HOW DO I GET STARTED PADDLING WITH MKC?
May 10th, 2008Answer: If you live in or near the city, would like to take advantage of many of the tour offerings on our schedule and eventually be able to come on virtually any of the tours from a weekday “Sunset” tour to a Trip around the Statue of Liberty (SOL) or even around Manhattan Island itself then the answer is almost always PADDLE BASICS I (PB I) offered Saturdays and Sundays throughout the season.
Question/Client: I already have paddled a bunch of times on vacation, with friends in Maine, Florida and I am pretty fit can I just come on one of the tours?
MKC: The Tour that you could come on is called the “TOURIST TOUR” . It has a 20 minute to half hour clinic where we teach you some solid basics and then we go out on the river on sit-on-top and/or REC style (read very stable) kayaks at time when the river current is minimal. This is great for family and friends who are visiting NYC and want to see NYC from a totally different perspective.
Client: Well I wanted to go out on the Sunset tour and maybe the Statue of Liberty or Full Moon tours. They sound great!
MKC: Then its back to Paddle Basics I first
Question: Yeah but, $175.00 …?!
MKC: MKC teaches a propeitary FULL BODY CORECENTRIC TORSO ROTATING kayak stroke based on Olympic flatwater technique. It is simply the most efficient way to propel a kayak and is required to handle the potentially strong currents and winds of New York Harbor and the Hudson River. Moreover, we spend 45 -60 minutes on dryland programming your body to do the stroke before you ever get in the water. You can practice these techniques at home with a towel or broomstick. If you practice at home and come out and paddle 4-6 times in your first month after the class you will HAVE a REAL KAYAK SKILL that the majority of kayakers do not have. Your muscle memory will also keep the skill for life wherever you may go.
Question: Oh come on , kayakng is easy, I had great time in the Everglades , we paddled all day long. I don’t think I need Paddle Basics do I?
Answer: If you have not learned to use your legs, pelvis and torso as your prime movers to paddle a kayak then the answer is yes you do and often if you have paddled a fair amount without learning how to use these much bigger muscle groups than your arms and shoulders then it is often MORE important. Its a bit like learning to Golf with a bucket of balls and golf club versus 1 good lesson with a pro. It is very natural to paddle with your arms and shoulders and it is counter intuitive (read–virtually noone naturally paddles with their pelvis and legs) to use the body bellow the chest as the main “engine” to propel the kayak.
QUESTION: My cousin Mike is coming from Ireland in a couple months and he is a professional sea kayaker something about BCU certified and all that could he join me on a trip to the Statue if I have taken PB I and come on some of the shorter tours first?
ANSWER: YES, MKC honors kayakers who have had significant professional instruction and have paddled substantially in intermediate to advanced conditions. Your cousin Mike may still find the trip challenging as well as fun!
QUESTION: Can I bring my girlfriend, she runs marathons?
MKC: Once you have learned Paddle Basics and got your stroke going well through a number of our shorter trips and/or practice sessions you could possibly take her on a trip in a Double Seater Kayak…
CLIENT: oH NOOO …The last time we were in double …
MKC: I know, some people do real well in double kayaks together and others need their space… If she wanted to do the trips she would have to take PB 1 and come up to speed the same way as you did. FYI–Many Runners and Cyclists while often quite fit are not specifically fit for kayaking. Even swimmers need the lesson to apply their fitness to the technique.
CLIENT: OK - I want to do this how do I sign up?
MKC: You can call MKC at 212-924-1788 or email at Info@manhattankayak.com.
CLIENT: Do I need special gear
MKC: We have wetsuits to learn in the early season (April-May) when the water temps are still a bit chilly ( 45-60 degrees) for a $10.00 rental. It is still good to come with good watersport shoes (teva sandals , Aquasocks, or close relatives and have good neoprene, wool or synthetic wool socks until it is Summer time. It is a good idea to visit EMS (Eastern Moutain Sports), or PARAGON SPORTING GOODS, or PATAGONIA outdoor clothing store, or QUICKSILVER surf clothing shops in NYC and check out NON-cotton shirts , shorts, rash guards , etc. as well as some decent paddling jackets. We dress in synthetic layers in April, May, sometimes early June as well as October and November, December.. Hat , sunglasses and sunblock good from now through September.
CLIENT: You paddle in the Fall and Winter?
ANSWER: Most MKC paddler paddle into October and some paddle all yearround in our Polar Paddling Program and don’t forget the MAYORS CUP KAYAK RACE AROUND MANHATTAN IS IN OCTOBER (see www.NYmayorscup.com/ )
CLIENT: How far is that?
MKC: 28 miles
CLIENT: Could I do that this year?
MKC: If you learn PB 1 and paddle at least once a week and gradually increase your distance and speed then the answer is probably! The cuttoff time is 7 hours. You would want to go with us on a tour around Manhattan first. This usually takes 7.5-8 hours. The winner last year did the race in less than 3 hours and 15 minutes. Training consistently can get you under 6.5 or even 6 hours in your first year starting from scratch sometimes better. Multi Year MKC paddlers are cracking 5 hours and some are pushing or cracking 4 hours for the event. It is a spectacular international affair.
CLIENT: I see you offer CARDIOFIT classes are those good training for that .
MKC : YES , definately
