My daughters learned how to roll in a kayak!

[MT4Runner]

When I was growing up, my dad loved to fish. Sorry, not loved, LOVED to fish. Still does. Every family trip, outing, campout, or event was focused on chasing trout. It was too much for a kid. I grew to hate it. Now I maybe fish 3-4 times a year, and mostly then only to spend time with my Dad. I already pushed kayaking too hard on my wife, so she declined to become a boater early in our relationship. I swore I wouldn't be one of "those" parents, so I have taken a hiatus from kayaking since our girls were little.

I spent a lot of time in the past 8 years with the girls, learning to swim and becoming comfortable on, in, and around the water, and we also bought a couple of rafts and spent a lot of quality summer weekends whitewater and flatwater rafting as a family.

Fast forward to a campout last Memorial Day. Several other couples had brought their recreational kayaks. Our girls asked if they could try them out, and they spent a couple great hours out exploring the small lake. I looked out at one point to see my then 9 year-old standing up in her kayak. So proud, so proud.

My then 7 year-old walked up to me, and said, "Daddy, you used to kayak a lot. Do you still remember how?"



"Daddy, do you think we could get our own kayaks?"

GAME ON!!!

Since we live near several incredible Class I-II rivers, we found a couple of used kids-sized whitewater kayaks, which they can also use to explore the shorelines of our local lakes. They received them as gifts for Christmas.

A buddy of mine and I rented out semi-weekly sessions at a local physical therapy pool. He has a son and a daughter the same ages as our girls. His kids had started roll practice late last summer, and by their first and second sessions, had their rolls down. As a reward for 'owning' their rolls, they got to pick out new whitewater helmets. Our girls really wanted "their helmets!!"

Everything clicked yesterday, when 10 year-old Morgan said, "Dad, can I still get my helmet if I roll without my paddle?"

"Sure, sweetie."

So, she cranked off 6 handrolls in 8 attempts. She'll need to learn to hang onto her paddle eventually, but a roll is a roll! I couldn't very well tell her that she was expected to get a base hit and that a home run didn't qualify!

8 year-old Mackenzie has a beautiful "sweep roll".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-cZ-8QbrOk


We went helmet shopping tonight!

[Standard]

What a great day indeed! I got back into kayaking a few years ago after not having been in a boat for about 15 years or so. Still working on getting my roll back to the level it was when I was 20 and boated a lot. I'm sure you'll all have many hours of fun exploring the rivers and lakes.

[Ryan Ross]

That was AWESOME, Shawn! I was clapping, during the video.

You must be incredibly proud of those kiddos, as well you should be! Thanks for sharing that, my friend.

[MT4Runner]

Thanks!

They're my best friends. My wife and I are very proud of them. They're both young ladies who look gorgeous in skirts and dresses, but are also learning to safely operate power tools, climb rocks, kayak, and ski.

I love the freedom I have while in a kayak.
They've had a taste of it, and want more!!

[Alan H]

That's awesome...and the girls are obviously having a total blast!

yeah, Dad... you're hating EVERY minute of this....

[gary meakin]

[piperdbh]

I can roll out of a kayak, so your girls have me beat!

Congratulations to them, and to you for teaching them.

[Southern Breeze]

You must be incredibly proud of those kids, as well you should be! Thanks for the video. I got back into kayaking a few years ago ( sea kayaks) and I know how hard rolling one can be.