Fluid Kayaks Team

After 5 months and 1 day of not kayaking I finally managed to get back onto the Palmiet River the other day. It was an overcast, cold day with winds hovering around the 50 knot mark and the river was very high, pretty much in flood but I was rearing to go. Luckily it was an easy river and the ideal training ground for me to get myself wired up and into kayaking mode again. I also took my large Solo as that is the boat I’ve paddled the most and I feel the most comfortable in it. The day went off fairly well with no mishaps for anyone and I managed nicely, only managing to have to roll once. It felt great afterwards and I felt more alive than I had been in a long time.

At that time my shoulders were still quite stiff and hurting but right now I am getting stronger every week. Man, what a bummer it is not to be able to kayak for so long! But I did my exercises and made sure I would be good to go as soon as possible. Defying doctors orders I’ve managed to score some great rivers already and even though I’m taking it easy I’ve still been sticking most of my lines. It’s also been good to paddle the easier stuff to gain confidence again. As ones kayaking progresses the mind becomes more and more important in ones paddling and I can definitely say that I felt nervous when I probably shouldn’t have felt nervous. Perhaps it was the fear of getting injured again and walking that horrible road again, or maybe it was because I just hadn’t been on the water for so long. Either way, it is good to ease back into things and take it very easy.

After two runs on the Palmiet, four trips on three other rivers, including a 4 day trip alone, I went back to the Palmiet last weekend at a good level with the Spice, a medium size. I’ve only paddled that boat twice on a long 35km section so don’t have much experience in it but decided it was time to take it for a burn again. As much as some people like to bill the Spice as a ‘beginners’ only boat I can honestly say I really enjoy paddling that boat and it definitely has a place in my quiver of kayaks. Several people I know also paddle it and love the boat. It really is a great river runner. I’ve still not taken it into the surf but will do so shortly. That Element is just so much fun and I can’t seem to be able to put it down!

Our river season is almost over here in the Western Cape, South Africa, but luckily we have year round surf kayaking. We’ve been lucky so far and the rains have kept us company for longer than what they usually do. So between windsurfing and fly fishing, I should be able to catch some waves and post some photos soon. Until then, take it easy.

Photography: Thanks to Braam Rademeyer and Rowan Walpole for holding the camera. Words: Adrian Tregoning.