Kenya felt easy about doing even Gorge run of SFA by IK, but he did not want to paddle by hardshell in classII river unless he master the roll skill. So, I taught him how to roll in a pool. He could do hip-up roll and hand roll, however, he could not roll after he set up his paddle under the water. So, I did not expect he could roll in rapids. Anyway, we tried Coloma to Greenwood creek (C2G run) of SF American river (ClassII). He flop once, but I did on-boat rescue. He portaged Barking Dog, which is the biggest rapid of this run.
Before going to second run at C2G, Kenya took a lesson for Eskimo roll at The Riverstore, Lotus, CA.
Current Adventure provides roll class for two students in 90 min by $50 for each person.
After the roll class, we camped at American River Resort which is just nearby the Trouble Maker rapid of SFA. Kenya loves campfire.
In next morning, campfire again.
On the second day of hardshell kayaking at C2G run, he felt relaxed much more than his first day. It's time to try what Kenya learned in the roll class.
Last picture of Kenya's hardshell kayaking on the second day.
He tried Barking Dog, but he did not enter the hardest part. He went river right and caught a eddy. He finished this run without flips, so there was no chance to roll. Kenya also did not want to practice roll in the river on that day. Therefore, we quickly finished this run and went back to Davis to practice his roll in a pool on the same day. He finally could roll even if he flipped from any side. According to Kenya, taking class helped him to make his roll solid. A week after this roll practice, Kenya practiced roll in a pool again and came to be able to roll perfectly. He was ready to try Barking Dog.
On the third day of his hardshell paddling was a memorial day for us, because Kenya could roll in a rapid even though he flop unexpectedly in whitewater. He also entered Barking Dog, but three feet left than the hardest part. He also tried to surfin at Gremlin wave-hole for a few times. I wanted him to flip and roll there, but he did not flip at all. No flip on the third day. He flop on purpose in some rapids such as the end of Highway rapid and practiced his roll. We also practiced ferryglide in some fast rapids and eddy catch.
"Hit iron while it is hot" which is Japanese proverb meaning "Don't miss good opportunity/chance to develop skills. So, a week after his third hardshell paddling, we did C2G again.
Photo by BruceT.
Kenya tried surfin wave more aggressively than the third day and got on the surfin wave for several times at Gremlin wave-hole. He also flop in the hole for a few time and rolled up, which impressed other paddlers. I was so proud of him. I shoot Kenya by movie, but missed by a snapshot.
On the fourth day, Kenya finally entered the hardest part of Barking Dog-wave hole. He paddled through it against a big wave that was higher than him. No flip, no swim, Wow woo!! There was no rooms to take a picture of him, but I put my picture at the Barking Dog. Photo by BruceT.
Success of surfin at Gremlin wave-hole made him very aggpressive in trying to surfin at other spots.
Photo by BruceT.
A link related to the last trip is BRT-InsightsSo far, Kenya has done hardshell paddling for four days all at C2G run. Two flips, one on-boat resucue, one roll, no swim and several surfins&rolls. In particular, I observed big progress of his skill on the last two days. Eskimo roll in rapids is the first hurdle for all kayakers, but being able to do it in rapids made kenya's skill developed very very significantly.
P.S.
We went C2G again to practice playboating. This was Kenya's fifth paddling day. Kenya surfing at Gremlin hole.
The following three photos are parts of serial photos.
Kenya flipping in the hole. After that, he rolled up.
Kenya jumping out from the hole.
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