My First 4 Months of Whitewater Kayaking

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Most popular comments
for My First 4 Months of Whitewater Kayaking

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Comments on YouTube

Danul83 - 6 years ago

Crazy coming back to watch this after your grade IV video, phenomenal improvement :)

Stewart MacLean - 6 years ago

Big Easy..... great boat to learn in

jared r - 6 years ago

Great video

Jeffry de Jong - 6 years ago

Cool video

Cecil - 6 years ago

How long were you kayaking for before you started on white water?

Thomas Weakley - 6 years ago

I had some recreational boats that I took out maybe 10 or 15 times the season before I did this video.

R.A.&R. SAFETY TRAINING - 6 years ago

How many times you training a month, good job.

the wonderingelectrician - 6 years ago

Nice work. I'm a river touring kayaker mainly but have done some whitewater. Nice to see how you progressed.

Thomas Weakley - 6 years ago

Thanks!! SYOTR!

Thomas Weakley - 6 years ago

Thanks! Design always gets a little more attention than paddling since I work at an agency but I love 'em both. I'm actually recovering from a shoulder injury so for the last year or so its been 100% design.

Malcolm Jitam - 6 years ago

Where is ASCI? It looks pretty cool that whitewater park.

10. comment for My First 4 Months of Whitewater Kayaking

jonnofret - 6 years ago

great video, awesome to see someone improving like that

Dejan Smaic - 6 years ago

Kool video! Glad you lived to tell your story after the head wall and strainer! :-)

Dejan Smaic - 6 years ago

It happens. I have a too many creek boats, but just bought my first play / river runner, a Wavesport EZG 60, and came across your channel. Just fun watching another paddler with the same boat take on III/IV

Thomas Weakley - 6 years ago

Thanks!! Glad you enjoyed the video. And yeah, me too. After buying my kayak one of the first things I did was go get myself stuck in a strainer while paddling solo on a local creek. Not a good move.

Tyrell Moore - 7 years ago

What did you do to get the camera from behind you (around the 1:35 mark)?

Thomas Weakley - 6 years ago

I constructed and unwieldy stern mount for the GoPro with metal piping. In retrospect it was cumbersome and dangerous. Check out the Jackson Levator mount if you want to buy a stern mount. Or you can do it with PVC. I saw tutorial for it but I can't remember the URL. If you search for "DIY stern mount gopro" you'll probably find it.

Andrew Vertefeuille - 7 years ago

Sweet man!! Like it

Peter Lyday - 7 years ago

so glad he got his brace down eventually

Sir Justonian - 7 years ago

Sick video man! Way to charge into it! Pretty nasty rapids for only 4 months of kayaking. Sick video. What state is this in? sick music. Sick editing.

Brandon Tubek - 7 years ago

Love the roll cuts! sick!

Thomas Weakley - 7 years ago

Thanks, man! I appreciate the positive feedback!

Scott Bailey - 7 years ago

Why can't people make these videos without adding stupid music to it? Ruins it.

Tom Docherty - 7 years ago

Great video and edited really well, did you have much experience on the water before this?

Thomas Weakley - 7 years ago

Thanks! I did a few months of rec boating on local flatwater before this.

No Pe - 7 years ago

Watched it nearly 10 times. Great Video!!!

20. comment for My First 4 Months of Whitewater Kayaking

DAG81Games - 8 years ago

awesome video keep making more

80hitultracombo - 8 years ago

The roll transitions in your video are cool.

john abramov - 8 years ago

гребля - никакая. Половина пройдена лёжа на корме, от этого и киляется.

john abramov - 8 years ago

Видно, что на момент съёмки видио вы только начинали плавать, я тоже начинающий. Но я плаваю не только на сплавных каяках, но и на слаломных лодках. и точно могу сказать, что лёжа на корме не будет правильного сильного гребка, который должен идти от носа. У Вас из-за низкого положения передней руки получались опоры, а не гребки. и я не увидел на видео больших порогов. а увидел много переворотов из-за откинутого назад положения тела и, в следствии, затопленной кормы. Со всем уважением.

Thomas Weakley - 8 years ago

Спасибо за комментарий. Откинувшись является лучшей техникой. В больших порогах лучше всего лежать на корме.

karting4 - 8 years ago

awesome vid, felt like i was in the boat with you :)

Thomas Weakley - 8 years ago

Thanks, really glad you enjoyed it!

DuccDucc - 8 years ago

2:52 damn that was some intense paddling

D Woods - 8 years ago

Awesome video bro!! Dudash will get ya with the DINK! Looks like you got it down. Cheers!

