On a river trip, this is the most commonly heard and used phrase – “Paddle, paddle, paddle!” It cannot be just “Paddle.” The verb has to be repeated three times in a row with a steady tempo and an affirmative tone to deliver the power. “Paddle, paddle, paddle!” has to be the dogma for every boater; it will not separate the Red Sea for you but it will definitely pave your river way. A whitewater kayaker should have a snugly fitted boat; the boat is an extension of the boater’s body and the paddle is the arms. The more I kayak, the more I think kayaking is like swimming. Only the parts which engage with the water would be able to maneuver and change the directions of travel. Therefore as long as you always keep the paddle in the water, you have the bargaining chip to negotiate with a river. 「划、划、划」，這振奮人心的三個字，大概是在河上泛舟的人最常使用、也最常聽到的口令了。可不能只是「划啊」或者是「向前划」，一定要以堅定的口吻，精神飽滿地將「划」這個動詞，重複三遍才算及格。嗯，雖然說「划、划、划」不能給我們摩西劈開紅海的神力，必要的時候，它可是指點河上明路的耀眼燈籠。 對於從事激流獨木舟運動的玩家來說，擁有一艘合身的小船，是最重要不過了。必須感覺那小獨木舟，等於是身體的延伸，而兩端備刃的長槳就是左右臂。我多划獨木舟一次，就多感覺一分獨木舟運動和游泳的相似處。只有與水有接觸的部分，擁有操控方向的能力。也因此，隨時保持槳在水中，是獨木舟玩眾必須牢記的心法。 Read More…

Part III: A Popular Play Spot at the Ledges Rapid After traversing through the rapids No Way, and Staircase, boaters will arrive at the rapid called Ledges. Here is a highlight of the Lehigh River – on the river right, and not too far away from a big boulder, there is a popular play spot. It’s popular because it’s a perfect place for boaters to practice literally every move – surfing, 360 spins, flip turns etc – and if you get washed out, you can easily return to the eddy behind the big rock and try again. Even if the worst thing happens, say you tip over, what follows is a wide and calm river section where you are free to take your time performing an Eskimo roll. There is one drawback about this play spot though: it’s so popular that, on weekends, there is always a long wait. Last winter, after numerous practices in a pool, I got my rolls going. I told myself, “When the river season starts, I will go in that hole and surf,” as if playing in the hole should be a ritual for an upper gorge boater and I finally had my sacrifice ready. 第三話：激流Ledges區的熱門玩點 順著Lehigh River而下，穿過激流No Way以及Staircase之後，等待在不遠處的是激流Ledges。這裡是Lehigh River上相當有名的一處景點：河右岸，距離一巨石的不遠處，有一立體的迴流浪潮，是相當受船家歡迎的玩點。這浪潮之所以熱門，關鍵在於：小船玩家幾乎可以在這裡嘗試各種花式，諸如衝浪、360迴轉、小船翻跟斗等等。如果小船被激流衝往下游，船家也可以輕易地回到巨石後面的安靜水域，往上游划去，重新嘗試一遍。最壞的情況也不過就是翻了船，而浪潮之後的河區不單安靜、而且寬敞，容許船家從容地做出eskimo roll的動作，將小船再翻轉回來。真要針對這個玩點挑出一個毛病，就是，它實在太受歡迎了，星期假日等待的人潮總是大排長龍。 去年冬季，很努力地在游泳池裡練習，終於算是學會了eskimo roll。當時，跟自己說：「等船季開始，一定要到那兒玩玩，讓小船衝衝浪。」似乎，進入該玩點嬉戲是到Lehigh River upper gorge必須從事的儀式，而我已經將祭品虔誠地準備妥當，只等神明採納。 Read More…