By Em Shanblatt

“Pura Vida” is a staple to every Costa Rican’s lexicon.  Literally translating to “pure life,” it’s a phrase unique to their country and is proudly owned by all the locals and natives.  They use the phrase ubiquitously in situations where westerners would say “that was awesome!” as well as “so it goes, shit happens.”

It describes this country well though.  Pure life.  My first impressions of Costa Rica happened on the 2 hour drive in from San Jose to Turrialba.  Along the trecherous and windy roads (on which I later got car sick a puked up all my lunch) the surroudning mountains, valleys, and nearby roadside are covered in green life.  Foliage and floura like nothing I’ve seen before; probably because I’ve never been to a tropical jungle.

The leaves on many of the trees are enormous.  The radiating sun and and instant humidity remind me that if I was a leaf and had an endless supply of water and ATP producing energy, I too would make my leaves gigantic.

Every flower seems to display either a saturated or iridescent color from all across the spectrum.

A human’s life in Costa Rica feels pure as well.  The simplicity of our little bodega, and open air feel reminds me that there is no need to seperate ourselves from the fresh warm air outside.  The seemingly infinite supply of Vitamin D and oxygen draw me outside on a nearly uncontrolable level.

The first few days of kayaking here left me searching for adaquete words to explain what I was seeing.  Canopies of vines dangling overhead, lush green bangs flowing into mountains in the background, a few gorges with towering vertical granite walls, countless waterfalls rushing into the rivers from every height imaginable, crystal blue water is if it had been trapped in glaciers for millions of years free of contamination or even human touch.

The big water here gives me that sense of focus and flow, while the pools between rapids give me a release from any concern I’ve ever felt impeded by.

Even the colors of buildings and houses in the town of Turrialba constantly distract me from where I’m walking, as I try to quiet the sensory overload I’m always battling.  It’s an enjoyable distraction though, if I remember to slow down and observe.

They say here too that a town is defined by a church, a school, and a soccer field.  I’ve watched lots of boys play around on the fields in anything from barefeet to cleats, in dirt or crabgrass, with nets or just a metal frame.  I even saw a few guys kicking the ball around in the rain, each holding an umbrella overhead.

As we paddle down rivers, we’re always seeing families and children playing on the shore.  For me, that image of a child swimming epitomizes freedom, relaxation, and simplicity.  I hold on to that visual when old patterns of hurriedness, momentary stress, or frustration arise, and remind myself that this place, and my life here are truly amazing and a real gift.  PURA VIDA!

Sally plays tennis, kayaks, rafts, skis and has paddled in Mexico, Idaho and NC with Girls at Play. An awesome paddler and great company on the river, Sally let’s nothing get in her way of living large, including the fact that she uses a wheelchair to get around- most of the time. Her attitude and drive in life are an inspiration to all. Read our interview with Sally to find out how she got into paddling, how she has made an impact on the James River’s accessibility and her poignant moment in Mexico that she dedicated to the woman who taught her to paddle. Thanks Sally for sharing!

59 years old (and proud of it!). Grew up in Massachusetts in a small town on coast about twenty miles south of Boston. Middle of three children = older sister, Anne; younger brother, Rob. Growing up, horses and riding were my main sports activity though also did a lot of sailing and swimming. After high school it took me three colleges, 12 years and a life altering event to finish college at New York University. During one of the ‘between college periods’ I spent enough time working with horses at a combined training facility to realize I wasn’t good enough to make a decent living doing it.

In 1976 I became disabled with an incomplete spinal cord injury. Was in New York at the time and ended up moving back with my parents for a while before moving into my own apartment, finishing my undergraduate degree and getting a job. From the time of my injury I became very involved in the civil rights movement for the disabled. This was decades before the Americans with Disabilities Act, accessibility was horrible and discrimination rampant. It also helped me work through a lot of anger in a positive way as well as see some great role models for my revised life.

