Kayaking...

By Paul Glahn 

If you spend enough time near the water in Harbor Springs you will notice a strong community of kayakers paddling along the shores and through the mooring fields of the harbor. Men and women, boys and girls, covering just about every age, cruising in boats all shapes and sizes.

And why not?

The clear, protected waters tucked inside Little Traverse Bay provide a perfect venue for the sport. The problem, however, is that anyone can buy the nicest boat available and still not know the proper paddling techniques or safety procedures.

That is exactly what Steve Rudolph was thinking when he teamed up with Josh Baker and the Outfitter of Harbor Springs to start offering lessons, catering to all experience levels.

While there are a handful of times I’d been kayaking in the past, I had yet to graduate from the title of beginner, so I got in touch with the Outfitter and they set me up with an evening lesson at Ford Park.

Prior to our appointment, Rudolph suggested I prepare for the outing as though it were “a day at the beach.” He suggested I bring waterproof shoes or sandals that will stay on my feet underwater; swim trunks and a non-cotton shirt that is quick drying; sunscreen and a hat; and a water bottle.

We met at Ford Park and unloaded a couple of boats from the trailer. Rudolph grabbed a 14-foot Necky and made me the captain of a 13-foot Necky. I couldn’t help but notice how bland the two kayaks were in appearance, but was pleased to discover that the boats we were sitting in were made entirely out of recycled plastic.

Rudolph helped me put my spray skirt and life jacket on, and then we did some pre-paddling stretches. He explained that it is important to do these stretches to get the blood flowing and prime your body for the workout ahead.

Still on dry land, we hopped in our boats and he walked me through some basic paddling techniques. Now, I say basic but everything he explained demonstrated just how little I actually knew about the sport.

Adjusting the seat and foot rests properly is crucial, as straight posture increases paddling efficiency and long-term comfort. Your grip on the paddle and the direction the blades face is another important detail when increasing comfort and efficiency.

During our pre-workout workout, I asked Rudolph about his background with the sport. He said that only in the last few years had he become a “sea kayaker,” but his vast knowledge of kayaking came from whitewater treks on the west coast beginning in the early 1990s.

Rudolph’s love of kayaking and background with outdoor education eventually led him to owner of the Outfitter, Josh Baker, who has a similar background in outdoor education. The result was the program of which I was now a customer.

Already set to instruct a handful of outdoor education courses at North Central Michigan College in the fall, Rudolph recognizes how perfect Northern Michigan is for outdoor adventures, and said he hopes to use kayaking lessons with the Outfitter as a springboard to larger programs, utilizing the area’s surroundings.

We carried our boats to the water and explored a few different avenues of getting in the often tippy vessels. “Cowboying” the boat was the common theme between Rudolph’s demonstrations, and involved approaching the cock-pit from the stern while straddling the boat.

Once in the water, and at the mercy of buoyancy and my own balance, the lesson’s most import theme was brought to light. Rudolph explained “edging” versus “leaning,”-the difference between a good kayaker and someone who thinks they are a good kayaker.

My interpretation was that once you are in the boat, you must become one with the boat. Except, your attachment to the boat must be that of moveable joint – not a fixed connection. Like the bouncing face of a bobblehead (for lack of a better analogy).

When a kayaker leans in the boat, they tip; when a kayaker edges in the boat, they are able to maneuver much more easily. However, edging requires a level of comfort with the possibility of tipping, so you almost have to be a fearless leaner before you can be an accomplished edger. (Rudolph does a much better job explaining kayaking, I promise.)

We paddled around the mooring field off Zoll St. Beach and then back in front of Ford Park until I was comfortable with the concepts Rudolph had explained. Next on the agenda was safety procedures, and how to handle your boat tipping over.

Rudolph said that you absolutely have to be comfortable with your boat flipping over before you can truly become an expert kayaker. He told me how to handle being upside down in a kayak and before long I was underwater. To keep him posted on my air supply, my arms remained out of the water, and when I was depleted I tapped the boat and he flipped my right-sideup. Now that I was comfortable being upside-down and wet, he walked me through a wet release – how to get out of the boat in the same situation.

The rest of the lesson was a variety of ways to safely handle yourself in the event of a capsized kayak, whether with a group or by yourself.

After the lesson I felt comfortable with the concepts Rudolph had taught me and was ready to go out and practice them, perhaps even start referring to myself as an amateur. Who knows, maybe after a few more lessons and some more time on the water I’d be ready for some of that white water stuff… …then again, maybe I’ll just stick to the harbor.

This is part of the online edition of Northern Michigan Life.

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