Re: Paddle

1

If the concentration faded as it became second-nature, it might be sort of boring

If you paddle board in waters known to be frequented by large predatory animals, that should cut down the risk of boredom. Salt water crocodiles are probably best, but you'd have to go to Australia.


Posted by: AcademicLurker | Link to this comment | 08- 6-15 11:18 AM
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2

Serious question: what's the appeal relative to a kayak? It always seemed a bit awkward, and also like standing for a long time. Whereas the kayak (pretty much) self-stabilizes, and you're sitting. I don't think I have any intuition about which would be more perceived effort.


Posted by: JRoth | Link to this comment | 08- 6-15 11:19 AM
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A kayak doesn't really require concentration in the same way - I can drift off and realize I'm basically forgetting to paddle altogether. Also I prefer standing, I think, because your arms don't tire as fast because you can use more of your core and whatever. I don't like biking and canoeing very much because it's just one solitary muscle group, and ...I'm not sure. Something about both of them I find boring and tiring.


Posted by: heebie-geebie | Link to this comment | 08- 6-15 11:27 AM
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4

Maybe this was just easier.


Posted by: heebie-geebie | Link to this comment | 08- 6-15 11:27 AM
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5

We're not talking about the kind of kayak where you're zipped in, can flip underwater, and have to sit in a way that requires mild flexibility, right? Because then I have a lot more reasons to dislike it. We're talking about something with seats and an open top?


Posted by: heebie-geebie | Link to this comment | 08- 6-15 11:29 AM
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5: The first one is the kind I have, although zipping in is optional. I don't think sitting in it can require mild flexibility, because I'm very inflexible, and they don't bother me at all.

Anyway, the answer in 3 is interesting. I'm a goal-oriented kayaker (and cyclist), so the drifting off part doesn't apply to me, but I get it.


Posted by: JRoth | Link to this comment | 08- 6-15 11:31 AM
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I guess the true statement is, "I'm inflexible for someone who's basically active and fit." There are certainly unfit people who are much more flexible, and I bet I'll get even less flexible as I lose fitness, but among people who are basically active and fit, I doubt many are less flexible.


Posted by: JRoth | Link to this comment | 08- 6-15 11:33 AM
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8

Sitting with my legs out in front of me requires flexibility. Even if my knees are bent. (Unless I can sit cross-legged. But I don't think I'd want to sit cross-legged for an hour.)


Posted by: heebie-geebie | Link to this comment | 08- 6-15 11:34 AM
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JRoth, paddleboards are great for slow drifting on calm water, even with a destination, like somewhere downriver, and the standing doesn't feel awkward to me. In choppy water, though, no fun.


Posted by: Jesus McQueen | Link to this comment | 08- 6-15 11:37 AM
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Yeah, inflexibility isn't one thing -- people have different weaknesses. I'm with Heebie on finding sitting with my legs stretched out in front of me an effort.


Posted by: LizardBreath | Link to this comment | 08- 6-15 11:38 AM
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11

I don't like sitting like that either.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 08- 6-15 11:44 AM
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12

When we were in Morro Bay for the day, we looked at kayaking and liked the look of the stand-up paddle boards. Strangely, some people began in a kneeling position on the stand-up boards, which sounded like an awkward transition and poor leverage.


Posted by: Mooseking | Link to this comment | 08- 6-15 11:49 AM
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13

We board a lot. I much prefer rivers. You just have to figure out a shuttle. When I get tired of standing, I sit on the board. Feet in the water. It's great.


Posted by: CharleyCarp | Link to this comment | 08- 6-15 11:56 AM
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14

You kind of have to kneel first. Or when you're going through rapids and don't feel like getting dumped.


Posted by: CharleyCarp | Link to this comment | 08- 6-15 11:58 AM
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15

You kind of have to kneel first. Or when you're going through rapids and don't feel like getting dumped.


Posted by: CharleyCarp | Link to this comment | 08- 6-15 11:58 AM
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16

You kind of have to kneel first. Or when you're going through rapids and don't feel like getting dumped.


Posted by: CharleyCarp | Link to this comment | 08- 6-15 11:58 AM
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17

Stupid phone.


Posted by: CharleyCarp | Link to this comment | 08- 6-15 11:59 AM
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18

Does the need to concentrate fade? Or is a river sufficiently bouncy that you have to keep your head in the game?


Posted by: heebie-geebie | Link to this comment | 08- 6-15 12:01 PM
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8, 10, 11: Interesting, because it's specifically around my knees that my inflexibility is most clear (even as a HS hurdler, couldn't remotely touch my toes), but even very long kayak outings with my knees slightly bent don't bother me.

