Flexibility and Strength : Folbots and Yoga Practice

Folbot Guest Blog by Lauri Nemetz, MA, BC-DMT, LCAT, ERYT

Folbot ad- Lauri’s pic and kayak on the right!

I have been fortunate to co-lead yoga/kayak trips over the past five years to Costa Rica, Canada and on the Hudson River in New York.  While I am still relatively new to kayaking, and even newer to my Folbot, there are a lot of similarities in yoga practice and kayaking.  One of the most obvious is the need to be present in the moment whether reacting to the water around you or to the mental and physical challenges we face on a daily basis.   Part of that presence comes from a combination of flexibility and strength.

Several thousand years ago, one of the pivotal texts of yoga, the Yoga Sutras, was written.  In that book, there is the description of yoga asana, or poses, as “sthira sukham asanam” or loosely translated, “there is both openness and stability in any yoga pose”.  When people think about yoga practice, they often think it is all about bendy poses.  However, mobility needs boundaries or it risks injury from lack of awareness.

Think about your kayak.  The flexibility allows a great sense of the water, and even the ability to ride waves with a sense of ease, but without a framework, all that flexibility would cause the kayak to fall apart.  In yoga practice, those “asanas” or poses are a “comfortable seat”.  When we have a strong yoga asana practice we can then sit comfortably for meditation, move comfortably in our daily lives, or for long rides in our kayaks!

Adding a yoga component to your kayaking experience is a wonderful way to work in both flexibility and strength.  Find a yoga teacher who can guide your practice and you may find your ability to kayak or enjoy other parts of your life increasing as well.

Photos courtesy of Lauri Nemetz and Eric Feinstein

Lauri Nemetz, MA, BC-DMT, LCAT, ERYT is a yoga teacher, anatomy teacher, university professor, movement therapist, artist and a mom to two wonderful boys!  She enjoys co-leading yoga/kayak trips in her “free time”.  More about Lauri (and her yoga/kayak trips) can be found on her website at www.wellnessbridge.com.

Picking The Perfect Paddle

Once you’ve got your Folbot all ready for a great day of paddling, you want to make sure you have the right paddle to go along with it.  Picking a paddle is too often an afterthought for many people but having the right paddle is an integral part of enjoying your time on the water.  When recreational kayaking, you can make as many as 40 strokes per minute; if you have a heavy or uncomfortable paddle, the extra weight and discomfort can become magnified pretty quickly!  Imagine planning the perfect day or trip on the water, only to be exhausted 20 minutes into your adventure because it feels like you are paddling your boat with a big piece of lumber.

Like kayaks, paddles come in many different shapes and sizes depending on what you’ll be using them for. In our opinion, Werner makes the best paddles and in this post, we’ll make it simple for you to find the perfect paddle so you can get out and enjoy your time on the water. Once you’ve gotten your paddle, read our “Recreational Kayaking For Beginners” post to help you get started.

Step One: Choose A Shaft Length

• A general rule of thumb to determine the right length is to lift the paddle up in the air and rest the center on your head. Position your hands on the shaft so that your elbows are bent at about a 90-degree angle. Your hands should be about 4 inches from the blades.
• Another general guideline is based on the type of kayak you have. Touring kayak paddles are generally about 240cm in length or 220cm for surfing kayaks
• Height and boat width are also important variables to consider. Taller people or people with wider boats generally need longer kayak paddles (240cm or more) to avoid strain while paddling. Shorter people or people with narrower boats can choose shorter paddles of about 200-220cm. Average size people can choose paddles in the middle range, 220-240cm.
• Also think about the type of paddling or trip you’re going to be taking. If you’re planning an extended, more relaxed trip, a longer paddle requires less effort, which helps you preserve your energy for a longer trek.

Source: Werner Paddles

Step Two: Choosing The Right Material

• Paddles can be made from many different materials. The most common paddle materials are wood, fiberglass, carbon, plastic, aluminum, and Kevlar. The material you choose will determine the weight, durability, and price of your paddle.
• Wood paddles tend to be a bit heavier, depending on the style. They can also be less durable than other materials and require more upkeep to retain appearance. Wood does retain heat better than other materials and can help keep hands warm in colder temperatures. Wood paddles are best for recreational kayaking.
• Fiberglass paddles are lightweight, durable, and virtually maintenance-free. Fiberglass paddles are usually in the middle range of pricing and are a popular choice for sea, recreational, and whitewater kayaking.
• Carbon Fiber, or graphite paddles are typically the lightest-weight paddles available. They tend to be more expensive and less durable than fiberglass paddles. They come in handy especially if you’re paddling long hours or multi-day trips.
• Aluminum/Plastic paddles tend to be the best choice for beginners as they are extremely durable and inexpensive. They do tend to be heavier than other paddles, and can be quite chilly in colder temperatures.
• Kevlar paddles are good for beginner and intermediate paddlers looking for a strong, durable paddle. Kevlar paddles are designed for river paddling and are not made for high performance.
• As a beginner, the best thing to do is to choose a paddle based on price rather than performance until you’re comfortable on the water.

