Paddling and more

I know that climbing is a huge demanding sport, but I am wondering how many people have other sports that require water? A lot of my friends like to do canoeing and other water activities, and I now work at a shop that allows me to.

If anyone is in the Wisconsin area or has ever been to Canoecopia here in Madison, that is awesome. I would like to hear about any water sports you do.

Here is our Website; it's very helpful about any kinds of questions you might have about getting on the water.

rutabaga.com

I have done some canoeing out in the Boundary Waters in Minnesota. Did a ten-day trip a few years back. It must have been right after the ice melt, and the weather sucked the whole time. I haven’t been back since, but a couple of the friends I went with go every year now. One of them just bought a house in Ely; (sp?) he’s moving out there next month.

Portages were a new experience for me; nothing like throwing a canoe on your neck and hiking up a sloppy hill in the rain. I hated paddling by the time the trip was over. All I could think about paddling down Moose Lake on the last couple miles of trip was how bad I just wanted to hike with a backpack. My arms hurt so bad. Ahhhhhh….. Then to make it worse, you have a bunch of meatheads on Moose Lake in their motorboats flying past you. But yea good times; beautiful wilderness up there.

The whitewater paddling in the northern part of the state is wonderful as you probably know.

Well, I fish & was a surf rat for a while. Both sports are pretty cool (good fishing to me is more a mental game, like chess, and also learning to be one with the flow of the environment).

I caught some epic hurricane swells during college (we were fearless - taking on 15-20 foot waves in shark-infested areas); but I guess climbing & being in the mtns is more to my spirit - though I'm still pretty fearless when it comes to leading. Maybe not fear-less, but just get focused to power on through.

I'm about to buy a nice We-no-nah canoe next week. The vagabond solo. I'm excited to get out and do some paddling around town and up north and out west.

Oh and on our website we are having a kick ass sale on clothes. They go 60% off next week and you can order them online and still get the discount. I would check it out. We have great stuff including Filson, Keen shoes, Chacos, camping stuff and of course paddling clothes.

Check it out

I race whitewater kayaks, both slalom and downriver, and occassionally go creek boating or play boating too. Wausau, WI has a world class slalom course that they hold international events on, and Junior Olympics and US Cup most summers. Also check out Carleton, MI, and Southbend, IN. Both have awesome courses.

PS. Whitewater (and I'm not talking about being on a raft...those are cheating) is WAY scarier than climbing. So try it if you need to get over your leading mental issues!

Too true Ian...

There is nothing like the calm water at the top of a big rapid on your first time through. You can't call "Time out!" You can't pause and calm yourself and think through each move. You can't retreat. As soon as you enter, it is 'game on' whether you are ready or not. Just writing about it gives me a rush. You either deal with what comes at you or you don't. It is a beautiful experience, and definitely way scarier than climbing.

two weeks ago i was just up at Bear Paw Resort doing Whitewater Kayaking on the Wolf river. It was a nice day the first time we went out. 1st to a lake to do wet exits and then off to play around on the river in class 1 rapids.

the 2nd day we woke up to a winter storm, gusty winds and very cold rain and we still went out and it was a blast even the first 2 times i dunked in but the 3rd and 4th time i was under for a bit and got very cold very fast. (couldnt really speak or move well) But i loved doing it and i plan to do some more this summer ( on warmer days )

Wow its been awhile. Since 2006 i have been throught a Wenonah Vagabond, a Spirit II, and a Solo-plus, and my friend and i got an 86 SCR kevlar race canoe and raced it for Paddle and portage and took home 5th place.

I have a project for the winter also... fixing up a polo dura-lite 140 kayak to paddle next year.