Also while still in NY I began playing and competing in wheelchair tennis. That was the first time I’d been able to really feel like I was back participating in any sort of athletics. It was a relatively new sport that grew explosively with the development of new wheelchair designs specifically for sports. BTW the first new radically designed chair that became a success was the brainchild of a woman (Marilyn Hamilton) and two friends with engineering & bike technology backgrounds. She built up a company that later was sold to Sunrise Medical. Anyway for me to practice, get coaching and compete it was necessary to drive outside of the city since I couldn’t afford to pay Manhattan prices for court time, etc.

In 1987 I made the decision to leave NY and started looking for somewhere to move. I was working for a large public accounting firm that had offices all over the country. Long story short I ended up moving to Richmond in the fall of 1987 and have been here ever since. I’m working as an internal auditor for Dominion Resources which is a large energy company which owns the local electric utility and generation plants as well as natural gas storage & pipelines. My job is great – I’m always working on new things and there’s constant learning as well as being paid to be nosy!

How did you get into kayaking?  I went to an adaptive paddling demo for canoeing. Canoeing didn’t have much appeal because of the issues with stability and general awkwardness but I began talking with the two instructors – Karen Abse & Jay Lewis. They asked if I’d be interested in trying kayaking because they’d like to help teach me if I was and I jumped at the chance.

How long have you been kayaking?  I began in 1994 or 1995 not sure which – a long time ago…

What is your favorite thing about it?  My favorite thing about kayaking is how empowering it is. I can go wherever and do whatever that’s within the bounds of my abilities. I can get out in the middle of natural areas and see things that are impossible (or at least very difficult) for me to get to from land.

What are your biggest challenges? Usually the biggest issues to overcome are getting between the parking lot and the riverbank.  Sometimes it takes some innovative thinking and cooperative acrobatics to get me and my boat together on the river. There have been other issues – without a hip snap it took me over a year to find a roll I could do. I also can’t do much scouting so I’ve had to learn to listen closely to descriptions and follow someone I trust.

What advice can you give to other women boaters about the sport?  Realize that women and men have differences in the way they think, learn and paddle. Paddling doesn’t have to be a ‘power’ sport – just learn to use the water and your body movements to take advantage.

What paddling programs/clubs are you involved in right now? Tell us more about getting stairs and a ramp on the James river. I’m a member of Coastal Canoeists which a Virginia paddling organization. It’s a great way to meet up and just about each week they have trips at all different levels. I’m also very involved in the James River Outdoor Coalition (JROC) – actually on the BOD and Treasurer. JROC’s mission is to provide improvements and support for the James River Park System (JRPS). The JRPS is a multi-area natural park and is part of the Richmond City Dept. of Parks & Rec. There are several river access points in the park as well as bike/walking trails, etc.  JROC has done everything from trail building, constructing a new put-in downtown at 14^th St., building changing rooms and kiosks, building steps at a climbing wall, general clean up & clearing, paying for gravel & port a potties some times when the budget was tight.  As for “The Project” – it has blossomed from just putting in a ramp to rebuilding the access have a ramp and steps wide enough to accommodate carrying a raft. Right before I left on the Idaho trip one of the people from Corporate Affairs asked if I knew of any projects in the parks or river area that might be good for a volunteer project. She knew I was involved with JROC. Just so happened I’d been having discussions on how nice it would be to put in an accessible ramp at the Reedy Creek access. Anyway Dominion took it on as an Environmental Day project which meant we could get three days of volunteers and use of an excavator. I volunteered to coordinate. The Dominion Foundation (charitable giving arm of the company) gave $5000, JROC matched the $5000 and the Parks Dept. allowed us use of Parks personnel to coordinate & help with the construction. We enlisted the assistance of the Storefront for Community Design (a non-profit group of architects, engineers & designers that assist local non-profits). They did the design for us and off we went. Construction started & we ran into all sorts of problems – huge amounts of rock that needed moving and some were the size of small houses (okay they just seemed that big). We had to do reengineering, went over budget, got another $2000 from Coastal and are currently waiting for the river to go down to finish pouring concrete for the ramp. Stairs have been put in and are already in use.  Got some great press – here are a couple of links  http://www.nbc12.com/story/15952136/one-of-a-kind-boat-ramp-gets-installed  http://www2.timesdispatch.com/sports/sport/2011/nov/04/disabled-paddlers-get-ramp-on-the-james-ar-1434063/  Sorry for going on so…

