Paddlefest Seminars
- Choosing a Canoe Paddle
- Choosing a Kayak Paddle
- Choosing Your First Canoe
- Choosing Your First Kayak
- Efficient Forward Stroke for Kayakers
- Getting Geared Up For Kayaking
- Getting Started in Whitewater
- Kayak Fishing
- Kayak rolling on Dry Land
- Kayaking in Prince William Sound, Alaska
- Paddleboarding
- Repair & Maintenance of Your Canoe/Kayak
- "Sit and Switch" Method of Canoeing
- Transporting Your Canoe/Kayak
- VHF Radio 101
Choosing a Canoe Paddle
Anyone with any paddling experience will tell you that a good paddle makes all the difference in the world in how much you enjoy canoeing. With that in mind, it makes sense to take some time to get a better understanding of what makes a good paddle. What length and blade shape is right for you? Should you get a straight shaft or a bent shaft? Plastic, wood, or carbon? All these questions and any others you have will be answered. Bending Branches was founded in 1982 by whitewater and touring canoeist, Dale Kicker, and flat-water racer, Ron Hultman. Located in Osceola, Wisconsin, Bending Branches makes a wide variety of wood canoe paddles that are beautiful and functional. This seminar will be offered on Saturday at 11:30am and again on Sunday at 12:30pm.
Choosing a Kayak Paddle
When buying their first kayak, most people spend a lot of time researching kayaks, but often put little or no time into learning about paddles. Mores the pity since the paddle is arguably more important than the boat in determining how enjoyable your day of kayaking will be. Werner Paddles has been a leader in designing and manufacturing some of the best kayaking paddles available. Take a survey among a group of experienced kayakers, and you will no doubt find several who own a Werner paddle. Find out about the differences in materials, “low-angle” vs. “high-angle” blade designs, how shaft diameter can contribute to a more comfortable grip, and how to size the paddle for its intended use. Check out this seminar at 1:30pm on Saturday.
Choosing Your First Canoe
Canoeing has a long, interesting history in North America, and while kayaks may seem to be outselling canoes right now, canoes are still one of the most versatile craft on the water. Hans has been working for Wenonah canoes since he was 14 and has paddled all over the world! His in depth knowledge of canoes will be your invaluable resource in learning to sort through the many different canoe styles and materials available. Following this seminar at 10:30am on Saturday, Hans will also give an on-water demonstration of the very efficient “sit and switch” method of paddling a canoe. That on-water demonstration will take place at 12:30pm.
Choosing Your First Kayak
If you are excited about the prospect of buying a kayak and getting into the sport, but are a bit daunted by the wide range of models, materials, and options, this seminar is for you! Sherri is an ACA-certified canoe and kayak instructor, the paddle sports department manager for Laacke & Joys, and has been kayaking for 20 years. She will explain the differences between kayak styles, help you to narrow down your choices within the category that best fits your need, and give you suggestions for making your test paddling experience more productive. We highly recommend that you attend this seminar before starting your day of test paddling. This presentation is being offered 3 times during Paddlefest; at 10:30am and 1:30pm on Saturday, and at 12:30pm on Sunday.
Efficient Forward Stroke for Kayakers
Gary Simon is a kayaker with more years of experience than he cares to admit. He currently holds the local record for most kayaks purchased for personal use in the shortest amount of time! Seriously, though, Gary was an ACA Open Water Coastal Kayak instructor and a BCU Level 3 Sea Coach. He retired several years ago to teach sea kayaking, and for the past several years, he has been racing kayaks and surfskis. He is a co-founder of Midwest Performance Paddlers, a recently-organized group which promotes fitness and competitive kayak and surfski paddling on the western Great Lakes and nearby inland waters of the Midwest. Gary will be reprising his excellent presentation from last year on the most efficient forward stroke for kayaking. This is a tremendously useful seminar for all kayakers from novice recreational kayakers to serious fitness/competition paddlers. For those of you who attended last year, Gary has asked for some extra time to share all the new information he has learned in the past year! Come with your questions on technique and equipment choices. For those who missed last year’s talk, here’s your chance to attend what was the most popular talk of Paddlefest 2007! Gary will be speaking at 11:30am on Saturday with an on-water demonstration of forward stroke technique to follow at 1pm.
Getting Geared Up For Kayaking
Whether you are a casual recreational paddler or a serious sea kayaker, there are some pieces of equipment that you must carry by law, some you should carry to make your activity safer, and some that you’ll want to carry just because it will make your paddling excursion more enjoyable. As part of that list of things that are required, you’ll especially want to learn more about PFD’s for kayaking. In a previous life, Dick Silberman was a cardiologist and a single-handed sailor of large sailboats on Lake Michigan. Currently, he is a kayak instructor, a paddle gear head, and someone who is just a lot of fun to be around! He has a strange tendency to enjoy spending time upside down in very skinny kayaks made of fabric. Check out Dick’s seminar at 2:30pm on Saturday. You can ask him about his unusual kayaking hobby, too.
