Hey Matt, great video. A few weeks ago I paddled with a new group for first time, and paddled like a total muppet - just couldn’t get it together even though I knew I was a better paddler than I was demonstrating. Something about being watched or judged maybe. I don’t know if this sort of performance anxiety is a common thing (maybe more frequent for competitive paddlers) but it caught me by surprise and reminded me of how powerful the inside of our minds can be. The line between adrenaline that gets you performing at the top of your ability and nervousness that is detrimental is very thin. Great content as always thanks!
Interesting thought, thank you. I think we all are impacted by the paddlers around us, especially if we assume they perceive us as "a good kayaker"! And totally true that our own minds are a powerful decider on the outcomes of our kayaking.
I’ve always portaged double drop. The rest of the river is challenging enough! The successful descents I’ve witnessed involve left to right momentum on the run in. Loaded left blade entering the first drop. Loaded right blade entering the second drop.
Probably also worth considering how it will feel and your motivation? Like if you are running some mank to prove that you can run it, or you are linking up moves that need style and precision but reward you with a feeling of flow (or a sweet autoboof instead or a dirty slot). Here in Ireland I was really impressed when a paddler I respect said "nah, I only run clean and fun stuff, I don't do mank", and walked something others beatered through
Golden words of being alive. The main thing is to realize, are you really ready for such kind of rapid or not 😎. Sometimes it is hard to make a deal with a temptation to run it 😅
Matt this is a subject that could be discussed a lot and I find sometimes to be difficult one to make most of the time I go for it but there’s also some rapid’s that I’m not going do but the one right on the edge are a tough choice
Yeah, it is definitely a valuable topic for discussion. Certainly in the UK I feel like it is increasingly an open subject, which is good. As you say, it is those edge cases that can feel difficult in the moment. As I've said below, the thing I like to remember (which usually has the effect of taking any pressure out of the decision) is that the rapid will always be there another day!
I'd say the 2-minute rule is generally very good advice. But I think there are many cases (especially as whitewater starts getting more complex) where you need more time than that to observe the movement of water and analyse the rapid. But yes, in principle I agree with deciding rapidly and then sticking to that with conviction. A rational decision is a good decision, whether it makes you paddle or walk.
Is long pool the location of this awful multiple pin videos I saw a few years back. The only time I've been to the lyn it was too low. I assume you must live near there as generally we got on the dart, tavy, erme etc or went surfing. Pre fb driving to the lyn seemed to be a bit of a gamble with levels for the extra driving
Long Pool isn't the notorious pin spot. That's if you fall way offline to the right in Crux 1 rapid. I'm about as local as it gets there, yes. It's a trek from just about everywhere else, to be sure, but it runs a lot more than people think.
Hi Matt. Thanks for the video and the insight. It's always a tough one when emotions are playing their part. Personally, I would weigh the technical skillset above emotions. If technically you cannot run it, then it's a no straight away - regardless of your emotional state. Doing it the other way round runs the risk of the emotions fuelling an 'imaginary' skillset - justifying it in your head perhaps - and potentially creating a risky run down. Be glad of your thoughts on this of course. Keep safe.
Thanks Ed and Dave. Very true. As I said in the video, this rubric isn't for everyone. I suppose I'm blessed to be fairly self-aware when it comes to my abilities - which means I'm able to trust emotion a lot more than some. But yes, I totally agree that 'actual' (as opposed to perceived) ability is (and should be) a natural cap. I probably said it poorly in the video; they are two sides of a rubric, emotions and visualisation/ability, and if either one is not in place, it should be a no, no matter what the other element says on the day. Key thing is that (with the sad exception of certain soon-to-be-dammed sections) the rapid will always be there another day!
Hey Matt, great video. A few weeks ago I paddled with a new group for first time, and paddled like a total muppet - just couldn’t get it together even though I knew I was a better paddler than I was demonstrating. Something about being watched or judged maybe. I don’t know if this sort of performance anxiety is a common thing (maybe more frequent for competitive paddlers) but it caught me by surprise and reminded me of how powerful the inside of our minds can be. The line between adrenaline that gets you performing at the top of your ability and nervousness that is detrimental is very thin. Great content as always thanks!