Thomas Weakley - 8 years ago

Thanks, man! 3 years later and still using the head dink to finish every roll! Dudash in the man!

Jacob White - 8 years ago

What kind of Kayak is this one. I'm looking to buy one for the same reason!

Charlie Larratt - 8 years ago

song?

Thomas Weakley - 8 years ago

Which song do you want to know the name of? There are a few in the video.

dukeimyourstepfather - 8 years ago

dude awesome editing on the rolls!

Thomas Weakley - 8 years ago

Thank you!

J L - 8 years ago

Where were you practicing your roll?

Thomas Weakley - 8 years ago

I think it was KOA campground pool near Harpers Ferry.

D Woods - 8 years ago

I know I saw my buddy Dudash at the pool roll practice! Love that guy.

30. comment for My First 4 Months of Whitewater Kayaking

andy kent - 8 years ago

gotta paddle all the way through the rapid

Thomas Weakley - 8 years ago

Absolutely. We call that keeping an active blade in the water.

Jake Shepherd - 8 years ago

awesome edit

Thomas Weakley - 8 years ago

Thanks, Jake!

Danul83 - 8 years ago

I noticed in your later videos your roll looks more like a sweep roll, but here it is definitely a c2c. Did you switch? Or am I just a bad judge of roll?
If you did switch, why so? Or perhaps it was a natural progression of becoming more efficient and cutting out the wide setting up step... I don't know.

Thomas Weakley - 8 years ago

Hey, you pretty much nailed it there. I did switch from C to C to sweep roll. I like the sweep roll much better. Gets me up way more consistently. I switched because I got a bigger boat and it brought out some of the flaws in my C to C so the approach I took was to switch to a sweep and it worked out well for me. I highly recommend learning the back deck roll after you have a good sweep or C to C.

Eric Moore - 8 years ago

Thanks man I really appreciate it

Eric Moore - 8 years ago

Would you recommend the big ez for a beginner

Thomas Weakley - 8 years ago

Hey, Eric. I'm glad you asked me that. The Big EZ is a river running playboat. It's a bit slicey (referring to the ends being sharp w/o much volume) but its not going to perform like a full-on playboat, especially for someone who is within the weight range, like me. Some people think it is better for a beginner to start out in a big, forgiving boat but I disagree. I think the EZ has enough river running capability to be an excellent beginner boat. But that depends on what kind of introduction to the sport you are looking for. If you are persistent and somewhat athletic the EZ will work out well for you. It is going to punish bad form and make you learn how to use those edges in moving current! Then when you are ready you will have the ability to work on some fun play moves like rock splats, stern squirts, enders and stalls. I've had my Big EZ for over 3 years and I still love it. I've got a few more boats in the quiver but I'm still having lots of fun in my EZ. Good luck and welcome to one of the most exciting sports in the world!

Hoosh - 8 years ago

I'm one of those kayakers who's never flipped in a River because I learned how to control my boat.

Hoosh - 8 years ago

+Thomas Weakley I've flipped once when some idiot rammed me. I was too slow to brace at my skill level then and I had to pop out. Now I can roll very easily.

Thomas Weakley - 8 years ago

That's awesome but I think you're missing out. Flipping and rolling back up is one of the best parts of kayaking!

Vetofon Vetofon - 8 years ago

Спасибо, отличное видео!
Thanks, great video!

Alex Folkard - 8 years ago

Great video! Nice work with the editing too! The roll cuts are AWESOME!!

Thomas Weakley - 8 years ago

Hey, thanks a lot! Cheers!

Brandon CG Harrison - 8 years ago

Nice video man. Got some balls to do that in 4 months. I've been paddling 3 years but mainly flat (playboating) I couldn't help but notice you paddle alone a lot??

Thomas Weakley - 8 years ago

Hey, thanks for commenting! I just subscribed to your channel. Nice playboating! I've been paddling for 3 years now and in my first few months I didn't have the experience to understand the risks of paddling alone. So I did paddle solo a couple times during the period in this video (like the time I went into the strainer in the beginning of the video). I never paddle solo anymore. I always go out with at least one other person or more, depending on the run. Even if it is a river I know well there's always the chance of new wood that isn't directly visible or some kind of freak accident like flipping someplace odd and getting knocked out. I look back on this period and can't believe how poor my concept of safety and risk was. Thankfully, I met some good paddlers who helped me understand all of that stuff. Cheers! SYOTR!

51 belair - 8 years ago

Just found this video. Your editing is nice bro.

Thomas Weakley - 8 years ago

Yo, thanks brother! Just subbed your channel! BOOM TO THE BEAVER!