Do you have a favorite memory from one of your GAP trips?  Probably one of my favorite memories is from the Mexico trip. We were on the Actopan and I’d had two marvelous runs down the waterfall. I hadn’t believed I could do it until I was actually on my way down! The lagoon was so beautiful, the water an unbelievable blue, the vegetation and water running down the sides, such energy from everyone on the trip -  We were all feeling so positive and accomplished and energetic. Then to make it even more perfect I scattered some of Karen Abse’s ashes where the spring comes into the lagoon. I felt like Karen, as my dear friend who taught me to kayak, was able to share a new pinnacle of boating with me. Karen died in a kayaking accident almost six years ago here on the James. According to her wishes friends scattered her ashes on mountains & in rivers all over. That’s my emotional best memory.

What inspires you to keep getting out there? Every time I go out on a river (or lake or pond…) it’s almost spiritual. I’m out in Nature (with a capital N) and feel the beauty, majesty and power. It helps keep me in perspective and in awe. The feelings of freedom also help.

By Em Shanblatt

I woke up last Wednesday morning with a strange feeling in my gut. We had gotten lots of rain here in the Southeast, and almost every river imaginable was filled with a healthy flow. I got a phone call from a friend going to one of my favorite rivers, an opportunity I would normally drop everything for. As I thought about getting on the river, I wasn’t filled with the same motivation I usually am. My body didn’t rush with adrenaline at the thought of paddling a beautiful class IV/V river. It took me awhile to pinpoint what was going on, and when I finally admitted it to myself, the answer was that I just didn’t want to go kayaking.

Since I started paddling just over four years ago, I had never experienced this emotion. Not wanting to go kayaking…what was wrong with me? Who was I? Did I make the wrong choice setting up my life to paddle everyday, and now I didn’t want to go? I quickly spiraled into an existential identity crisis, but luckily had Anna and Mary Frances to help pull me out.

When I started thinking rationally again, I realized and accepted that it was OK that I didn’t want to get on the river that day. It doesn’t mean I’m not a kayaker, and it certainly doesn’t mean I’m a different person. I just needed a break. I’ve been paddling constantly since last May, and my body and mind were getting tired.

I’ve accepted this break, and come to embrace it as a time for rejuvination. It’s a time to gain perspective on the bigger pictures in my life, and put some much needed time into other personal endeavors I’d been neglecting. I’ve always heard people talking about this, but I’m now a believe that breaks are a crucial part of anyone’s life who is committed to any time consuming activity. Breaks not only let our bodies rest and rebuild, but they re-inspire our minds and remind us why we love what we do.

Everyday of my break so far, I’ve thought about paddling, checked river levels, and watched my usual daily dose of paddling movies online. I’ve resisted indulging in actual boat time however, because I know that everyday I don’t go, my internal motivation jar refills a little more. I know my skills won’t leave my body, and when I get back in my boat, I’ll start up just where I left off.

The time I’ve spent recently nourishing other pieces of myself has also been invaluable. I’ve journaled and meditated more this past week than I have in months. I remind myself daily to explore other activities, other areas, other passions in my life. Soon I will be yearning to get back on the water with more inspiration than ever. Don’t be afraid, especially in the winter months, to take a break!

Do you want to improve your teaching and paddling skills while traveling with some of the country’s best instructors?  Or learn more about the inner workings of a small paddlesport company and help it grow while learning new skills?  Or all of it?!  Check out our 2012 internship opportunities!

Girls at Play Summer Internship Asheville, NC

The Girls at Play Summer Internship based in Asheville, NC is designed to give the intern experience in the following areas:

• Small business marketing and social media marketing,
• Short video clip filming and editing
• Outdoor industry business and marketing
•  Whitewater kayak instruction
• Stand up paddleboard instruction

Benefits: 

• Receive hands-on marketing and social media marketing experience with a local, growing outdoor industry company.
• Learn how to teach kayaking from some of the best instructors in the world
• Receive kayak coaching from some of the best female paddlers in the world.
• Receive discounts on ACA certification and continuing paddling education/experience
• Have fun working outside and in a small, friendly office environment!
• Make connections in the paddlesports industry

Internship Duties

Marketing Duties:

• Social media marketing – using our existing networks and internet marketing to promote the Girls at Play brand and grow our community
• Videography and editing – produce short video clips to post on website and social networking sites
• Write blog posts for website and social media
• Be a friendly, approachable, supportive and compassionate ambassador for the company.

