Kayaking to Catalina Island - Part 2

"It seems so distant, twenty-six miles away
Restin' in the water serene
I'd work for anyone, even the Navy
Who would float me to my island dream"

             "26 Miles (Santa Catalina)"
               by Glen Larson and Bruce Belland

"As soon as I heard about the Catalina paddle, I knew I wanted to go," says David Salper, a Search Marketing manager, actor, and graduate of UCLA's Theater program. "It sounded challenging, out of the reach of my existing skills and endurance, and extremely rewarding,"

Lean, intense, athletic, with streaks of gray in his black hair, David has already done two kayakers' "retreats" with the Catalina expedition's lead instructor, Brendan Nelson, and other UCLA kayakers, including a beginner's whitewater weekend on the Kern River and, recently, a trip on the Colorado River at Black Canyon. (Don't let "retreat" fool you. There's a lot of hard work involved.) Watching David rig his boat, you can see the pleasure he takes in the process and the commitment he has to the sport.

The UCLA MAC has a very active kayaking program, with beginning or advanced classes taught almost every weekend. Novices start with the basics -- the boats, the gear, the safety equipment, the verbal and visual signals they must know to communicate with other kayakers on the water. They also learn how to adjust the cockpit's footrests so they can brace their body inside the boat, giving greater power to their strokes (and providing a good workout at the same time). Then there are the proper stroke techniques. If they kayak long enough, they'll know them all.

That was obvious when I watched David, Brendan, and other participants in the expedition deftly maneuver their boats off the dock at the start of their last practice session. There's the draw stroke, used to move the boat sideways, the sweep, used to turn the boat to the non-paddle side, the scull draw to move the boat sideways, the back stroke, which does just that, moves you backwards, and the basic forward stroke. It's a lot more than just putting the paddle blade in the water. 

Before anyone leaves the UCLA dock, they must learn the famous "wet exit." For some beginners, the idea of hanging upside down in the water beneath a kayak can be intimidating, but Brendan points out that the MAC's instructors are there every step (or flip) of the way. 

"The level one instructors spend a lot of time talking over what the students will be doing before we even go down to the water," he says. "Their first recovery is done off the dock, with the kayaks at the end of a line held by an instructor. If they have any trouble, we're there. It's a great way for beginners to get over any anxieties." 

Intimidating, yes. But before long, they'e paddling around the marina, honing their skills, building their confidence. 

Evelyn Nguyen, a CPA and trader, had a big personal challenge to overcome before she attempted a "wet exit." Or even got in a kayak. "I always wanted to kayak," she says. "But I was afraid to do it because I did not know how to swim."

Enthusiastic and usually smiling, about six years ago Evelyn decided to take that first step. "I started swimming lessons to get over my fear of water," she says. "And after a year of lessons, I began looking for somewhere I could learn to kayak."

In one of those chance meetings that make life interesting, Evelyn met a MAC windsurfing instructor at her cousin's birthday party. When she mentioned her interest in kayaking, he told her about the facility's classes. That was all she needed. "I immediately signed up for Sea Kayaking One, kept taking classes and practicing, and here I am!" 

Evelyn's attitude and determination reflect that of the other kayakers taking on this challenge. The next installment in this series will introduce more of the expedition's participants and their special training for the crossing.

(Part one of this series can be found .)