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Surfing Mini-Bus!
While I was up on the Ottawa I had the opportunity to surf Mini-Bus for the first time in 2 years with Andrew and Tiffany Manchester. Tiff and I haven’t been playboating very much in the last year since she …
GAP Summer Tour at Potomac Paddlesports
I’m off on a three week road trip that started with a Girls at Play Summer Tour event at Potomac Paddlesports in Washington D.C. It’s one of the coolest looking paddlesports stores I’ve been into. The owner, Sunny Pitcher, has great …
The Sweep Stroke: To look or not to look
When I’m teaching basic strokes women often ask me if it’s better to follow the blade through the water in the sweep stroke and stern draw or to look in the opposite direction of the spin momentum. In my opinion, …
Visualization
If you want to feel less fearful and more confident on the river it’s worth taking the time to visualize yourself feeling good and making the moves you want to make. Visualization is a technique that’s used successfully by countless …
Tips on Basic Stroke Technique
As the paddling season approaches many of you are probably hitting the pool to practice some rolls and get back in the groove before venturing out on the chillier rivers. Pool sessions are a great opportunity to practice your …
Finishing the Roll
The most common problem I see women (and men) have with their roll is that they lift their head up first when trying to finish the roll. Some even have great roll technique up until the very last second, but …
The Sculling Draw
The sculling draw is a stroke that will allow you to slide sideways in the water in both whitewater and recreational kayaks. In whitewater it’s useful for maneuvering in small eddies, for positioning yourself next to an eddie line …
The Boof
The boof is my favorite river running move. It’s usually considered a must-make move in some class IV and V rapids, but it’s a move you can easily practice in class II and III. It’s really fun! The name comes …
Wide Angled Forward Fold
Yoga and kayaking make a great combination. Yoga helps us focus and relax. The practice also teaches us to be more aware of our bodies and to take care of ourselves. If you feel physical pain or discomfort during or …
My trip to Boulder, CO
I just returned from Boulder, CO today where I taught two clinics for Outdoor Divas. Boulder is one of my favorite U.S. cities and Outdoor Divas has a lot to do with that. It’s an outdoor gear store specifically for …