On-water Duties:

• Assist lead Girls at Play instructor in beginner whitewater kayaking clinics.
• Set safety in beginner whitewater clinics
• Assist with the loading and unloading of gear and pre-clinic prep
• Assist lead Girls at Play instructor with SUP workshops and Yoga on SUP workshops
• Be a friendly, approachable, supportive, compassionate and safe instructor/ambassador on the water.

Requirements:   Class II – III whitewater kayak experience.  Own personal whitewater kayaking gear.  Some experience in social media marketing, video and editing.  Strong writing skills.  Approachable, friendly personality.  Be willing to take initiative and work energetically.

This is an unpaid internship.

Hours per week:  10 –20 hours per week May – August

For more information please send your resume and  cover letter to Anna at info@watergirlsatplay.com

Application Deadline:  February 29, 2012

GAP Summer Tour Internship

The GAP Summer Tour Internship sends a female ACA certified instructor on a two and a half -month whitewater kayak and SUP clinic tour across the US.

Benefits:

• Get an expenses paid summer paddling trip across the US
• Improve your kayak instructing skills with some of the most highly trained and skilled instructors in the world.
• Improve your whitewater kayaking skills by traveling to different rivers around the country and paddling in between clinics.
• Positively affect women’s lives through kayaking and SUP
• Learn how to SUP and how to teach SUPing
• Receive free outdoor gear from GAP sponsors

Off-water duties:

• Load and unload gear
• Take care of gear
• Write 2 blog posts per month on the GAP website
• Post to GAP facebook and Twitter accounts once per week
• Socialize at off-water events and be a professional, approachable, friendly ambassador for Girls at Play

On-water duties:

• Assist the Girls at Play lead instructor with on-water kayak instruction up to class III
• Set safety in rapids up to class III
• Be a friendly, supportive, approachable, compassionate instructor

Qualifications:

• Level 4 ACA Certified Instructor (preferably through the Girls at Play/ACA Instructor Course)
• Feel comfortable paddling in class III – IV whitewater
• Be a professional, approachable, friendly, compassionate and fun person/intructor
• Be willing to learn and grow
• Be a team player willing to take initiative and work energetically for the benefit of the whole group

Compensation:  This is an unpaid internship, but your travel expenses are paid.

Time Commitment:  End of May through middle of August

For more information please send your resume and  cover letter to Anna at info@watergirlsatplay.com

Application Deadline:  February 29, 2012

By Em Shanblatt

Like most physical endeavors out there, kayaking is extremely mental.  The success of a run can be determined by your attitude, confidence, and nervousness to excitement ratio.

Every kayaker has figured out her own personal tricks to get in the right headspace for a river, especially a challenging or new run.  Coping with fear and nerves is universal, no matter what level of  kayaker you are.  While many of us try and share our strategies with fellow boaters to help a sister out, I’ve found that one’s mental game is so personal, it’s difficult to take someone else’s trick and use it effectively as your own.

The best way to train mentally and practice getting your mind and nerves ready for a big run, is to create your own routines and practice them often. Here are two tricks I’ve recently added to my mental game repertoire.  While I know they may not work for you, hopefully they’ll spur something inside of you that helps grow your mental game and tackle whatever river or rapid you face next.

Lots of mental preparation went into this moment

1) My Headband.

The headband came on in a round-about fashion.  I’m also an avid soccer player, and adopted the straight across headband look when I cut my hair and could no longer put it up.  The look was sported by many pro soccer players I watch and admire, so I gave it a shot.

