My Son's Debut in Kayaking!!!

My son, Kenya, born in Jan/97 started paddling in fall of 2006. I purchased extremely light single inflatable kayak (NRS Bandit I) for him. It is only 17 lbs. He first started on a lake (Lake Natoma), then did Putah creek below lake Beryessa (classII). After that, I increased the difficulty of rivers: Coloma to Greenwood creek (CtoG) of SF American river (5 miles, twice), Electa run of NF Mokelumne (3 miles, twice), Shirttail run of NF American river (5 miles, once), Rumsey run of Cache creek (5 miles, once) (all classII or classII with some classIII). When we paddled, I let him enjoy whitewater paddling first rather than practicing paddling skill. Off course, I taught him only how to do ferry glide and eddy catching, but I did not say much even if he could not do well. In easy rapids, I let him paddle freely, but in hard rapids, I let him follow me just behind. Throughout these runs, he swam only once at Barking Dog at CtoG run. In spring of 2007, he did the Gorge run of SF American river (9 miles, class III). There, he had no swimming one day, but had bad swimming on another day at Hospital Bar. I am very much enjoying that Kenya is getting famillier with paddling and improving his skill. My dream is paddling with Kenya in classV run in the future.

CtoG run of SF American river (5 miles, 1,600 cfs, classII). Kenya’s second paddling in white water.







On this day, he swam at Barking Dog rapid.


Kenya’s third paddling in white water. Electa run of NF Mokelumne (3 miles, classII with two class 3- rapids, 800 cfs). Near putin, Kenya is trying surfin.




Another easy surfin spot.


Kenya entering S-turn.


Kenya’s sixth paddling in white water. Shirttail run of NF American river (5 miles, 1,700 cfs, classII run, but this came to be classIII at the flow). This is putin bridge and also takeout of classIV Chamberlain falls run. I like the view from this bridge, because the landscape is almost HEAVEN for paddlers.


Putin. The rapid behind Kenya is the last one of Chamberlain falls run.


Photo by Albert Stricker. Thank you Albert.






On this day, John Simpkin’s group let us join. Thank everyone.


Nice big waves!!


In this picture, Kenya is laughing. Please click to enlarge. He was not scared of high wave.




Takeout bridge.


Rumsey run of Cache creek (5 miles, classII-III, 525 cfs). Photo by Geoff Jennings. We ran with Geoff and his wife, Kim. Geoff and Kim paddled on TopoDuo.


Photo by Geoff Jennings. Kenya said that he felt boring a little. His words let me decide to take him to the Gorge of SF American river (ClassIII-III+).