13.last sounds appealing as hell.

I wonder if I can get out in my kayak any time soon.


Posted by: JRoth | Link to this comment | 08- 6-15 1:09 PM
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20

It's been dry enough lately that the river probably has very little feces.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 08- 6-15 1:11 PM
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21

I did it last summer, it made my back ache. Maybe my paddle was too short. OTOH my backs been hurting the last two weeks worse than it has ever before, but I think that's hockey related and I'm sure the paddle boards don't work well on ice.


Posted by: SP | Link to this comment | 08- 6-15 1:18 PM
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With competence, a striped shirt and singing Verdi. With mastery, white flannels and _Love in Bloom_.


Posted by: clew | Link to this comment | 08- 6-15 2:54 PM
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23

You guys, I love stand up paddlboarding so much! Last year we faced a budgetary choice between buying one, or spending the funds to buy an oven that works. So we didn't do any baking that year.

An SUP is better than a kayak because you are so much higher above the water, which means you get awesome views into the shallows. Also, keeping you balance on a paddleboard, through the waves and whatnot - though not particularly difficult - apparently is good for "activating your core". Although it can't be that good, because my core is still too fat.


Posted by: Spike | Link to this comment | 08- 6-15 3:02 PM
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As it becomes easy on a longer board, you can upgrade to a shorter, faster, more maneuverable, but much less stable boards.


Posted by: not clever enough | Link to this comment | 08- 6-15 8:15 PM
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18 there are different rivers and levels of difficulty. We had the boards on the Okanogan tonight :it was like glass.


Posted by: CharleyCarp | Link to this comment | 08- 6-15 9:25 PM
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26

Is a stand-up paddle board that thing in Pitch Perfect 2?


Posted by: Cyrus | Link to this comment | 08- 7-15 5:33 AM
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Is a stand-up paddle board that thing in Pitch Perfect 2?

I thought it was from 50 Shades of Grey?


Posted by: Turgid Jacobian | Link to this comment | 08- 7-15 5:44 AM
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||

I'm going to take the 50 Shades reference as permission to go OT: do any lawyers care to weigh in on the Salaita ruling? It seems like UIUC must have made some pretty disingenuous arguments. The judge's impatient tone in the bits that have been quoted makes it sound like he was annoyed at having his intelligence insulted.

|>


Posted by: AcademicLurker | Link to this comment | 08- 7-15 7:07 AM
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This could keep paddling lively and engrossing: https://twitter.com/yukon_news/status/629680536718446596


Posted by: dairy queen | Link to this comment | 08- 7-15 9:02 AM
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30

Is this the vacation thread?

Can you paddle board safely in somewhat rough waters? I'm thinking something like the LI Sound or the Gulf (not the Mexican one). I'd like to do some kayaking here when it gets a bit less insanely hot.

I'm going out to the desert again today to see this massive Richard Serra installation in the middle of some kind of wildlife preserve.


Posted by: Barry Freed | Link to this comment | 08- 8-15 12:20 AM
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30.2 [I didn't finish that thought] I'd like to do some kayaking here when it gets less insanely hot and paddle boarding sounds like it could be a fun alternative.


Posted by: Barry Freed | Link to this comment | 08- 8-15 12:28 AM
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Can you paddle board safely in somewhat rough waters?

To a point. People paddle board in New York Harbor, which is pretty rough with all the boat traffic. And my brother in law goes surfing on his.

One good thing is that, if it gets too dodgy, you can get down on your knees instead of standing up, which helps with teh stability.


Posted by: Spike | Link to this comment | 08- 8-15 6:24 AM
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I've asked around and found out that some people do paddle board around parts of the bay here. I think I'm going to give it a try in the fall if I can find a place that rents them.


Posted by: Barry Freed | Link to this comment | 08- 8-15 10:15 AM
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Try it! I can't remember the last time I felt evangelical about anything.


Posted by: heebie-geebie | Link to this comment | 08- 8-15 10:20 AM
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I will!

The Richard Serra installation was impressive and I did a bit of hiking in the desert too. I need better hiking shoes/boots for desert terrain. The salt flats by the Gulf were very salty.


Posted by: Barry Freed | Link to this comment | 08- 8-15 11:06 AM
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36

I have to try this (paddleboarding).

I really like kayaking, though.


Posted by: Just Plain Jane | Link to this comment | 08- 8-15 12:47 PM
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37


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Posted by: the impossible game | Link to this comment | 09-12-17 6:58 PM
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38

This blog is wonderfully written!


Posted by: Împrumut pe termen lung | Link to this comment | 11-13-17 10:47 AM
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