But the importance  of the headband is much deeper than this.  I put on my headband at the put in, just before my helmet.  As I carefully place the thin piece of athletic wrap around my forehead, I say to myself “It’s go time”.  The headband signifies a mental switch.  It gets me out of my previous mode of hiking in, driving, or hanging with friends at the put in, to a game-face, ready-for-action, time-to-focus mentality.  Once the headband is on, so is my attitude.  I take a deep breath as I mindfully put my helmet over my headband, ensuring a solid placement.  From here, there is no turning back, and I know that I’m ready.

The removal of the headband at the end of a run also provides a significant mental switch.  When the headband comes off, I can relax.  I take a sigh of relief, or let out a shout of excitment as I literally let my hair down.  Taking off my headband is the symbolic representation of the phrase, “Heck Yeah! That was badass!”

When I wear it, Mary Frances thinks I look like a fairy, and Anna thinks I look like some medieval character….I don’t really care how I look, because it helps my mental game.  And that’s all that matters.

2) Noseplugs.

Non-boaters laugh at them.  New boaters are addicted to them.  Many boaters rely on them to allow for longer down-time when they find themselves upside down.  All types of paddlers wear them, playboaters to creekboaters, novices to pros.  Some love ‘em, some hate ‘em.

I’ve personally gone back and forth on the matter.  There is no doubt they let me hold my breath longer and more easily in a beat-down situation.  I also agree that rolling is more comfortable with them, since you don’t get water up your nose.  There are many benefits…so what’s the dilemma?

I’m not the kind of boater who wears them all the time.  I used to put them on selectively above big rapids, or places I knew flipping was very likely.  But this created a glitch in my mental game.  When I put on my noseplugs, I was inadvertently telling myself “There’s a good chance you might flip here, or get beat down and need to hold your breath for awhile”.  Then I realized…why would I want to send myself that kind of message, even if it’s subliminal!?!  On one hand I’m saying “It’s go time, you got this, paddle hard, you’re gonna style this shit!” and on the other hand I’m saying “you might mess up or get in a bad situation and need some extra help”…such mixed messages!

Part of my mental training is to eliminate all negative or self-destructive thoughts…including premonitions of beat downs.  So in order to stop sending my brain the subtle message of potential wreckage, I decided to stop wearing my noseplugs all in all (with the exception of playboating, because then it’s just inevitable).

I now go into every rapid with the thought of “You’re gonna kill it!  You’re not gonna flip!  And if you do, you’ll roll up so quickly it won’t even matter that you’re not wearing your plugs”.  Now THAT is a powerful  and positive message.

For more tips on improving your mental game, check out a weekend clinic or a day of private instruction!

By Em Shanblatt

First order of business…CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 6 NEW FEMALE KAYAK INSTRUCTORS WHO GRADUATED FROM THE FIRST EVER ACA / GAP INSTRUCTOR COURSE!!!

The American Canoe Association (ACA) and Girls as Play have started to team up for women’s specific kayak instructor courses.  This past weekend concluded the first ever course under this partnership, and it was a huge success!  We battled the cold Fall weather and were able to learn and practice hundreds of teaching skills on the water…drysuits, pogies and all!

As I’m sure you know from reading the update on the first weekend (here it is) we spent lots of time on flatwater practicing stroke and teaching techniques.  This past weekend, we progressed onto moving water, and spent the 3 day weekend on the French Broad, Upper Green, and Ledges.

The camaraderie we had created after the first weekend carried through as if we had never left one another.  We eagerly greeted each other as if we were paddling buddies from long ago, and jumped right into life updates and laughing together.

On the river, we refreshed a fair amount of the previous material covered, and made sure our stroke refinements we’d been practicing were in place.  Quickly, we jumped into teaching a new set of skills related to current.  We practiced teaching eddy turns, peel outs, and ferries, and I was BLOWN AWAY at the huge variety of teaching techniques and language used to explain these maneuvers.

That example alone has stood out in my mind as the biggest thing I will take away from the course.  It’s so easy as an instructor to get stuck in explaining topics in one specific way, or using your favorite go-to acronym or metaphor…but there are TONS of methods and ways to explain even the simplest of maneuvers.  Robin Pope of the ACA changed my world with his variety of creative and inventive teaching styles.  That man is a genius and guru.  I felt so fortunate to spend so much time observing and learning from him!

