sparcplug

I've been boating since about 1976 when I dabbled with inflatables for a while.

My friend Roger Rosentreter taught me how to hardshell kayak in 1978.  If I'd known that he was considered a "hot-dog-kayaker" at the time, I would have paid more attention!  My balance was so good, that I didn't start flipping until I started running class III+, but then, OH Boy, was I in trouble because I didn't have a roll!  Starting out in the grossly oversized fiberglass boats of the time, and with a 90 degree feathered paddle, it took me about 5 years to actually get a combat roll on the river, I remember my first ever - it was on Upper Black Bar of the Rogue.  I didn't swim all that often, so other more advanced boaters didn't mind me tagging along.  Once the Perception Dancers came out (~ 1986) , and I got one, my river skills really started to blossom.  I started losing my roll however, and about that same time someone asked me if I had sanded my paddle down.  I thought that was absurd, until I finally measured the length.  It was 5" (YES inches) shorter than when I bought it, and a good bit narrower too!  I tend to hold on to my gear a lot longer than most, but even I decided I needed a new paddle.  Funny how my roll came back after that!  Then people started telling me that "they DO sell new sprayskirts" though - guess I'm just oblivious!

My best years of kayaking so far have been roughly 1990 to 2004, and I was running class V during that time.  The body is starting to complain, and back injuries have me now boating at the III+ level again.  I still like to get out, there is NO time like RIVER TIME!! And I'm looking forward to getting back in shape for more.