Let the kayaking season begin!
Official start of my kayaking season – meaning my first time this year ON THE WATER was 23rd February. Emajõgi was almost free of ice with only shores still in ice.
I was ready to take Nelo, the 2nd level racing kayak on the water for my first training but the minute I sat in I felt like it was my first time with the boat. So shaky, almost fell over right there by the peer. So that was not going to work. Too cold (+2 degrees I think) to take a swim for me and I’d rather paddle just a bit with whatever boat. So, slalom boat it was. There was no issues with that lovely wide base boat.
For my first trip I did 6.26km in an hour. Was a lovely trip, almost no wind on Emajõgi. After kayaking on the water I warmed myself up with rowing ergo.
2nd kayaking on the water training this year
The 2nd one was the next day, 24th of February. Which is also Estonia’s Independence Day. I decided to celebrate my freedom by doing something that for me symbolizes freedom – kayaking. It truly is a sport where once you feel safe and ready, its like flying. Only better. Freedom. Anyways … took slalom boat again just so I wouldn’t have to spend time on being afraid of falling in because it was slightly colder -2 degrees Celsius. Luckily I didn’t feel the cold in my hands as long as I was paddling.
Did just the same – 6.3km with slightly less time. And it already felt better to paddle. I need to learn the proper paddling technique still, I sometimes miss the putting in phase and that unbalances me.
After this trip I warmed up a bit inside and did my signature training: sitting in Nelo, holding on to the peer and just moving my bottom, legs and one hand and trying to get the feel of the boat. From time to time I tried to let go of the peer. I know it must look funny and especially so considering my kayaking ambition, but hey, you have got to start somewhere. And I will do whatever it takes, even if it looks weird :).
While I was sitting there, I looked at the nose of the kayak and it still hits me at times how narrow it is. After 15 minutes of sitting-in-the-kayak-training it was time to go and warm up inside with some kayaking ergo, back and abs training.
I hope it will get warm no soon. I want to be on the water and get the balance and get to actually use all the strength I have.
Kayaing is AMAZING sport. You should try! If you haven’t.