Figuring out what type of boat to get

So many times I am asked, "What type of boat should I buy?" The easy answer is, "One that fits you well and that you'll enjoy paddling." But really, how do you know if the boat fits well and you'll enjoy it?

I've been thinking about creating a program of some sorts to provide a good answer to folks. This program would ask a series of questions, churn a bit, and then spit out an answer. (Kinda like the quiz you take to determine what kind of dog that you are -- http://www.gone2thedogs.com/ -- click the WHAT DOG ARE YOU? link to see. I'm a SCHNAUZER (GIANT).) Anyway, here are some of the questions I'll ask:

• What type of water do you want to paddle? (for example, small lakes or ponds, large lakes, bays, coastlines, easy rivers, difficult rivers)
• What type of paddling do you want to do? (for example, fun and enjoyment, fitness, fishing)
• Do you want to travel down a body of water or do you want to stay in one place?
• Do you want to go on overnight or multi-day trips?
• Do you want to paddle year 'round (even in cold weather)?
• Is the weight or the size of the boat an issue?
• How tall are you and how much do you weigh?
• How much money do you want to spend?
• Do you want a brand-spankin' new boat without any scratches or a boat that has some stories to tell?
• What... is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

Once I know the answers to these questions, I can point you in the right direction. Be thinking about your answers. In the meantime, check out the latest issue of Canoe and Kayak Magazine (http://canoekayak.com/features/current-issue/decembertoc/). It's their annual buyer's guide, and it's choc full of good information.

What to do when you can't paddle

So, here I am, hobbling around on crutches for the last few weeks. And will be hobbling around for another week or so. Beautiful weather, a new boat in the garage, changing leaves, slalom races, and a strong desire to get back out on the water. But my foot's in an air cast, and the incision hasn't healed from my moderate bunion surgery (see a cool animation at http://www.drmoy.com/faq.htm -- click on the procedure animation link). What to do?

Well, I've managed to stockpile about a year's worth of canoeing and kayaking magazines -- Sea Kayaker, Paddler, and Canoe and Kayak. (If you're not familiar with any of these magazines, check them out at your local outfitter.) For one reason or another (mostly related to triathlon training), I've not taken the time to read the magazines when they arrived. Since I've had a little extra time to read now, I've been slowly catching up on the news of the paddling world.

I've also started a wish list of the new kayaking videos. As an instructor, I like to buy and view kayaking videos. I always learn a teaching trick or two from the pros. Here's a list of the ones I'd like to get:

• All About Kayaking (Kent Ford, www.performancevideo.com) - Kent Ford is one of the best sources of instructional kayaking videos and books. This video covers different types of paddling, including kayak fishing.
• Whitewater Kayaking Basics for Women (Anna Levesque, www.watergirlsatplay.com) - This is Anna's second video in her "Girls at Play" series. The first video, "Girls at Play," covered an intro to the sport of whitewater kayaking. It's different from other kayaking videos in that it dives into the minds of women boaters and explores our fears and triumphs.
• EJ's River Running: Basics and Advanced (Eric Jackson, www.jacksonkayak.com) - EJ's a freestyle kayaking world champion and superb paddler. These two videos cover the basics, reading water, and running difficult rapids.

If you like videos and you want to start a collection (or add to an existing collection), here's what I recommend:

• Kayaking for Everyone - This video should be sold with every new boat that is sold. It's geared twoards the recreational kayaker and covers all the basics to get started.
• Kayak 101 - Joe Holt classic that's good at illustrating basic strokes and river-running techniques.
• Essential Boat Control - A classic video on river running by one of the best, Tom DeCuir.
• The Kayaker's Edge, Breakthru!, and The River Runner's Edge - A collection of whitewater videos by Kent Ford.
• Whitewater Self Defense - Recommended for anyone who runs rivers.
• The Kayak Roll - Superb video for learning and teaching the "Sweep-to-C" roll.
• Learning the Kayak Roll - Tom DeCuir's classic for learning the "C-to-C" roll.
• Performance Sea Kayaking - Covers the basics, as well as surf techniques. Another Kent Ford video.

So, while I can't be out on the water right now, at least I can dream about it... by catching up on magazines and videos!

October... best time to paddle

Ah... It's finally October. The best time of year to paddle on the area lakes and rivers. The skies are turning to a deeper blue, the winds have picked up, and the temperature is at a reasonable 70 degrees. The water seems to be crystal clear, and there's a spring in my step as I load the boat onto the truck.

I think that I always look forward to paddling in October because it was late September/early October when I first started paddling in 1995. I started with a nice little boat that I could "piddlefart" around in -- a Wilderness Systems Rascal. I took that little boat everywhere. I spent most of my time in it on Town Lake and on the San Marcos River. For a wide, stable boat, it could make the turns it needed to as the river curved.

The Rascal took me to places I'd never been before to see things that I'd never seen or felt before. I explored around Red Bud Island and discovered turtles, ducks, and other wildlife. I sat in a cool spring that I found nestled in the rocks on the south shore. I saw my first nutria, and was chased by swans. I found my river guide -- the great blue heron -- on almost every journey down the river. The majestic bird would flap its wings, and show me the way.

Paddling introduced me to so many new people, so many close friends. I love being able to paddle quietly with someone, each of us in our own world, yet together. I learned to trust and depend on others, and to have them trust and depend on me. I found spirituality in being one with the water and a part of creation.

What a world paddling has opened for me.

Origins of Konyag Kayaking

What is "Konyag" you ask? And how does it relate to kayaking?

Konyag (pronounced kan ya'g, with a hard "g") is an early reference to the area now known as Kodiak, on Kodiak Island, Alaska, where I was born. Kodiak Island is located south and west of Anchorage, in the Gulf of Alaska. The island is over 3,500 square miles, and is home to the king crab, Kodiak bear, and salmon. Early inhabitants of the island hunted whales, sea otters, seals, and birds from baidarkas. (Baidarkas were what the Russians called a skin-covered, decked kayak.) They also traveled the rivers, bays, and seas in the boats.

So, you might say, that Konyag and kayaking go together.

New put-in

There seem to be so many blogs out there... but are any of them focused on kayaking and canoeing? Do any of them talk about places to paddle, sights to see, paddling equipment, and tips for folks just starting out in a boat? Well, this one is and will.

Welcome to the Konyag Kayaking blog. I'm an American Canoe Association (ACA) certified kayak instructor who lives in Austin, Texas. I set up this blog to accompany my website, www.konyagkayaking.com. I've wanted to talk about the great places to paddle in and around Austin, the state, and the country. I've also wanted to share teaching tips and talk about boats. So, what better opportunity than to set up a blog.

Hope you'll enjoy it!