My 3 Favorite Competitions by Maddie Kimmel | Jan 13, 2019 | Event Coverage, Events, Family Zone, Video, Whitewater, Wrap UpsI love competing because it gives me a chance apply my skills I have learned and I get to go paddle with my closest friends and have a good time. I have selected my top 3 favorite competitions from 3 different geographical locations. I enjoyed each competition for...
5 Strategies for Boatercross by Maddie Kimmel | Oct 1, 2018 | Event Coverage, Events, Instructional, Internationalisation, Whitewater, Whitewater InstructionBoatercross is one of the most intense races, where you and your friends go head to head in a downriver or gaint slam race. The smallest mistake can cost you everything here are some strategies to help you succeed in the boater cross- 1. Choose a Fast Line- When...
How to Blunt by Maddie Kimmel | Sep 28, 2018 | 2016 Rock Star Competition, Instructional, Playboating, Whitewater, Whitewater Instruction, WW DisciplinesThe blunt is an 180 degree turn where your bow leaves the foam and the stern is higher than 45 degrees. It is worth 50pts in a comp and is a great building block to other tricks. The blunt is also commonly linked to other tricks such as the blunt-mcnasty. It is...
Log Limbo by Maddie Kimmel | Sep 25, 2018 | Family Zone, WhitewaterToday we took the afternoon to do some safety drills with logs. When creeking logs can be a major safety hazard and it’s important to be able to be able to dodge them. Branches, leaves can create strainers and you could get caught on. Here’s what they look like:...
Fail, because its the funnest… by Maddie Kimmel | Feb 27, 2018 | Family Zone, Instructional, Uncategorized, Whitewater, Whitewater InstructionFail Fail is a game that I never win. Fail is a game invented by my little sister, Brook Hess (an amazing kayaker and coach), and Peyton (my best friend who is learning to kayak). These ladies are masters at it. Here’s how you play: Wet exit TRY to stand on top of...
Challenges by Maddie Kimmel | Dec 22, 2017 | 2016 Rock Star Competition, Family Zone, Kid's Kayaks, Playboating, Whitewater, WW DisciplinesWhether I am in school or on the water, I am always thinking: How can I challenge myself? It could be as simple as catching an eddy or trying a new line. It could also be more complex like learning a new combo in a hole or running a rapid with consequences. Challenges...
My Year in Review by Maddie Kimmel | Nov 25, 2017 | 2016 Rock Star Competition, Family Zone, Playboating, Reviews, rivers, Whitewater, WW Disciplines2017 has been an awesome year and my kayaking has definitely improved. This year I competed in several events including Keeners, Noctoberfest, Paddlefest, Paddle South (USA National Championships), The Corner Wave Classic and Junior Olympics at Nantahala Outdoor...
Positivity and How it Affects your Athletic Performance by Maddie Kimmel | Sep 25, 2017 | 2016 Rock Star Competition, Family Zone, Kid's Kayaks, Playboating, Whitewater, WW DisciplinesWhen you focus on the positive sides to paddling, your performance improves because you focus on improving not your mistakes. You should still pay attention and learn from your mistakes. However, you shouldn’t focus on the fact that you missed your trick or that...
Failure by Maddie Kimmel | May 13, 2017 | 2016 Rock Star Competition, Event Coverage, Events, Family Zone, Kid's Kayaks, Playboating, Whitewater, WW DisciplinesFailure Merriam Webster definition- lacking success Maddie’s definition- not doing your best Failure is something that happens to us all (no matter how it might seem). Last weekend, I failed terribly at the NOC Freestyle Shootout and it was soul crushing. ...
The Pressure of Sitting in the Eddy by Maddie Kimmel | Apr 19, 2017 | 2016 Rock Star Competition, Event Coverage, Events, Family Zone, Playboating, Whitewater, WW DisciplinesThe hardest part of a competition (for me at least) is not even surfing it’s sitting in the eddy waiting to compete. So many thoughts go through your head in that short period of time. Will I make all my tricks? What if I flush? Will I even make the wave at all?...
For the Thrill of It – First THREE Years at Jackson Kayak by Maddie Kimmel | Jan 23, 2017 | Family Zone, Kid's Kayaks, Reviews, rivers, Video, WhitewaterI wanted to share a short video of my first five years kayaking and three years at Jackson Kayak. It start with me learning how to wet exit from my pink Fun 1 in the pool and then progresses to me learning how to roll and surf on the Ottawa river in my Shooting Star....
For the Thrill of It – First THREE Years at Jackson Kayak by Maddie Kimmel | Jan 20, 2017 | Family Zone, Kid's Kayaks, Video, WhitewaterI wanted to share a short video of my first five years kayaking and three years at Jackson Kayak. It start with me learning how to wet exit from my pink Fun 1 in the pool and then progresses to me learning how to roll and surf on the Ottawa river in my Shooting Star....
