YPRC Pool Sessions!

The YPRC pools sessions started tonight. It's a good mix of people with varying abilities. My goal for the 6 weeks is to get some solid forward rolls. A reliable storm roll and a forward sweep, hopefully. Next week I'll remember my camera and get some pics and videos to put up.

Turner and Sidsel

It was great to meet Sidsel last weekend! She's from Denmark and lived in Greenland for a year. She's spent the last 3 months in NYC and will be going home soon. Turner knew Sidsel through mutual friends, but had never actually met. She took the Metro North up to meet Gwen and I, and we drove up to a Connyak pool session in Wallingford, CT where Turner Wilson and Cheri Perry were teaching, while many others were practicing their rolling skills. I even got to use a rolling boat and tuilik which I am quite appreciative of. Afterwords, we went out with a large group and flooded a local pub. It was funny to see so many cars with kayaks on top of them in one place (especially in the cold weather).
Sidsel and Turner have me really interested in Greenland. They talked about some of the towns and culture. It sounds beautiful and strange. Maybe a little bit like Alaska or places in Michigan's upper peninsula, but without trees. Cheri and Turner will give a talk and slideshow about their travels and paddling in Greenland, it's hosted by YPRC at the Beczak Center in Yonkers on February 8th at 8:00pm.
The conversation also got me quite interested in Greenlandic rope gymnastics (Qajaasaarneq). It's a way to practice strength and flexibility while spinning on the ropes in ways that mimic kayak rolling. I'll have to get Dubside's video and some rope...

I Hand Roll Gwen's Valkyrie-- Video by Jack G.

Greenwich Rolling Session

South Street Seaport By Kayak

Self Portatrait south street seaport, originally uploaded by Pleuston.

I took this pic on my first Manhattan Circumnavigation.