By Em Shanblatt

The Girls at Play 2010 Yoga for Kayaking DVD with Anna Levesque and Joe Taft has taken off tremendously.  Hundreds of kayakers have redefined their bodies and minds through the sequences Anna and Joe take you through.  With such high praise and success, we’ve decided to offer a real life yoga for kayaking series at the Town and Mountain Training Center in Asheville, NC!

The series will include six yoga sessions on from 6:30-8:00 Tuesday evenings from November 8th through December 20th (no class on 22nd for due to Thanksgiving).  Each class will target a different area of the body which kayakers need to focus on.  Some classes may be based on stretching and opening parts of the body like the hips, while others may be geared more towards balance and strengthening the core.  With individualized approach to different aspects of yoga for kayaking, Anna will give you a comprehensive aresenal of poses, stretches, and sequences you can continue doing to improve your kayaking and personal well being.

The series is also excellent cross training during these chilly months when you’re not paddling as much.  Also, if you’ve been kayaking lots during the summer and fall, yoga is a great way to heal any pain, tension, or reoccurring soreness you’ve experienced recently.  Stretching and strengthening also plays a huge role in injury prevention, particularly in the back.  Kayakers often suffer from injuries such as bulging discs in the spine, which can be prevented and almost solely healed through yoga!

It is commonly said that it takes 21 days of completing an activity to make it a habit.  While the course spans the time of 7 weeks, by the end, you will certainly feel that incorporating yoga into your weekly or paddling routine is habitual.  This will allow for you to not only have a stronger mental game on the river, but your body will feel more relaxed, open, stronger, and less ridden by pain and tension.

California Kayaker Magazine recently published a review of the Yoga for Kayaking DVD in their Summer 2011 issue.  The author states that “I own a boat that has never been very comfortable for me to sit in.  In just a short while of sitting in it, my legs would fall asleep.  But after two weeks of doing the routines, this sleepy-leg syndrome was greatly reduced.”

Mary Ann Furda, yoga instructor and owner of High Health Studio in Palo Alto, CA said “Her precautions, such as how to safely practice if the viewer is hypermobile, are excellent.  Her choice of reclining poses are a good, rich blend of hip, thorax, and flank openers, excellent for kayakers after paddling to ease post-paddling stiffness, as well as to provide the opening over time that will allow for greater freedom in range of motions that can prevent injury and allow for better, more efficient paddling.  This section could easily be done by anyone who’d never had a yoga class.”

I’ve personally become addicted to my own yoga for kayaking practice which I adopted from the Girls at Play Yoga for Kayaking DVD.  I complete an hour long sequence after each day of paddling, and several other times throughout my week.  In my kayak, my body feels stronger and I have significantly less pain in my legs, lower back, and shoulders.  I also feel more loose and fluid with my strokes, and can achieve greater extension and rotation thanks to increased flexibility.  Doing yoga regularly has allowed me to maintain a schedule of kayaking 5-6 days a week and perpetually feel healthy, loose, and ready to go!  There’s no way I could kayak this much and feel this good without yoga!

Anna is a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance, having had a steady practice for over ten years and having completed over 300 hours of yoga teacher training.  With such knowledge and expertise in not only the field of kayaking, but yoga as well, this world class, specialized instruction cannot be beat!

Here are the details:

Dates: November 8th, 15th, 29th & December 6th, 13th, 20th (All Tuesdays)

Time: 6:30-8:00 pm

Where: Town and Mountain Training Center in Asheville, NC

Cost: $70 for entire series

Who: ANYONE! women, men, novice paddlers, advanced paddlers, non paddlers, etc.

Can’t make it to the series? Order a Yoga for Kayaking DVD  from the webstore so you can learn the best poses from Anna and Joe. If you’re interested in doing yoga in warm weather, check out our Costa Rica trips!

