by Treas Manning

Which is right for you?
There are two types of recreational kayaks, the sit on top and the sit inside models.
Deciding on the right type of kayak is actually pretty easy once you understand the
advantages and disadvantages of both.

Sit-On-Top Kayaks
The most obvious aberration from the standard sit-inside kayak is the open cockpit.
An open cockpit is a shallow hollowed out seating area on the mid deck of the kayak. Essentially you are sitting on the deck and your legs and body are fully exposed.

This type of boat has several advantages, foremost is the ease of entering and exiting your kayak even in open water. That bring us to another advantage; should you capsize your sit-on kayak in open water it is much easier to right the boat as the haul is not engulfed with water. There may be some water in the hollowed out cockpit but the amount is minimal and top brands of this type of kayak have drains called scupper holes . Scupper holes are tubes that run from the cockpit and the tank well to the bottom of the hull of the boat. The hulls of the boat are sealed making the sit-on-top kayak virtually unsinkable. Because the cockpit is open and flat even in deep water it is easy to swing your legs and body back on to the kayak and you are on your way.

Another issue to take into consider, will you be kayaking with a dog? If so there is plenty of room for a medium size dog and it is much easier for a dog to jump up onto an open cockpit and remain balanced. Many sit-on-top kayaks are equipped with bungee deck rigging, tank wells, or hatches allowing for light storage of day gear.

PROS:

• Ease of entry and exiting when launching
• Easy to right your boat in open water
• Great when paddling with a dog or small child
• Virtually unsinkable

CONS:

• Exposure to the elements and cold weather

Sit-Inside Kayaks
The paddler on this type of kayak sits in the cockpit with their legs under the deck of the boat. Most sit-in kayaks have foot bracing and your knees are slightly bowed to the outer sides of the boat which give the kayaker great balance and control. Read the rest of this entry »

What is SUP yoga and can your skiing benefit from added strength and balance? If not for skiing, is there a more calming place for a yoga moment?

Ski Tuning Tips

Before you start:

1. Make sure skis are clean, warm and dry.

2. Retain the binding breaks- thick rubber bands work best.  Securing the brakes in locked position allows you to scrape and file the base without interference from the binding.

3. Secure the ski in vises.

Read the rest of this entry »

Iron waxing is the process of melting a ski specific wax onto the base on the ski using an iron. This is the most effective way of waxing a ski compared to rub on waxes and belt waxes. The process of iron waxing allows the heat from the iron to open up the pores of the base of the ski and for the wax to penetrate deeply into those pores. This creates a better and longer lasting wax. Read the rest of this entry »