Jack Domagala - 8 years ago

Hey I've been to the Z Channel! Its my favorite place to go after a big rain storm to mess around with my buddies. But hands down my favorite place to go is the ladder section just north of the Potomac drop in point.

Sam - 6 years ago

At the feeder!

Conor Churchill - 8 years ago

So cool coming back and watching this video again

1nquisitive - 8 years ago

Amazing collection of very cool memories you're building there. Nice one :-)

Thomas Weakley - 8 years ago

+TheMonkey3Fan Thanks! The river always provides the best memories. I'm glad I have the opportunity to capture them.

Alex Bunn - 8 years ago

The rolling edits are cool
It really helps to move the video alomg

Thomas Weakley - 8 years ago

+Alex Bunn Congrats on choosing the most fun sport known to man! Its a good thing that you';re getting started young. The best kayakers I know are the ones who grew up in a boat. I'm sure you'll pick the sport up quickly.

It's helpful to record yourself trying rolls and other moves so you can have an outside perspective on your form. That way you can see what you're doing right and what you're doing wrong. Best of luck on your journey!

Alex Bunn - 8 years ago

I'm getting into playboating and even. Though I'm quite young and haven't really got my roll down I feel like I'm pretty good at a lot of the other stuff and I've done a few stern squirts
I just got the dagger jitsu and I'm going to be trying it out tomorrow so excited this is my second boat after a dagger gforce so I would like to improve my skills in this new boat

Thomas Weakley - 8 years ago

Thank you!

Axel Busch - 9 years ago

really cool to see how you improve. starting with bad paddling technique, getting better and better, rolling works more often and so on. also i like how you did the cuts during your rolls. keep on paddling!

Thomas Weakley - 9 years ago

+Axel Busch Thanks! Hard to believe I've been paddling for 2.5 years now, and the sport just keeps getting more fun. Cheers!

kidda - 9 years ago

As if not to tell us the song!

Thomas Weakley - 9 years ago

+meatbag Which song are you referring to? I'll tell you the name.

marinesniper195 - 9 years ago

Whitewater looks fun, but my biggest fear is drowning. Lmao

Thomas Weakley - 8 years ago

+Simon Merrick Haha, that is a good piece of advice. Might we all stay out of tree branches. SYOTR

tiji151 - 8 years ago

+marinesniper195 used to be my worst fear. far down the list now that I started ww kayaking

Thomas Backwinkel - 9 years ago

Nice edit man!

Christian Allen - 9 years ago

Hey, what kind of stern mount do you have for your gopro? I was looking at the Jackson Levator one but its $150.

Thomas Weakley - 9 years ago

+Christian Allen I made a crude stern mount out of metal pipe. The one I made really didn't work well. It was heavy and it produced shaky video. If you do a google search on "DIY stern mount gopro kayak" you will find tons of tutorials. I agree the Jackson Levator mount is a bit overpriced but it seems to be a good product for someone who doesn't want to go the DIY route.

pomplum - 9 years ago

Really enjoyed the vid, thanks

50. comment for My First 4 Months of Whitewater Kayaking

Ben Jones - 9 years ago

so cool to see someone learning to paddle in the same area as me (MD, ...Baltimore?), I just bought my first boat after a week long class in WV on the new river and am excited to go through the same process

Thomas Weakley - 8 years ago

+Ben Jones Good luck man! This comment was 4 months ago so you're probably well on you're way. I'm Hagerstown Maryland. Hopefully you've gotten in touch with Baltimore Kayak Club. If not let me know and I'll send you their info.

jayceollie - 9 years ago

Hey Thomas! Really love the video bud. I'm taking my first white water kayak lessons next week. The lesson last 2 and a half days. So excited! They of course provide the kayak during the lesson, but what kind of white water kayak did u end up buying? I believe the three diff kinds are a river runner, creek boat, and a play boat/freestyle right? Any help or advice that u can give me would be great! Very impressive video Thomas! Hope to hear from u sir.

Thomas Weakley - 9 years ago

+jayceollie Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video. I wound up with a Wave Sport Big EZ as my first boat. The Big EZ is a river runner/play boat designed in 2000. In my opinion it is a play boat that has some good river running capability. It has a planning hull and hard edges and chines making it a semi-aggressive choice for a beginner. Of course I didn't know that when I bought it. I just bought the first used boat that my legs fit into. It turned out to be a great choice for me because the hard edges, flat stern and bow punished my improper form and whipped me into shape over my first year of paddling. Plus I got lots of roll practice before I learned how to protect my upstream edge. This boat worked out well for me but it depends what kind of introduction you want to the sport. If you want to learn play moves and have a boat that will challenge you, something like the Big EZ or a Wavesport Fuse may be right for you. If you want something a little more forgiving a river runner like a Pyranha Burn, Dagger Axiom or Jackson Fun Runner might do the trick. You also need to learn about the difference between displacement hull and planning hull and a few more details about whitewater kayaks before you make your choice. Personally, I prefer a planning hull. Unless you want a very forgiving intro to the sport I wouldn't suggest a huge creeker as your first boat. And I certainly wouldn't suggest a spud play boat like a Dagger Jitsu or Wave Sport Mobius as your first boat. Read this article ( link below ). It should give you some reference on terminology and types of boats .Hope that helps. If you have any other questions, just let me know! Good luck on your journey into an amazing sport!

