Before you register please contact me

Are you an experienced whitewater kayaker or solo canoer who wants to try a C1 (decked canoe)? Or who needs to make low summer flows challenging again? 

After an open canoe a C1 can feel like a switch from minivan to Miata; from a kayak to a C1 like a switch from automatic transmission to manual.  The C1 Challenge video linked below does a good job explaining differences and tradeoffs.

On Tuesday afternoons or early evenings in July let's meet at Powerhouse for an informal transition clinic. Rolling (novice C1ers flip a lot!), forward stroke, tricks to keep a line when paddling on just one side, paddling and turning in the front, bracing onside and offside, surfing, etc.

This is for paddlers who are already comfortable in whitewater, capable of playing in class II in their boat of choice, who can self-rescue and get to shore without assistance.

C1s are not for everyone: you must be able to kneel for an extended period with butt supported by a 5-8" foam block, toes pointed backwards.

I have a handful of C1s that others can use for the clinic, but with definite limits on paddler weight and size. Before you register please contact me - we will meet at the boats to see if there's one that we can configure to work for you. Comfort and boat connection are more important than in a kayak or canoe.

Details TBD based on participants. Not expecting everyone to attend all the sessions but of course learning takes time and we'll alter the activities across sessions as proficiency increases.  

Carl de Marcken
carl@demarcken.org

C1 in 30 seconds: Jessica Fox's boat
A recent Olympic C1 slalom run
Longer (and older) intro to C1s: The C1 challenge