Coach Don about to roll
By Johna Till Johnson
“What do kayakers do in the wintertime?”
That’s easy. We kayak! That’s what drysuits are for.
But even the staunchest of paddlers can’t do much when the water goes solid. So when Matt Kane of Prime Paddlesports announced pool practice sessions in Dobbs Ferry starting Jan 7, I was (literally!) the first to sign up.
It’s delightful to work on basic technique in water warm enough for a T shirt and swim trunks. And being around fellow paddlers in a group is something I’ve missed. Both are reasons I signed up for the Sweetwater Kayak Symposium in Florida in February.
But that’s still a month away. So in the meantime there is this:
Ready to launch
Calm, warm, and brightly lit, the water beckons!
Coach Julie and student
Coach Julie and a student prepare in matching boats…
Coach Don laughing
Getting wet is fun when it’s warm…
Coach Julie keeps an eye on the action…
Coaches Julie McCoy and Don Urmstrom did an outstanding job watching us practice and play. Surprisingly, in under two hours we were all tired and even a bit stiff—working on technique is demanding!
But I am looking forward to the next few sessions—and if you’re a NYC-area paddler looking to brush up on technique during a cold month, I’d love to see you there!
Vladimir Brezina (RIP) 
Johna Till Johnson
Wind Against Current 
You are hard core, Johna! You had me at ‘calm, warm and brightly lit’….and then I clicked on ‘solid.’ :)
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Well, I don’t go out in the solid stuff! :-) Man, I’m aching from today’s pool practice. Harder to practice for 2 hours in a warm pool than paddle for 20….
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This is interesting- i have never thought of this question as I just assumed people did not kayak during the wi get months.
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Thanks for reading and posting! Actually, we do–so long as the water isn’t solid ice, we go out! Here’s a typical example from years ago: https://windagainstcurrent.com/2013/12/08/a-winter-manhattan-circumnavigation/
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The top picture looks like a Dufy!
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What’s a Dufy? Googled it but am not not sure I got the right context…
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