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Great article by Doug Ammons 16 years 9 months ago #22418
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One of my 'heroes' in kayaking is someone many people would not have heard of, Doug Ammons. I have a lot of respect for this man and there is much to be learned from him. Read this article he wrote, it's long, but very good:
www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Journ..._3_page_6_year_2008_ Thanks to Tuomas for sending me the link! Loved reading it! I believe Doug is the only person to have paddled the Grand Canyon of the Stikine, alone. Respect! |
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Re:Great article by Doug Ammons 16 years 8 months ago #22432
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Very good article--helpful for a person, like myself, who constantly battles fear. I saw a slideshow by Doug about his runs and he spoke about his solo run down the Stikine--sick. Interesting man. (I think I may have told you that already...)
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Re:Great article by Doug Ammons 16 years 8 months ago #22433
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Yeah, you told me a while back. I would have loved to have been there! Seems like an awesome dude.
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Re:Great article by Doug Ammons 16 years 8 months ago #22443
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Re:Great article by Doug Ammons 16 years 8 months ago #22448
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Awesome article. Shot!
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Re:Great article by Doug Ammons 16 years 8 months ago #22454
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Yep this is very useful, well written and argued. In 35 years of kayaking I have never stopped battling with fear but seem to control it better with age. Personally I find that the fear factor tends to vary considerably depending on mood, tiredness or mental fatigue - and is sometimes not so related to the difficulty of the water being paddled. This makes it difficult for my paddling buddies as I am inconsistent - somedays could fight a lion and other days wouldn't face up to a sheep. Ian
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Re:Great article by Doug Ammons 16 years 8 months ago #22462
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For sure, couldn't agree more. I think most people vary a fair amount. I've often walked rapids which I've run before, and vice versa. I believe in listening to myself, after I found out the hard way.
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Re:Great article by Doug Ammons 16 years 8 months ago #22469
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I know it makes sense to listen to what your body is telling you - but it is also sometimes awfully frustrating (usually later) when you walk a rapid in a far flung corner of the globe that you will probably never return to - but thats life I guess, and whats a few regrets amongst a multitude of fantastic memories.
Adrian how is the shoulder mending? |
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Re:Great article by Doug Ammons 16 years 8 months ago #22470
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Here's something Clay Wright wrote about how you always should run hard drops exited, eyes gleaming.
www.jacksonkayak.com/articles07/article.cfm?article=200806243 For me it varies from day to day as well. If I feel I'm not on top of my game it's really hard to get motivated running anything challenging. With experience I found that my paddling is become more consistent and because of that my frame of mind towards paddling is more consistent as well. But still theres so many things and variable that can jinx the heap up  But there's no better feeling than peeling out to drop exited and positive. And sticking the line. |
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Re:Great article by Doug Ammons 16 years 8 months ago #22471
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Wise words.. Yep, one has to focus on the positive, or else sign up for suicide bomber training school..
The shoulder is coming on now. Can't really complain. The road is a long one to walk though. Just had a couple of weiss beers so life is not too bad right now.. Also been bodyboarding a bit (even though I shouldn't) and getting out into the water makes me realise how it feels to live again. Not being able to paddle kills me - death of the soul is worse than physical death itself. Had some very hard days in the last 10 weeks, not going to lie...  I'll read that article later Tuomas - looks good. Got to still drive to a Cape White Water Club meeting tonight - with free beers...   Life's tough sometimes.And I'm not going to download that second version of the vid - first one looks schweet. Everyone will enjoy it Tuomas.  Your paddling is looking good in the video. Tuomas 'Danger' Vaarala looking pretty damn smooth... |
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Re:Great article by Doug Ammons 16 years 8 months ago #22475
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Hi Adrian - had a kayaker friend who did quite a bit of Hydrospeed after a shoulder injury and operation - kept them sane. Best - Ian
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Re:Great article by Doug Ammons 16 years 8 months ago #22477
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I actually tried a hydrospeed yesterday, but it hurt just paddling on the flats. So I sat on it and kicked backwards for about 1km down to this wave. But when we got there the river was way too high and the wave had flushed. (which was probably just as well) My mate built it last Saturday and I helped a bit with the lamination. We had a reasonably accomplished dude show us how to build it. Crazy dudes those. The level of control with those things seems to be lacking...
 Luckily the ocean will keep me sane! |
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Re:Great article by Doug Ammons 15 years 11 months ago #26102
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Just wanted to let you know that I just received Doug's two books "The Laugh of the Water Nymph" and "Whitewater Philosophy". I have only had time to skim a bit in them, but they look like really good reads. They can be ordered from www.dougammons.com , and all the proceeds from the books goes to support a small school in nepal.
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