The range and level of technical paddling skills required by a sea kayaker is pretty small*, especially compared to those required by whitewater kayakers. I was reminded of this yesterday, as I bounced upside-down over some rocks on a steep Devon river. I’ve been focusing totally on sea kayaking in 2007, and I was amazed to realise just how much my paddling skills have regressed over the year. Even the most basic boat handling skills like edging and rolling were really ropey; these things just don’t get put to the test much on the sea, and even then, very rarely in as demanding an environment as a steep creek.
Much as I adore sea paddling, I think that I need to mix it up a bit more next year! I’m off to Portugal over New Year to see if their steep creeks are as amazing as everyone says, and at Easter I’m organising a whitewater expedition to India. In the summer it’s back to the sea, with trips to north east England and possibly a big trip up the west coast of Scotland. But I might just squeeze a big overseas whitewater trip into the summer as well …
I think I’m really lucky that I participate in both sports, they both take you on amazing journeys in amazing places, with amazing friends. I just need to balance the two out more carefully now that the book research is done …
*The real skill of sea kayaking is of course a bit more nebulous.
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