the right rudder pedal and reminiscent of a vintage fighter plane peeling off to dive, my kayak heeled over as the bow dropped sharply into the wave trough just ahead of me. The acceleration was instantaneous. I had to stand on my foot-pegs and lean back to keep the bow from pearling. Soon I was surfing faster than my arms could spin; I even stopped paddling completely — holding the paddle blade skimming just above the water ready for a low brace. The GPS recorded 11 mph as my exuberant shouts of “Woo Hoo!!!” were drowned-out by the wind!
I was in the deepest part of Tampa Bay, about 5 miles from the starting beach with still a mile and a half to go to reach the shelter of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) near Anna Maria island. During the crossing my speed was averaging 5, 6, and even 7 mph. The conditions were such that I could point my bow into the next wave trough and surf almost at will — although not always directly toward my destination, weaving a zig-zag path toward Anna Maria. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Greg on
March 18, 2013
The Everglades Challenge 2013 is done, results are at http://www.watertribe.com/Events/ChallengeResults.aspx. I had a good run and was pleased to be the first solo class 2 (racing kayaks and canoes, no sail) to finish, and also led the class 1 (expedition kayaks/canoes with 1 meter sails).
Although my watertribe name is “KayakVagabond”, after the event a few people surprised me by calling me “Random Animal”. Apparently this was coined by the highly skilled and competitive “IronBob”, who along with “TheJuice” finished first in their class in a double. I dueled with them frequently during the race. Apparently “Random Animal” is a reference to someone new who shows up at an event and goes hard. Hmmm — although I am much more deliberate than random, there’s worse things I have been called…. :^) Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Greg on
February 27, 2013
“If you are not an expert paddler and/or sailor, do not enter this race. Even if you are a well-prepared expert you may DIE – yes, you may DIE. … ENTER AND PARTICIPATE AT YOUR OWN RISK – And have Fun!” — Watertribe disclaimer
Press Release:
OVER 100 BOATS TO COMPETE IN WATERTRIBE EVERGLADES CHALLENGE AND ULTRA MARATHON
A 300-mile adventure race for small boats paddling and sailing from Tampa Bay to Key Largo in 8 days or less.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Greg on
February 1, 2012
My latest DIY project was to create a full footboard to replace the skimpy original on my K1 (right).
This was a relatively quick and inexpensive project. First task was to make a cardboard pattern to determine the size and fit. For the construction I used 1/2″ (12.7mm) thick birch plywood, but it’s stronger than it needs to be, 3/8″ (9.5mm) thickness would be fine, and would save a little weight. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Greg on
January 6, 2012
… Only tippy paddlers.
At least that’s what I used to tell students …. before I tried a K1 sprint kayak.
So why a K1? I’m working with computers again — great for cash flow and rebuilding bank accounts, but not so great for long trips and expeditions. However the silver lining is that there is plenty of time to train and complete in the local races, grow stronger, and learn some new skills. Also, my interest was piqued by what I have heard about these slender hulls. Surf the web and you will discover comments such as “the K1 is the formula 1 of the kayaking world”, “separates the men from the boys” , and “if you can paddle a K1 you can paddle anything!”. While it’s best to treat what you read on the internet with healthy skepticism, that sounds like a challenge if I ever heard one!
I always find it rewarding to branch out into other aspects of the diverse world of kayak-sport. Being a “beginner” again in a new discipline is humbling, keeps you grounded and you experience the thrill of rapidly learning and improving. That’s great fun if you have been doing something for years or if you feel your skills have plateaued.
I’m comfortable in 19″ width Greenland skin-on-frame kayaks, a tippy waveski, and train on a balance board. How much more difficult could it be?
As it turns out — more than I imagined!
Unlike Europe, the K1 scene is not very developed in the states. I have paddled for over 20 years, with many groups and in many disciplines and have only seen a handful of K1’s in that time here. Sprint kayaking is regulated by the International Canoe Federation (ICF). An ICF K1 must be 5.2m (17.06 feet) long and weigh 12kg (26.4 pounds). The kayaks are usually built much lighter than this and have precise weight added to meet the requirements. In 2003 the ICF Congress abolished the minimum beam requirement and designs quickly changed. The kayak shown here is an “old rules” kayak with “wings” (diamond shape) to satisfy the obsolete beam requirement.
K1 hulls vary in stability, they are given a stability rating from 1 – 10. At the lowest level are the Olympic sprint kayaks (part your hair the wrong way and you have a problem). The higher stability ranges overlap with sea kayaks.
I was looking for an Epic Legacy or Nelo Vintage, but the waiting period was long. Fortunately, my good friend Russell Farrow at Sweetwater kayaks had an old K1 that was left behind in Florida after spring training by a European team. South Florida, especially the Pines resort in Melbourne, hosts a number of Olympic hopefuls each year, looking to escape the Winter cold (snowbirds in the local lingo), to train.
The boat is a Bootsbau Berlin K1, year of manufacture unknown. Its condition was a little rough, but after some gelcoat patching and elbow grease it cleaned up pretty good and the hull is sound. I didn’t want to complicate an already challenging process with a leaking kayak!
Coming from a sea kayak background where I prefer a skeg, rather than a rudder, another different aspect to learn is the steering. Unlike “gas-pedal” rudder controls on a surfski, or some sea kayaks, a K1 (usually) employs tiller steering. Paddling barefoot, the idea is to cradle the tiller bar between your feet. You gently nudge the bar right to go right and vice-versa. Although this setup does let you push hard on the footboard without activating the rudder, it takes some getting used to as there is precious little room and your feet are (optionally) secured by a pull-bar or strap.
Tiller steering takes some getting used to. I prefer to push with my heels so will be modifying the footbrace to a full footboard system. I’ll post some pics when done.
So had did the maiden paddle go? Did it involve some unintentional “swimming practice” or did I keep the bottom side down?
Please check back soon to find out!
I’ll be including some technique tips in the future as well, including some coaching techniques popularized by the great Imre Kemecsey.