Preparation for running Hailstone?

[Heath]

EFLB in AR, Pine Creek in OK. EFLB has a good trail if you need to walk out. Pine is an ideal step-up run from II+/III- to III/III+ creeking, and not that far from the Fort.

pine would be great as long as its not at a high level:) could also give you the feeling of a wilderness run.

[RandyJ]

Less about what runs to prepare on, and more about how to paddle the runs you're able to get on...

Heard somebody say once, "Paddle the V's like III's, and the III's like V's." Good advice that I still like to practice. Whatever lake, stream, or rapid you're on, challenge yourself.

• Eddy turn accuracy - how close can you get to that rock without touching it?
• How many eddys you can hit in a single rapid?
• Efficiency - what's the least # of strokes you can use to make a move/series of moves? Attainments - how far can you work upstream in a rapid?
• Backwards - Work on doing stuff backwards, because it forces you to do more by feel and less by sight, and 'cuz sooner or later you'll be running a rapid backward anyway. Learn to back-paddle and back-ferry well. Great tools that let you 1) slow down; 2) move sideways or eddy out when you don't have time to spin around and make the move pointed upstream; 3) lets you see what's ahead a lot better.
• Rolling: On-side? Off-side? Upstream? Back-deck? No paddle? Consistently? You can be a great paddler without having all of these, but the more you have, the more overall confidence you'll paddle with, whether you use them on a run or not.
• Mentally: Pretend your moves are must-make moves. Force yourself to stay relaxed. Focus on keeping your technique as pure and clean as you can. (My technique - posture, arm extension, torso rotation - tends to go in the toilet when I get tense/uptight/lazy.) Drill it all till it's second nature so you do it when you're nervous, tired, uptight - whatever.

Bottom line: Some limitations apply, but purposefully done, you can prepare for the Hailstone by paddling just about anywhere.

[Dis147]

All points well taken Randy. Thanks for the input/advice/help it all sounds perfectly valid, a practical approach to improvement……

[Clif]

Good points, RJ. For me, Illinois Bayou is a good place to work on lots of these.