By Em Shanblatt

The roll is often seen as a daunting skill which can perplex novice boaters and frustrate more experienced paddlers.  But it doesn’t have to be!   Starting in November, Girls at Play will be offering weekly rolling session to help you learn or master this critical skill.

The sessions will take place on Sunday evenings starting November 6th through December 11th from 5-7 at the Zeugner Center pool in Arden, NC!  Everyone is welcome, not just women!

Girls at Play’s knowledgeable and experienced staff will be present to guarantee that you receive the help you’re looking for.  We truly enjoy teaching rolling, because the skill lends itself to so many valuable “ah-ha” learning moments.  In my personal experience, I’ve found that teaching the roll has been one of the most gratifying skills to instruct, making the process of learning fun for all!

If you’re looking for a more personalized one on one session with an instructor, we will also be available for 30 minute private sessions.  These individualized instruction times cost an additional $30, but are well worth it if whether you’re just beginning to learn the process of rolling, or are becoming puzzled and frustrated by a lack of consistency in your roll.  Spots go quickly so email us (info@watergirlsatplay.com) or call us (828 333-4482) to book your spot now!

These sessions are not just for beginners or folks experiencing difficulty however!  There are many different types of rolls, and the pool is the ideal location to learn all of them!  Maybe you always execute one specific type of roll, but would like to expand your repertoire or rolling skills!  Come and practice a C-C roll, an off-side roll, a back deck roll, a hand roll, or a skulling roll!  Once you have a tool box full of rolling techniques, you may find yourself feeling grateful in whitewater situations where a variety of techniques become needed.  I certainly have!

Maybe you’d rather not focus on your roll, but would like to keep your strokes and other paddling skills in top shape during the colder months!  The pool is perfect for practicing any kayaking stroke as well as skulling, bracing, and edging!  I personally attended a pool session every week for three years, and it tremendously improved my kayaking!

Perhaps you feel confident about your rolling abilities but would like to work on some flatwater playboating skills, this is the perfect opportunity you as well!  The pool is a forgiving and comfortable environment to practice squirting, the double pump, the bow stall, and countless other skills which transfer directly to playing in the river.

No matter what skill you’re working on, pool sessions are a great way to improve your paddling, sharpen your skills, and stay in touch with the skills you already have during the colder months.  Girls at Play creates a safe, comfortable, and supportive environment, where fun and learning come hand in hand.

Come on out and join us!  Here are the details once more!

Where: Zeugner Center Pool in Arden, NC

Dates: Every Sunday from November 6 through December 10 (no session Nov. 27th for Thanksgiving) – November 6th, 13th, 20th, December 4th & 11th

Time: 5-7 pm

Cost: $15 entry fee; additional $30 for 30 minutes of private instruction (optional) OR Register for all of the classes as a series and save $10! 5 classes for $65!

Who: EVERYONE!  Women, men, children, friends, family, beginners, experts…anyone!

Hope to see you there!

If you’re looking for more instruction in the comfort of your own home this winter, check out Whitewater Kayaking with Anna Levesque.

By Em Shanblatt

This past Tuesday kicked off the Ladies on the Ledges series, which happens EVERY TUESDAY IN OCTOBER AT 5:30!

Ladies on the Ledges is a free event we created to get women on the water together!  We spend from 5:30-7:30 (or shorter if you’d like) paddling on the Ledges rapid on the French Broad in Woodfin.  The 200 yard stretch of water is a long class I/II rapid which any level paddler can attain (paddle upstream) or walk up the shore, then paddle downstream and run the rapid!

This process provides tons of opportunities to work on your paddling skills, especially stroke technique, edging, boat control, and maneuvers such as ferries and peel outs!  If you’re interested in surfing and honing in on your playboating skills, there are several waves and an awesome hole to practice in as well!  Or maybe you’re most interested in doing faster attainments and getting an awesome cardio and core workout!  No matter what skill level or interests you have, ledges truly does offer something for everybody!

Ladies on the Ledges is also a great opportunity to paddle with some of the best female instructors around!  The Girls at Play expert team of kayakers and instructors will be there to help you get the most out of you time on the water.