Getting Started in Whitewater
Most paddlers don’t think of southeast Wisconsin when they think of whitewater, but Rob has located most, if not all, of the whitewater paddling opportunities in the area. For those of you looking to get started in whitewater, that means that you don’t necessarily have to drive 3 hours to get in time practicing on the water. Come to this seminar with all of your whitewater kayak-related questions. Rob can direct you on places to paddle, give advice on what basic gear you will need, and just help you sort out the differences between playboating, river running, and creeking. Even if you are an experienced whitewater paddler, Rob can give suggestions on local spots where you can hone your skills between trips to more exotic locations. His website is full of information on local rivers. If you have any interest in paddling whitewater, you owe it to yourself to be here at 11:30am on Saturday! Rob is known for personalizing his presentations to the specific needs and questions of the paddlers in attendance, so you won’t be disappointed.
Kayak Fishing
Fishing from a kayak has become one of the fastest growing segments of the paddle sports market in the last few years. Whether you’re a fisherman looking for a better way to get to some of those out-of-the-way spots, or a kayaker looking to get into fishing, Matt can share his passion for the sport with you. He will be doing an on-water demonstration of how to fish from a kayak at 1:30pm on Saturday followed by an opportunity for those with more questions to meet with him on shore. Matt will have tips and suggestions on features to look for in a fishing kayak and equipment that can be added to just about any kayak to customize it for fishing.
Kayak Rolling on Dry Land
Are you mystified by the skill of rolling a kayak? It’s really not that amazing when you understand how it’s done. If you have struggled with learning how to roll or are planning to try in the near future, Sherri will break down the skill for you in a kayak on land. You’ll be surprised how practicing this skill out of the water can speed up your learning curve when you finally get wet. Sherri is the paddle sports department manager for Laacke & Joys and teaches all the kayaking classes including rolling. She is an ACA-certified Open Water Coastal Kayaking instructor. Don’t miss this seminar at 2:30pm on Sunday!
Kayaking in Prince William Sound, Alaska
Dave will be sharing his memories, experiences, and photos from a 10-day 110-mile sea kayaking trip he took in Prince William Sound a few years ago. Anyone who has been there will tell you that any kayaking trip in Alaska is a trip of a lifetime. Prince William Sound, in particular, is a kayakers’ paradise! Dave started kayaking back in 1975 on whitewater in Colorado and Utah. He has been sea kayaking since 1998. He is a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and is certified by the American Canoe Association (ACA) as an Open Water Coastal Kayaking Instructor. Besides enjoying all his great photos, this seminar is an opportunity to ask questions of someone with a great deal of training and personal experience about the skills and equipment necessary to lead a trip of your own! Dave’s presentation will be at 1:30pm on Sunday.
Paddleboarding
Stand up paddleboarding is an ancient form of paddlesport that has been enjoying a booming resurgence in recent years. It is a sport that can be done by beginners in flat water and small wavelets, or it can be taken to extreme levels of excitement by surfers in large breaking waves. Paddle manufacturers are making special paddles for this sport, and the boards are often able to be rigged as sailboards as well as being used as paddleboards. Frederick Hartray will be giving a demonstration of paddleboarding on the river at 12 noon on Saturday. Grab a hot dog for lunch and enjoy the show! Frederick has a long history in watersports of all kinds including sea kayaking, whitewater kayaking, and sailing. Paddleboarding is just a natural extension of his love for the water. As this sport is still rather unknown in our area, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to get your questions answered by an expert!
Repair & Maintenance of Your Canoe/Kayak
Modern canoes and kayaks require surprisingly little maintenance, but there are some easy things that you can do to prolong the life of your equipment and keep it safe. And while it is fairly rare to do major damage, once in a while you may experience some scratches or chips that need repair. Greg has built several kayaks of his own using a variety of materials and techniques. He’ll let you know about those little tasks you should consider doing on a regular basis and demonstrate some basic gel-coat and fiberglass repair. This seminar begins at 2:30pm on Saturday. You’ll have plenty of time and opportunity to ask questions.
"Sit and Switch" Method of Canoeing
Making your canoe go straight and fast really isn’t all that difficult if you use the method that canoe racers use. At 12:30pm on Saturday, Hans Johnson will do a short demonstration on the river behind Laacke & Joys to show you how you to can benefit from this simple method of controlling your canoe even if you’re just a recreational canoeist. While this paddling technique can be used with all types of canoe paddles, this is a stroke that was made for the bent shaft paddle. Hans will show you how to use those funny looking crooked paddles so that you can amaze and astonish your friends!
Transporting Your Canoe/Kayak
Unless you live right on the shores of a lake or river, you are going to have to transport your canoe or kayak to the water, usually by car. While there are trailers and simple foam block carrier systems, for most paddlers the best combination of convenience, security, and cost-effectiveness is a car roof rack. Emily will show you the many options available for carrying one or more boats on top of your vehicle. If you are serious about getting a canoe or kayak, don’t miss this very important seminar at 2:30pm on Saturday and 1:30pm on Sunday.
VHF Radio 101/What the Coast Guard Wants Paddlers to Know
While many people carry cell phones with them while paddling, a VHF radio is actually a much better and safer option for emergency communication when on the Great Lakes. A VHF radio allows you to talk directly with other vessels and with the Coast Guard. However, there are some things you need to know about using one. Do you know the meaning of and difference between “securite”, “pan-pan”, and “mayday?” Which channels should you use for an emergency and which are for general communication? Members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will clear up all these questions for you and provide you with other safety information about regulations that you need to be aware of as a kayaker on any Coast Guard patrolled waters. This is such an important topic for sea kayakers that we are offering this talk on Saturday at 12:30pm and again on Sunday at 2:30pm. Don’t miss it!