Photo Courtesy of Let Ideas Compete on Flickr

Step Three: Choosing A Blade Shape
(We think that blade shape is one of the most important factors in choosing a paddle, so make sure you read this section carefully)

• Blades are either feathered or nonfeathered. Nonfeathered blades are positioned to be parallel to each other while feathered blades are rotated at an angle to each other. Feathering reduces wind resistance so that while one blade strokes through the water, the other slices through the air. Blades are feathered so that one hand (typically the right) maintains control of the paddle. Control is a matter of personal preference and is not actually dependent on whether you are left- or right-handed.
• Blades are also either symmetrical or asymmetrical. Symmetrical blades can pull you through the water quickly, but require more energy per stroke. Asymmetrical blades are narrower and can help you paddle more accurately and efficiently, which uses less energy. If you’re a recreational paddler, or plan on paddling for extended periods of time, you will typically want to opt for asymmetrical blades.  However, if you have a very upright paddling stroke, a symmetrical blade may be more suitable.
• Blades are either flat, cupped/spooned, or dihedral. Flat blades are good for beginners just learning to kayak, but there isn’t as much “grip” in the water. Cupped blades are curved, similar to a spoon, and are more stable in the water, allowing you to paddle more accurately. Dihedral blades have a built-in angle, much like the wings on an airplane, which helps water flow smoothly and evenly over both halves of the blade. Most blades are a combination of dihedral and cupped shapes.
• Larger blades are better for surfing and paddling that requires quick, powerful bursts of acceleration. Smaller blades are better for conserving energy over a long period of time.

Source: Werner Paddles

There are no real hard and fast rules for picking a kayak paddle, since there are so many variables to consider. The best thing to do is to try one out.  You can find our full selection of paddles on our website by clicking here.

“A finer Folbot trip couldn’t be had”

That’s how Steve Cosner, Folbot Ambassador, described his trip to Thousand Island Lake in an email to us.  After reading about his trip, we’d be hard pressed to disagree.

Thousand Island Lake is a large alpine lake within the boundaries of the Ansel Adams Wilderness of the Sierra National Forest and Inyo National Forest and is located in eastern Madera County, California.  The lake was formed by a retreating glacier and gets its name from all of the rocky islands that dot its surface.

In 2007, Steve took a camping trip to Thousand Island Lake and was greeted with a beautiful view of the water as you can see in the picture below.

A View to Inspire…a Folbot Kayaking Trip!

I’m sure it took one look for him to decide what he had to do, plan a return trip to the area so that he could bring his Folbot Greenland II and do some kayaking in the lake. It took him close to four years to return, but Steve finally made his dream a reality last August.  He planned and completed a wonderful kayaking trip to Thousand Island Lake.

Steve’s story is below but you can also check it out by clicking here.

“I built a kayak from a Folbot kit when I was a teenager and had lots of fun using it. Then ten years ago, I bought a foldable version from the same company, the two-seater Greenland II … it sure expands the options on trips.” – We can all agree about that Steve!

“So early this spring, a friend was asking about a backpacking trip to Thousand Island Lake, so I called the Reds Meadow Pack Station. They assured me they could pack my boat in a bag to Thousand Island Lake, so I signed on. I wanted to take my wife and daughter in, too, but they couldn’t hike the ten miles, so we reserved three horses as well.

So August rolled in, and off we went. We spent two nights in Mammoth to acclimate, then showed up at the Agnew Meadows pack station with what seemed like a huge amount of gear. The packers had four mules ready to go, but one got the day off. All the gear — three kayaks, two bear-proof pack boxes, and camping gear for seven fit onto three mules!

Here’s 20-year-old Rick, with the longer boat bags.” – These long frames carry the frames for the large cockpit boats like the Greenland II

No roof racks on a mule!

“It took several hours to get the mules loaded and the horses lined up. We got a late start, but the trail was beautiful — more flowers than I’d seen on any other trail. We took the “High Trail” into Thousand Island Lake.

Fred and the mules

Water break — Charlee did well riding all the way. It took four hours.

Once we arrived at the lake, there was much work setting up our camp and building the kayaks. Here’s my reward…

Charlee and I enjoyed a quiet paddle each evening, exploring islands and the view.

On the second day, the three of us paddled out, along with Jenny in a single-seat kayak, going to the west end of the lake.

