PETE'S RIVER TIPS

Photos provide by Pete Delosa

Tuesday tip: When you're headed out to the river, make sure you're getting in your boat for the right reasons. You will have to decide for yourself what the "right reasons" are. For me it's about sharing the experience in a beautiful place with beautiful people. What are the "right" reasons for you?

California based kayaker Pete DeLosa is headed back to school this month. This time as a full time high school instructor teaching introduction to engineering to the next crop of students. DeLosa writes that he is very excited about his road ahead and looking forward to great many opportunities to inspire our next generation.
Here at Outside Adventure to the Max ,, where Delosa is often featured as a guest blogger, we are not surprised that Delosa, a Current Adventures Kayak School & Trips  instructor will be sharing his knowledge with future engineers. The guy loves to teach. We know this from his love of paddling and his desire to instill that into others. Whether you are an experienced paddler or brand new to paddling, DeLosa is always willing help you as a boater develop that edge you want to make you a bettet kayaker.
"Pete is hands down one of the most awesome human beings I've met," said  paddler and The River Store empolyee, Ethan Howard, "Along with mentoring me in the game of whitewater, he has also taught me valuable life lessons that I will never forget."
So as we send DeLosa back to classroom, we look at some of his wit and wisdom he has shared with us in his Tuesday Facebook posts offering insight, protocol, and civility for your next time on the river.

Tuesday Tip: If you're headed to the river with out a crew of your own and just hoping to meet up with someone who you can tag along with and get a shuttle, don't go to put it and wait there. This is generally considered bad form. Instead, go to the take out and wait for others to show up. This way when you are talking to people you can offer to participate with the shuttle. You may get lucky and not need to but people will appreciate the offer and you won't be making them choose between squeezing you in and leaving you stranded.

Tuesday tip: We all know we're supposed to point positive on the river. What about talking positive? It can be loud and hard to hear on the water. Recently while kayaking I heard a buddy behind me say "left." That was the only word I caught. I thought I knew where I was going, but he did know that run better than I did so I changed course and went left. Turns out, what he said was "don't go left." Well, all's well that ends well and it worked out OK. I just missed a sweet boof and instead beatered through a janky crack. For future let's all get in the habit of talking positive as well as pointing that way.

Tuesday tip: If you're carrying your boat on a narrow path with a wall on one side and a cliff on the other, don't carry your boat between you and the wall. Keep it on the cliff side. This way you won't accidentally bump the wall with your boat and send yourself flying off the cliff.

Tuesday tip: When you're surfing a wave and you're at the top trying to stay on, leaning forward will help you slide down the wave. Similarly, if you're at the bottom and you want to get to the top, leaning back will drag you up the wave.
Tuesday tip: When doing stern squirts don't throw your body back as you take your stroke. This actually keeps you flatter. Instead, concentrate on squeezing your knee to your chest.

Tuesday tip: Have you been working on flat spins or cartwheels lately? Make sure your keeping your head and your shoulders ahead of your rotation.

Tuesday Tip: When taking your boof stroke, do not throw your body backwards. Throwing your body back drives the bow of your kayak down which is the opposite of what you're trying to do. It is bringing your chest to your knees that will keep your bow up. Keep your core engaged and imagine you are doing a sort of sit up as you take your stroke.

Tuesday Tip: If you're headed to the river with out a crew of your own and just hoping to meet up with someone who you can tag along with and get a shuttle, don't go to put it and wait there. This is generally considered bad form. Instead, go to the take out and wait for others to show up. This way when you are talking to people you can offer to participate with the shuttle. You may get lucky and not need to but people will appreciate the offer and you won't be making them choose between squeezing you in and leaving you stranded.

Tuesday Tip: You know that hole you paddle around on your local run? The one you never go in because you're a little scared of it. We have one somewhere. Next time you go by it, consider floating into the hole sideways. If you continue kayaking sooner or later you're going to get caught in a hole by surprise and you're going to get worked a little. Nobody ever thinks to practice this but if you do get a little stuck on purpose every now and again, you'll be much more ready for it when it just happens.

Tuesday tip: If you're going to keep your kayaking gear in your car consider getting a dog such as a pit bull with rabies to keep watch over it while you're away. Another good option may be a vehicle that explodes during forced entry. This will go a long way to prevent your stuff being stolen, or at least if it is stolen the thief won't steal from anyone else, ever.

California based kayaker Pete Delosa is a member of Team Pyranha and sponsored by Immersion Research and Shred Ready. You can catch up with Pete on his blog River-Bum.com and watch his videos on You-Tube. 
Outside Adventure to the Max is always looking for guest bloggers. Contact us at Nickayak@gmail.com if you are interested.