Off Road Version of kayaking

[R8R ROK]

So this past weekend I went to Coloma to do some white water kayaking.
We ran the Gorge on Sunday it was awesome. The Liquid version of offroading.

This was rapid is a class 3.5 called Satan's Cesspool.

http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/Satans_1.JPG
http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/Satans_2.JPG
http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/Satans_3.JPG
http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/Satans_4.JPG
http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/Satans_5.JPG

[fish]

always wanted to try that,looks like an adrenaline rush for sure:thumbsup:

[R8R ROK]

always wanted to try that,looks like an adrenaline rush for sure:thumbsup:

It is a total blast. The infltable kayaks are really cool. You can can find yourself an outfit that will rent them to you and then you can even get a guide to teach you some basics.

[Dizzyliz]

You are a wild man Stacy :D ---> those are some crazy rapids :eek2:
How was the water temperature?

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q60/lizzdizze/boatguy.gif

[SONIC]

ugh youre killing me i havent been in forever!
my 'Yak is hanging above my head right now staring at me saying "i need to hit the water, i need to!"

[scouter4life]

Great pics!! I'm more a flatwater paddler myself, but love the white water once in a while, but nothing to that level.:thumbsup:

[R8R ROK]

You are a wild man Stacy :D ---> those are some crazy rapids :eek2:
How was the water temperature?

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q60/lizzdizze/boatguy.gif


It was so damm cold.
I was just praying the whole weekend I wasn't swimming. Unreal that I actually stayed in my boat. But even when I punched through a couple of the more difficult rapids and was basiclly fully submerged and came out the other side I really didn't feel how cold it was because I was pumped full of adrenalin. The South Fork of the American river is so awesome. We basiclly camped at Sutters Mill. I can't wait until next summer.

[JKDoc]

How was the inflatable? I've tried whitewater once and never spent so much time under the boat I was in. Never did figure out the roll. Are the inflatables more stable than the kayaks you wear?

[R8R ROK]

How was the inflatable? I've tried whitewater once and never spent so much time under the boat I was in. Never did figure out the roll. Are the inflatables more stable than the kayaks you wear?

By no means am I an expert. I started last year with my good friends from work and really only have 4 days experience in white water kayaking. Here is what I know. The first time I tried it I did it in a hardshell without a roll class (majorly stupid) the guide I hired was out of his mind (so I found out later). Hardshells especially playboats are majorly unstable especially for a beginner.

I was able to make it down a class 3.5 without swimming after only the second run in an inflatable. I definatley know that wouldn't be possible in a hardshell. Hardshells are definatlely something I want to look into because they seem to me flat out fun.

Hopefully this helps.

[Brad2893]

Very nice. I gotta get one soon, but I need a ocean-going one first...one of those things that comes in handy on an island.

[R8R ROK]

Very nice. I gotta get one soon, but I need a ocean-going one first...one of those things that comes in handy on an island.

If I had the money I would have a kayak for every occasion. I love being on the water. I have always thought it would be cool to go up to the Puget Sound and Island hop and camp on those Islands.

[JKDoc]

By no means am I an expert. I started last year with my good friends from work and really only have 4 days experience in white water kayaking. Here is what I know. The first time I tried it I did it in a hardshell without a roll class (majorly stupid) the guide I hired was out of his mind (so I found out later). Hardshells especially playboats are majorly unstable especially for a beginner.

I was able to make it down a class 3.5 without swimming after only the second run in an inflatable. I definatley know that wouldn't be possible in a hardshell. Hardshells are definatlely something I want to look into because they seem to me flat out fun.

Hopefully this helps.

The hardshell I was in would turn on a dime IN EVERY AXIS!!! My instructor weighed 105 pounds, I'm 250 and we were using the same kayak. He was wedged in using foam blocks to fill space, I was just wedged. He could do amazing stuff with the kayak including paddling up a small waterfall. If I did not have a paddle in the water, I was going over. My ocean kayak (open sit on top) is extremely stable. I've been considering an inflatable to take along on trips because those lakes look so inviting. Just wondered about their stability. Thanks, your info is helpful.

[R8R ROK]

The hardshell I was in would turn on a dime IN EVERY AXIS!!! My instructor weighed 105 pounds, I'm 250 and we were using the same kayak. He was wedged in using foam blocks to fill space, I was just wedged. He could do amazing stuff with the kayak including paddling up a small waterfall. If I did not have a paddle in the water, I was going over. My ocean kayak (open sit on top) is extremely stable. I've been considering an inflatable to take along on trips because those lakes look so inviting. Just wondered about their stability. Thanks, your info is helpful.

That is the beauty of an inflatable. They are very stable especially for someone that dosen't have a need for a hardshell play boat. What is tough is that every boat has a different design and advantage. These white water inflatables are great for rivers with flows because you have the river working for you but on a lake that isn't alwyas the case because they won't track as well. I have an inflatable advanced elements that I take on lakes and It is very stable and I love it. That kayak wouldn't last two minutes down a class 3 or higher rapid. I am considering trying to find a hardshell that is a larger playboat. But I am not sure if I have the time to comitt to it. You can't go wrong with an inflatable white water kayak for running rapids as a beginner. They are also very easy to rent.

Here is a picture of my advanced elements kayak. These are pretty cool for portability but it is a lot work because you have to wash them and make sure they are dry for storage. http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/buttes6.jpg