Enough Room for the Whole Family!

Great looking pair!

Here’s Marek and David. David joined the trip when I posted plans on the Folbot Forum. That’s Banner Peak in the background. Three of us climbed it on the third day.

The more the merrier!

Here’s a view of Thousand Island Lake from the summit of Banner Peak.

Well worth the hike

On the morning of the fourth day, I went out for a paddle to take pictures.

What a view!

View from the tent

Everyone wants to get out on that water!

Group picture

A good looking bunch! And the Folbots are nice too!

The altitude and sun exposure was the roughest part of the trip. It took two nights at Mammoth, and two more at the lake before I felt completely normal. Marek had to bail on the Banner peak climb half way up due to AMS — he had less than 60 hours at altitude, and it wasn’t enough. We didn’t cover every inch of my daughter’s exposed skin, so she got some burn, and we should have taken sunglasses for her. Her eyes were ok, but bloodshot after we returned. My wife had swollen hands and feet after returning home! Oh, and riding a horse… for this backpacker, it isn’t much fun. On the way out, I opted to lead my horse for a quarter of the distance. Turns out I could walk at the same speed as the horses; but eating their dust wasn’t much fun. Better than screaming feet and knees, though.

This trip was truly a memorable experience, well worth the planning and expense. The good times, the fun with friends, paddling on one of the prettiest places in the Sierra… What a trip!

All my pictures are here: Thousand Island Lake Kayaking trip 2011“

Thanks for sharing Steve!  We know your story will inspire other paddlers to take that trip they’ve always been dreaming about!

Stay tuned for more stories, pictures and anecdotes from other Folbot Ambassadors.

Happy Paddling!

Introducing the Gremlin! The Newest Member of the Fleet!

Today is an exciting day for us at Folbot.  We are formally releasing the newest member of our fleet, the Gremlin!

The Gremlin is the newest addition to our Folbot fleet!

Inspired by the Citibot, the Gremlin is lightweight, ultra-portable and easy to assemble.  At 12 feet long and 27 lbs, it can accommodate larger paddlers and payloads and its length enables it to track more like a touring kayak and get up to speed quickly.  The Gremlin rounds out our offering in the Recreation category and its design incorporates everything we love about the Citibot with the added benefits of a larger kayak.

The Gremlin is beautifully designed to fit in a backpack for easy transport and storage and it assembles quickly so it’s the perfect boat to throw in a car or RV, on a boat or to take with you on a hike, bike or camping trip.

How did we come up with the name?  Well, we wanted something that captured the performance of the boat on the water but also spoke to its manageability on dry land.  It reminded us of some characters we once saw in a movie that were well behaved and fun loving…until they got wet!

To celebrate the release of our latest boat we are having a contest on Facebook.  Please check it out for a chance to win a brand new Gremlin!  

We know once you get a chance to learn more about the Gremlin, you’ll love it as much as we do.  To check out the Gremlin on our website click here.

You can also view some new videos on YouTube of the Gremlin by clicking the links below:

Coming out of the bag

Frame being assembled

Sponsons installed 

Skin put on the frame

Finished Product.

The Gremlin Specifications Are As Follows:

Length / Beam:  12’/34”

Height: 13”

Weight: 27 lbs.

Cockpit Size: 30”x16”

Maximum Payload: 250 lbs.

Assembly Time: 12 minutes

We look forward to answering any questions you may have about the new Gremlin!  Please like us on Facebook!

Best,

Bill, Eric & Scott

Happy February

Wow… February already.

With the way the weather’s been, it’s time grab some friends, get your Folbot and hit the water!

Cold

This morning in Charleston, Folbot’s home town, the temperature was 28 degrees with a wind chill of 21 — our first real cold day of the winter. In honor of the chilly temperatures, we thought we would share this photo of a paddler in Dubai:

Ahhhh…

David A.

Happy Holidays

Sharing this photo has become a Folbot holiday tradition on this blog…

Folbot didn't always just make kayaks!

Happy Holidays from everyone at Folbot.

David A.

Happy Holidays Sale

Just announced… a one day Holiday Sale!

And if you order, you will automatically be entered into a drawing for a $375 carbon fiber Northern Lights paddle!

Happy Holidays!

Indoor Kayaking… Sort Of

One of the traditions that exist regarding Folbot kayaks is that new ones should first be assembled in one’s living room.

But once it’s used, the kayak is usually stored in its bag in a closet, a garage or barn. Some owners, however, keep the kayak assembled and store it inside their house or apartment. At that point, there may be alternate uses for the kayak — as in this case with a Citibot.

Good kitty.

What other ways could a Folbot be used inside?

Many thanks to Terrence Wong for sharing these photos.

David A.

 

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