CKF Monthly Paddle
Although the June gloom never burned off until we were halfway through lunch at Daddy-O's this afternoon, the weather did not stop 19 paddlers from coming out this morning. There were some new paddlers - Vince Medina and his wife ( sorry I can't remember your name, it's my Can't Remember S**T syndrome kicking in, New CKF member Beth Powis, who co-hosted last week's CKF/Sierra Club Paddle, some new old paddlers and the regular gang.

Although we are geographically challenged, we even had Duane Strosaker and Dublin Dave O'Connor from Orange County come up to join us.

After introductions, signing of waivers, and a brief intro we all paddled out to The Pond. All sorts of different skills were worked on and everyone of us learned something at this practice session. Duane showed me and several others how to do the Hand Of God rescue. I've read of this but never actually tried it before. Of course something was inherently wrong when I completed one with Duane as the victim and as I brought him up, there was his unshaven face (with tongue sticking out) laying against his back deck and Duane asking why I wasn't giving him CPR. Before I go that far, he had better be real close to dying.

Frank was working on his roll and making a lot of progress. I had intended to do that, but my backband snapped when I launched and I felt like I was doing a constant sit-up to paddle.

Gary was also there in his Shadow that he has been paddling for about a month. I worked with Gary on some assisted rescues, had him get out of his boat and onto mine so we could empty his, and then had him climb back. He then found that he could also stand in his boat without capsizing. When I asked him if he wanted to learn that skill, he said sure, but why would anybody want to stand in a kayak. And the answer is because you can!!!

George Miller was there in his new ww boat that he bought from George Kulakowski. And then after the practice session, George and Patrick Martin, in his new Looksha Sport, went over to Hollywood Beach to practice surfing in their play boats.

Paula Chavez and Sheila Kennedy also showed up and pitched in with helping people learn new skills and Lee Hyde showed up with his brand new boat and promptly demonstrated a roll. I'm Jealous!!! He has been working everyday on it though and the practice sure paid off.

Chris Wood, having just attended one of the Master's courses at Southwind, was a big help with helping people improve their strokes.

All in all it was a real fun day on the water with everyone making new friends and both teaching and learning new skills.

    Steve Holtzman

Submitted on August 4, 2002