waterlines
of the moment: the essence of a breath; the
The Zen moment
sound of the paddle blade kissing the water;
the slicing of the bow through the ripples; the
cadence of catch after catch; the joy of being at
one with the water. Here, life can simply flow.
KayaKInG’S mySTIcal SIde comeS ThrouGh
Unencumbered. Purposeful. Restful. Smooth.
In The queST For a PerFecT STroKe
Is this the moment you strive for? Is this the
culmination of your seemingly endless quest for
By michael walmsley
the perfect stroke? Has practice not so much
made perfect as it has made performance? you
AS A KAyAKeR, there comes a time when you know you are approaching the Zen stage
are able to perform, essentially to move your
you experience a magical moment. Paddler, when the fundamental parts of your stroke slide
kayak, to the point where concentrated effort is
boat and water combine into a oneness of ex- together. The catch, power phase and release
not the determinant of achievement. yes, you
istence. No longer are you a separate entity reach the point where they are separately in-
have arrived! The Zen of paddling is within
from your vessel. No longer is the kayak at grained into your musculature and complement
your grasp as surely as the paddle shaft is ma-
odds with the flow of the water. Congruence one another. When your focus moves from the
nipulated in your hands. you are at one with
occurs and your experience becomes Zen- left blade catch to the right blade catch, and all
your vessel as your vessel is at one with the
like, where your only realm of being is in the the movements between the two just happen,
water. your existence has been reduced to the
moment. you are so connected with the water the magic moment is near.
essentials of being. you do. you are. No longer
that paddling transcends into an unconscious Zen will be upon you without searching
are you just a part of the kayak, the kayak is a
effort, where the rhythm of your motion is as for it. you arrive before you know it! It simply
part of you.
involuntary as the beating of your heart. dawns on you that your paddle is an extension
Capture this moment where the doing just
This Zen of paddling cannot be consciously of your arms. The paddling motion is happen-
happens and the realm of being is paramount.
willed. It merely happens. It is, of course nec- ing without your willing it. your mind is no
Left catch. Right catch. enjoy!
essarily predicated on the hours of kayaking longer the necessary master of your actions.
mIchael walmSley is an elementary school
needed to perfect your strokes and to coordi- Rather, your actions free your mind to reach
principal in orangeville, ontario, whose passion for
nate your body movements into well-defined another level of being.
paddling is equalled by his love of writing. he has
been kayaking for 20 years.
synchronization. Paddling a kayak is forged to No longer needed to will a motion, the mind
WAterLiNes is our reader essay column. send your 500-word
perfection with dedicated practice. finds purpose in crystallizing the experience personal essays or stories to
editor@adventurekayakmag.com.
OPG Water Safety 7.625x4.875:Layout 1 3/19/09 3:35 PM Page 1
Recreationalactivities
nearhydrostationsand
damsaredangerous
Stay clear of hydroelectric stations, dams,
shorelines and surrounding waterways.
Hydrostationsoperateyear-roundandaffect
water flows and ice conditions. Water that
looks safe can become treacherous in
minutes.Icethatformsnear,orevenseveral
kilometersawaycanbedangerous.Obeyall
warnings,signs,boomsandbuoys.Ifyousee
waterlevelschanging,moveasafedistance
away immediately.
Visit
opg.com to receive your free water safety DVD or children’s computer game.
8 aDvENturE KaYaK | Summer/Fall 2009
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