http://www.nrs.com/kayaks/kayak_terminology.asp

Quin Brauer - 9 years ago

It's two years sense up posted this but it was so sick I'm just now getting into it I got my roll down just recently. It was really cool seeing the progression!!

Cj Giordano - 9 years ago

Dude nice edit!

Thomas Weakley - 9 years ago

+Cj Giordano Thank you! I am glad that I could share the joy/excitement of my entry into this sport with so many people!

Lee Lastname - 9 years ago

you really need to work on your edges and not leaning towards the current

Thomas Weakley - 9 years ago

+Lee Lastname Thanks, solid advice. This video is two years old so I've got the upstream edge way under control now.

Brian Kemper - 9 years ago

Fun stuff!

Chase M - 9 years ago

What kind of kayak

Thomas Weakley - 9 years ago

+Chase Morgan Wavesport Big EZ.

Ewan Duff - 9 years ago

Man i didnt even start rolling untill a year into kayaking. T Rescue FTW! Yet you did it much much earlier than me. Nice one

Derek K - 9 years ago

When you rolled over in the pool and came out on the river was awesome. Good editing and good paddling.

Thomas Weakley - 9 years ago

+dirtycommtroop Thanks!

Tyler Moser - 9 years ago

White water kayaking just does not look fun lol

Thomas Weakley - 9 years ago

+Tyler Moser Even when I was a complete novice it was a lot of fun and excitement for me. But hey, different strokes for different folks. No pun intended. Cheers.

Jonathan Davidson - 9 years ago

Upside down rec paddle- $20
Shitty PFD- $12
Bicycle helmet- $40
Gopro plus mounting rigs and accessories- $400+
Getting pinned in a strainer on a class 1 creek- priceless

But seriously, cool edit. Hope you have many fun adventures in the future!

Conrad Gedlaman - 7 years ago

Jonathan Davidson I

Thomas Weakley - 9 years ago

+Jonathan Davidson Haha, humble beginnings. Thank you!

Diarmuid Magorrian - 9 years ago

Those roll cuts are sweet as

Thomas Weakley - 9 years ago

+Mark Martello
Thanks Mark! I appreciate the positive feedback!

Mark Martello - 9 years ago

+Thomas Weakley

I second that, I loved those roll cuts! Great work.

Thomas Weakley - 9 years ago

Thank you!

Deaf Paddler - 9 years ago

You lucky, you got good water, where i live in Texas (suckS) all the water are low! your video is awesome

jeremy sanchez - 9 years ago

This is awesome!

Hrevo L - 9 years ago

Nice video, that reminds me of myself with the solo, rec paddle, cheap pfd creek runs I had this summer. And thanks to you for the footage of ASCI. Didn't know it existed and its only a 3 hour drive from me.

Thomas Weakley - 9 years ago

Thanks! Humble beginnings.... Definitely visit ASCI, great training ground!

Christoph Römer - 10 years ago

Nixe Video! You are really good only After 4 Month! Ahoi from Germany

Thomas Weakley - 10 years ago

Thank you! I'll be uploading a new boating video this week. Cheers!

TheRule777 - 10 years ago

Great Video :)
Which GoPro Hero 3 did you use?

Thomas Weakley - 10 years ago

Thanks! I used the Black Edition.

George Palmer - 10 years ago

that was absolutely the best kayaking video ive seen yet. awesome editing.

ThurstForSpeed - 10 years ago

Dude your editing skills are sick, rad bro!

Thomas Weakley - 10 years ago

Thank you!

Kayaking in Alaska - 11 years ago

dude your a great kayaker
awesome video
subbed and liked

Thomas Weakley - 11 years ago

Thanks man. Happy paddling!

Thomas Weakley - 11 years ago

+Necco Wafer Yeah, tell me about. I got stuck in that little strainer two weeks after I got a whitewater boat and that was actually my first time wet exiting in real water and on top of that I was alone. Gotta love hindsight. Thanks for commenting!