[CKF Info] Kayak Symposium at Mission Bay, Ca.

Mon Mar 31 21:34:00 PDT 2008

Gustavo and myself were very lucky to attend the Symposium. Lucky because it
is not easy to make such a long trip, and then because we were made feel at
home.

We have to start with the origin of this which is the initiative and
excellent organization of Jen and Jack and all the team in Aqua Adventures.
Friendly, helping and caring people that make you feel like the only one. 

Then we were back to see our cherished friends of CKF with whom we have more
conversations than with many friends in our community, since we get to read
from them and respond to them almost every other day. Putting this in years
makes a very sound knowledge that only needs to be matched to the face. So,
no wonder, we get there and arms are open to welcome us and we got offers of
everything, hot water, dinner, lunch, camping chairs, sun blocking crème,
hot coffee, etc.

Ken Fry and Barb Tomita invited us for dinner on Friday evening and we had
the nicest chat with them. They had brought some camping chairs for us
knowing that we could not carry them on the plain. Barb only has thoughts to
serve and help. You are very special Barb. 

There were the Old Farts, with whom we shared the water in the following
days. Thanks to Steve Holtzmann, Mike Bode, Mark Sanders, Chris Wood and
Patrick Martin. Let me tell you that we found extremely pleasing to see how
close a friendship and how well they get along. Their teasing to each other
is sufficient to stay there just listening and laughing. 

Henry and Kathy Pilcher introduced themselves after so long exchange of
communications. Such a nice couple. Paula Chavez so welcoming and full of
good wishes. Warm welcome from Wes and Debbie, who at all moments were
discretely watching to see if we needed something.

We shared the camping space with Duane Strosaker. It was so good to meet you
again and talk about your projects and the progress of the Point Bennett
that we are building, and so many other things.

There was Mike Brown, strong and energetic as usual, good to see you Mike.

Now if you want to see a happy face, a smiling comment, a positive
assertion, a good inspiration and great fun, then there is Steve Wilson,
whose music brings us happiness and whose good spirit makes you feel well. 

Some other friends whose names escape to me now (still haven’t slept much),
were also very kind, and we got the refreshing wake up with Tom’s coffee.
Somebody left a bag full of bananas and apples on our table. Thanks a lot.
For two days we did not know what to do but on the third we thought that
somebody would feel happy if they knew they would not get spoiled so we used
and offered some of them.  At first I thought they were Duane’s until he
said they weren’t. So thanks to the anonymous contributor.

As far as the Symposium, let me say that the surfing class with Nigel Foster
and Sean Morley was FANTASTIC. Gustavo really understood what it was all
about and went out and did it and now he is on the other side of the fence.
The incident management class with Steve M. was very good and the experience
of entering and exiting the rocks with the waves pounding on them was new to
me, and intimidating at first, but fun at the end. Mark and Steve are very
good paddlers with beautiful style in the roughest conditions.

The braces and edging class with Ronnie and Marsha was very good and well
taught but suddenly Gus and I realized that, maybe, rating the class, should
help in avoiding taking something that you will not profit  a lot from. I
used the opportunity to get as much from them as possible on the high brace
technique, which is my weak part. Gustavo was sent out of the class by
Ronnie in a joking fashion, when he did a head under water high brace. And
my previous comment comes in the class of Beyond the Basics, where we were
asked by Russell our instructor, about our expectations and two girls were
just beginners, a guy was with a little experience and then I found myself
out of place. The Beyond the Basics is very ample term and it can be beyond
the very basics or beyond the real basics, and it turned out to be the
first. Anyway I tried my best to do a good technique and to get as much info
from the instructor about the right hands and elbow positions. And with open
mind you always get some good input that otherwise might not come. For
example I did a T rescue on a capsized girl and realized that the Brit boats
have a very pointed nose and therefore bringing it over your kayak is so
hard, unless you turn it upwards. Then you can pull it and turn it over to
empty and turn over again. 

Anyway my suggestion is to give a rating (beginner, intermediate, advanced)
to a class so that the span of attendants abilities is less, and they get
more out of the course.

Thanks a lot to all specially Jen.

Best Regards,

Rafael

Mexico. 

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