First outing, T13

Took the Trident 13 to Emigrant Lake, a relatively small impoundment near Ashland, just to get a sense of how it feels. Tracks very well! Stable, too, although I had no wind or waves and the temp was about 80 degrees. It's pretty fast, seems to me. Impressions: Sonar Shield is a ways forward! I can't imagine standing up and running back and forth on the thing like a "yak monkey." Man, the lake had just been planted and there were guys on the dock drinking brews and spanking the trout and some smallmouths, too. Wish I had brought a rod. I can tell there is a learning curve just for handling the yak, loading, unloading, tying it to the rack/truck, etc.

Its a fun learning curve, though.   Beats algabrae any day.

also.. someone correct me if I am wrong, but, by the looks of the orientation of the blade  you are holding the paddle upside down (at least in the pic)

also.. someone correct me if I am wrong, but, by the looks of the orientation of the blade  you are holding the paddle upside down (at least in the pic)

I think he's back paddling in the pic.  No need to turn the blade over ...

-Allen

Yup, backing out into the lake in the photo, but good point. I probably don't know which edge of the blade is supposed to be up. Shee-heese!

By the way, the PFD is covering it up but I am wearing my new NWKA T-shirt.

sorry, didn't mean to come off sounding like a tool .

It just reminded me of the time I went cross country skiing with a lady friend in college (3rd date). I had only skied a few times growing up and couldn't figure out why the rented gear "just doesn't work right".. " the rental guy must have given me crap gear"  and bitched about for the first half of the day. When we stopped for lunch she kindly, with a grin on her face, mentioned that "do you know you have your skis on the wrong feet?" ouch! "bonehead party of one, your table is ready, would you like ice cream on your humble pie?".. Surprisingly they worked much better the rest of the day.. who knew and for reasons I still wonder about, she still chose to marry me.  

College must have been awhile ago.   You must have been using 75mm 3 pin bindings.

I still see many tele novices run into this issue.

sorry, didn't mean to come off sounding like a tool .

It just reminded me of the time I went cross country skiing with a lady friend in college (3rd date). I had only skied a few times growing up and couldn't figure out why the rented gear "just doesn't work right".. " the rental guy must have given me crap gear"  and bitched about for the first half of the day. When we stopped for lunch she kindly, with a grin on her face, mentioned that "do you know you have your skis on the wrong feet?" ouch! "bonehead party of one, your table is ready, would you like ice cream on your humble pie?".. Surprisingly they worked much better the rest of the day.. who knew and for reasons I still wonder about, she still chose to marry me.  

sorry, didn't mean to come off sounding like a tool .

You're no tool PP. I would hope that someone would point out something like that all the times I made similar mistakes to new ventures. Nothing's worse than making a mistake for a long time and finding out waaaay after the fact.

Z

sno pro.  yep the old school three pin bindings..  I couldn't seem to get my heel to line up with the skis, kept slipping off the edge of the ski .  I've got the new high speed low drag stupid proof ones now.

agree with Z...

I find it funny that she let you ski half the day like that lol....

I'm pretty sure the first time i took my kayak out and saw some sea kayakers they probably thought i was an idiot...good thing i had a mirage drive so i didn't really have the paddle issue
I probably looked like a goofball on that kayak the first time

ohhh who am i kidding i probably still look like a goofball on the thing....

I tried punching out through the breakers at the jetties on Humboldt Bay my first time in a yak. Got my arse handed to me...paddle in the face, bloody lip, capsize, swim, yardsale..Right next to a bunch of surfers. Talk about getting heckled.

That's when I realized learning proper technique and finess were just as important as having big balls. Haven't been to embarrassed since then, except a few weeks ago at Sauvie Island when I dumped my boat while hopping in off the beach in front of about 300 people.......