Interesting thought, thank you. I think we all are impacted by the paddlers around us, especially if we assume they perceive us as "a good kayaker"!
And totally true that our own minds are a powerful decider on the outcomes of our kayaking.
I’ve always portaged double drop. The rest of the river is challenging enough! The successful descents I’ve witnessed involve left to right momentum on the run in. Loaded left blade entering the first drop. Loaded right blade entering the second drop.
That's fair. Everyone has to make their own decisions on trickier rapids!
Very wise and an important skill to have
Thanks Harry. Stoked on your progression and growth at present! Keep it up!
Wise words and informative 👍
Probably also worth considering how it will feel and your motivation? Like if you are running some mank to prove that you can run it, or you are linking up moves that need style and precision but reward you with a feeling of flow (or a sweet autoboof instead or a dirty slot). Here in Ireland I was really impressed when a paddler I respect said "nah, I only run clean and fun stuff, I don't do mank", and walked something others beatered through
So true. Ego should never be a motivator, end of!
Golden words of being alive. The main thing is to realize, are you really ready for such kind of rapid or not 😎. Sometimes it is hard to make a deal with a temptation to run it 😅
Thanks man. Just looking to paddle for as long as I can. If that sometimes means I take a little walk, so be it!
Matt this is a subject that could be discussed a lot and I find sometimes to be difficult one to make most of the time I go for it but there’s also some rapid’s that I’m not going do but the one right on the edge are a tough choice
Yeah, it is definitely a valuable topic for discussion. Certainly in the UK I feel like it is increasingly an open subject, which is good. As you say, it is those edge cases that can feel difficult in the moment. As I've said below, the thing I like to remember (which usually has the effect of taking any pressure out of the decision) is that the rapid will always be there another day!
I have a rule that I got from someone, if you can't decide whether to run it or not within the 1st 2 minutes, then walk
I'd say the 2-minute rule is generally very good advice. But I think there are many cases (especially as whitewater starts getting more complex) where you need more time than that to observe the movement of water and analyse the rapid. But yes, in principle I agree with deciding rapidly and then sticking to that with conviction. A rational decision is a good decision, whether it makes you paddle or walk.
Is long pool the location of this awful multiple pin videos I saw a few years back. The only time I've been to the lyn it was too low. I assume you must live near there as generally we got on the dart, tavy, erme etc or went surfing. Pre fb driving to the lyn seemed to be a bit of a gamble with levels for the extra driving
Long Pool isn't the notorious pin spot. That's if you fall way offline to the right in Crux 1 rapid.
I'm about as local as it gets there, yes. It's a trek from just about everywhere else, to be sure, but it runs a lot more than people think.
Hi Matt. Thanks for the video and the insight. It's always a tough one when emotions are playing their part. Personally, I would weigh the technical skillset above emotions. If technically you cannot run it, then it's a no straight away - regardless of your emotional state. Doing it the other way round runs the risk of the emotions fuelling an 'imaginary' skillset - justifying it in your head perhaps - and potentially creating a risky run down. Be glad of your thoughts on this of course. Keep safe.
Thanks Ed and Dave. Very true. As I said in the video, this rubric isn't for everyone. I suppose I'm blessed to be fairly self-aware when it comes to my abilities - which means I'm able to trust emotion a lot more than some.
But yes, I totally agree that 'actual' (as opposed to perceived) ability is (and should be) a natural cap. I probably said it poorly in the video; they are two sides of a rubric, emotions and visualisation/ability, and if either one is not in place, it should be a no, no matter what the other element says on the day. Key thing is that (with the sad exception of certain soon-to-be-dammed sections) the rapid will always be there another day!
See messenger. We would like to book a course or two with you. Cheers dude
Ok, thank you. I'll take a look.