Book Reviews

Spring 2007

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
To download a pdf copy of the magazine click here: > DOWNLOAD

by Diana Mumford

Rolling A Kayak
by Ken Whiting
The Heliconia Press, 2006
ISBN 978-1-896980-27-0
$16.96 US / $19.95 CAN
86 pp, color photos
www.helipress.com

Whether you are a sea kayaker or white water enthusiast, rolling provides excitement and an opportunity to take your paddling skills to another level. Perfecting a reliable roll will increase your confidence in your ability to handle whatever conditions you might encounter. Although rolling is probably best learned with the assistance of a qualified instructor in warm, controlled conditions, this book will help you to prepare for lessons and to review what you have learned, and will give you pointers for independent practice. Clear explanations from a World Champion kayaker, combined with excellent color photographs that illustrate technique, provide basic information for beginners, and more advanced rolling techniques for experienced paddlers. Common problems and errors are identified, along with suggested solutions. Also included are tips for teaching the kayak roll. Rolling a kayak is both a skill and a strategy for staying safe, and if you are interested in learning or expanding your rolling repertoire, and preparing yourself for new adventures and more challenging conditions, Ken Whiting’s latest book is a helpful resource.

Pilates for the Outdoor Athlete
By Lauri Ann Stricker
Fulcrum Publishing, 2007
ISBN 13: 978-55591-591-9
$27.95 US, 256 pp, color photos
www.fulcrumbooks.com

This is a comprehensive exercise manual written specifically for people who enjoy outdoor activities and are interested in maintaining core strength, flexibility, breath control, and muscle resiliency and balance. In addition to general information about Pilates as a method to achieve fitness, a chapter is devoted to each of the following activities: climbing, biking, hiking, paddling, running, skiing and multisport. Key exercises particularly appropriate for the sport are listed for each discipline, with color photos to illustrate the exercises. Complete instructions for each exercise follow in subsequent chapters. The manual is well organized with an alphabetical reference chart listing all exercises, their difficulty level, purpose, and the page numbers where complete instructions are found. Common athletic injuries are explained, and additional exercise routines for general fitness are identified for three levels of difficulty. Athletes can use the routines laid out for a specific sport, or build their own routines to address their fitness goals. The only equipment needed for most exercises is a mat and a flat area in which you have room to stretch arms and legs, making the routines perfectly adaptable for paddling expeditions.

Sea Kayaking: Rough Waters
by Alex Matthews
The Heliconia Press, 2006
ISBN 978-1-896980-26-3
$19.95 US / $24.95 CAN
126 pp, color photos
www.helipress.com

Alex Matthews brings his considerable paddling experience to this new book about sea kayaking in conditions other than calm and flat. Beginning with chapters covering general safety and skills, including necessary equipment, strokes and rough water rescues, he goes on to discuss the specifics of paddling in currents, surge channels, rock gardens, wind and surf. This book deals with the basics for people interested in entering the sport of sea kayaking, and moves on to more advanced information and skills for those who want to increase their confidence and ability in more challenging situations. Numerous color photographs by Jock Bradley and Paul Villecourt supplement the text with clear visual representation of key concepts. Sea Kayaking; Rough Waters will help paddlers to expand their skills and to stay safe through understanding of conditions that may arise unexpectedly, and to experience the thrill that more extreme, less sheltered paddling offers.