Finally, Ladies on the Ledges is simply TONS OF FUN!  We laugh, cheer each other on, support each other through tough moves, and always come away with new friends.  If you’re from the Asheville area and are looking to find more women to kayak with, this is a great way to connect with other locals!

AND IT’S FREE!

The Ledges park is located about 10 minutes from downtown Asheville in Woodfin.  Here are directions from 240 in Asheville

Hope to see you there!

For more women’s kayak instruction and kayaking tips, check out our weekend clinics in North Carolina!  We have a novice clinic happening October 15-16 and another one October 22-23!

“Thanks goes out to Anna, Mary Frances, and Emily! what a great time playing at the ledges tonight. amanda and i definitely got a work-out…..not to mention that i learned some great paddling tips. can’t wait until next tuesday!”     -Rosie Eisenberg

When teaching the sweep roll to students I talk about cocking the right wrist during the finish of the roll to shed any resistance being applied to the water with the paddle.  This technique helps the paddler move her energy from pulling down on the paddle to centering and finishing the roll with a strong hip-snap.  As with so many kayaking techniques, what we teach about physical skills can also be applied to our mental game.  In this case, successful rolls also require a shedding of psychological resistance to the fact that you’ve flipped over and are upside down.

Lifting the head is the most common inhibitor to a good roll.  The head lifts because the paddler is punching out with the left hand, pulling down with the right blade or maintaining a tightness in the left hip (not allowing the left hip to relax so that the right hip can perform a good hip snap).  In addition to these physical causes that lead to the head lifting there is also the underlying emotion of fear that essentially manifests all of these physical reactions.

Considering the fact that humans can’t breathe under water it’s understandable that we feel fearful when we flip over.  However, if we want to learn the roll and develop a bombproof whitewater roll we need to change our reaction to being upside down from one of fear to one of acceptance and maybe even of fun (at least when practicing).  Here’s why:  When we resist flipping over we are sending the message to our bodies that we don’t want to be in this position and that makes our bodies tense which in turn leads to all of the physical reactions previously mentioned that in turn make us miss our roll.  Shedding the resistance and fear will physically manifest as loose hips, light paddle, strong hip snap and head down.

At first glance it may appear that acceptance implies apathy; however, there is a big distinction between the two.  By acceptance I mean accepting that the situation is what it is in this moment without judgement of good or bad.  The judgement is what creates a story in our heads which can, in turn, lead us to believe things that just aren’t true.  For example, when we flip upside down and panic because we don’t want to be there it can seem like we’re under for 30 seconds when really we were only under for 5.  Because it seems like we’re under for 30 seconds we get scared and rush our roll which leads to tight hips, head coming up and missing our roll.

In the same situation if we just accept that we’re upside down without the story of how scary that is we could say to ourselves: “OK, I’m upside down and now I’m going to try my roll.”  The situation is much more relaxed and you are able to set an intention to roll.  In this scenario you’re mental state is relaxed and so is your body.  Feeling relaxed is the first step in accomplishing a roll.  When we accept what is and act from that place of acceptance our actions are more intentional and powerful.  Acceptance actually empowers your actions.  So the next time you flip upside down accept that you’re upside down and then do something productive about it — roll!

This same concept applies to situations off the water as well.  For example:  A few weeks ago the city of Veracruz in Mexico experienced an upsurge in drug-related violence that prompted us to move our winter paddling trips to Costa Rica.  In the beginning I resisted the whole situation because I didn’t want it to be happening.  I love paddling in Mexico and I didn’t want to have to change my plan.  My resistance to the situation caused me suffering and stress.  Once I accepted that the situation is what it is and that I had to take action to ensure safe and fun trips the prospect of new opportunities in Costa Rica became exciting!  I took action and changed our plans and allowed for new experiences to flow in.  Now we have amazing trips planned in Costa Rica!

The next time you feel that life throws you a curve ball by flipping you over in a rapid or introducing change accept what is happening and then take action that will bring you in the direction you want to go — usually up!

If you’re interested in more kayak instruction and helpful kayaking tips check out our instruction programs!  And if you’re interested in an awesome paddling vacation in Costa Rica CLICK HERE!