Basically fun!

Recently, I was out with paddling friend who had dislocated her shoulder about six months ago. She was just getting back into the boat, trying to get comfortable again. The levels were higher than they had been for a while, so we were keeping it simple. We critiqued forward strokes, put the boats on edge, did some ferries and eddy turns. It was time well spent...and it reminded me of two things.

First, can you spend too much time on the basics...strokes, edges, boat control? Maybe the better question is --- when did you last spend ANY deliberate time on your skills? As I've improved, there is a natural tendency to feel as if I've graduated from the basics. But championship teams and performers often get to the top precisely because of their focus on fundamentals. "Simple things done well" is the key to success, a coaching mentor often told me.

Second, you can take any easy situation and make it harder --- and more fun! We took an easy eddy and started driving at it harder, changing the angle of approach and playing with the exit angles. Simple ferries became "must make" moves. Putting the boat EXACTLY where we wanted became the only acceptable goal. Failure was punished only by disappointment --- not a beatdown. And success was measured by a good sweat and good fun. We had all of that and more, a very satisfying day on the river.

So, for me it means that any level is a good level...and any time I get on the water is a good time. Work on the simple stuff the next time your paddling options seem limited. Make easy moves harder by putting a little pressure on yourself. I think you'll find it just basically fun!