Kent Ford's Canoe Kayak Video Instruction
I recently (now way back in 2010) had opportunity to speak about kayaking at the “MIT Innovation Lab”- which is an academic and industry think-tank and annual seminar series on how innovation happens. Participants include researchers from companies like Google, Ford, General Mills, Siemens, and academics interested in this field from MIT, Harvard, and universities in Copenhagen and Lisbon. Eric …
In preparation for the release of my historical documentary on whitewater canoeing and kayaking, I have enjoyed some fine books that nicely capture segments of paddlesport history. Most exhaustive, and most important, is Sue Taft’s “The River Chasers”. This book is the product of tremendous research, and nicely details key moments of whitewater history in …
A recent letter we received: Hi, I enjoy watching The Kayak Roll video that I purchased from you. I can roll, but lacking confidence and being consistant. I have seen paddle floats used in sea kayaks to aid in rolling. In your expert opinion, is the paddle float an aid that can initially help in learning to roll a white …
Shoulders are the weak link in the paddling equation. I have simple exercises and information on dislocations and impingement syndrome below. For a more elaborate medical resource, check out the dislocation and rotator cuff pages from this Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine at the University of Washington information website Fitness for Paddling Shoulder Dislocations in Kayaking …
Despite pretty good skills that open up nearly any type of whitewater, in any boat, I am totally content on Class III. Here’s the deal; on class III I can usually find challenging moves that make it plenty challenging, with virtually no risk. Making hard moves on easy rivers is a great way to improve. …
Why isn’t an inflatable kayak considered a whitewater kayak? At the whitewater symposium a few years ago, I had this discussion with Bill Parks, founder and brainiac behind NRS. The concept and question of how we define whitewater kayaking has rumbled with me since. Whitewater sport has a long tradition of specialists raising the bar …
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Why paddle: The Social, the Scenery, or for the challenge? Find the right friends… By Kent Ford There is truly a world of paddling options to be had… so narrowing down your motivations helps insure that every trip you go on will be a success. Imagine this… a friend calls offering an opportunity to go …
Continue reading “Why paddle: The Social, the Scenery, or for the challenge”
From a recent interview with PaddlingLife.net adventure web site. PL: What inspired you to make The Call of the River? Kent: Most other outdoor sports have historical documentary projects that inspire and provide perspective on those sports. I never appreciated Skateboarding until seeing “Dogtown and Z Boys”. The history of the Tenth Mountain Division skiers …
I am quite honored to be selected for the Whitewater Hall of Fame. What a suprise and an honor. See details at http://www.iwhof.org/ I have been involved in many whitewater activities, and I wouldn’t trade any of the friendships along the way for anything. A quick list of friends along the way, many of whom …
A typical question: Would you be kind enough to share your thoughts on the Sweep vs. the C to C roll? I’ve open boated in the Northeast for a decade, but have moved to Colorado and have decided to learn to kayak. I learned to roll an open boat, but I tend to leave my …