Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

My 12 year-old son, Jay, made his maiden voyage down the Piney at 4.4 Saturday. He showed great courage, determination, and stick-to-it-tiveness throughout the day. He had the misfortune to follow my lines, me paddling a boat that was somewhat new to me.

Thanks to masterful instruction from his uncle Bryon, he had the skill set needed to step it up. He'd seen the Piney from a raft and a tandem canoe, but tackling it solo in his Jib proved to be an epic day. The Piney at that level is quite a step up from his instruction days on the Dragover.

We had plenty of support: Jim Bob Lippo.....etc Mitchell and Stewart Noland in the Super Pumas, Marcel in a long red canoe, Steve Faubel in another red canoe, and Gordon in some 'yak or another. Gordo's daughter Katie was along to round it out.

We were doing fine until Surfing Rapid. Jay was having a blast.I decided to do the usual river right eddy-peel out thing. The eddy lines were pretty squirrely and Jay took a little dump in that big eddy. To his credit, cold and wet, he got back in his Jib, ready for the MOther. We decided to take the right side, eddy out, and take a look. I knew he was cold and probably tired, but he wouldn't admit it.

I told him to follow me (bad idea). My line was a little farther left than I'd planned and the current pushed him even farther left. Gordon was on the bank taking pictures, the rest had eddied out to watch. I turned around to shouts and saw Jay's boat upside down in the hole below the little Mother. He'd boofed it and got sucked back into the hole. He only weighs 70 pounds. He made a hasty wet exit and began a rather long swim. Someone made a rope throw that fell short. Ask Jay about that.

He finally caught up with Jim Bob's raft and they drifted past the Sisters into the pool. Jim was kind enough to pull Jay's boat aboard and give him a lift to the takeout.

Hot chocolate and beef jerky kept Jay going until we got to Long Pool. Dry clothes and more hot chocolate did the trick and he helped deflate the rafts. He slept till noon on Sunday.

Many thanks to Marcel, Stewart, Jim, Gordon, and Steve for making Jay feel welcome and encouraged. He's got a score to settle with the Piney, as many of us have had. I'm one proud dad.

Sounds like he needs a better guide? New boat and new river can be tricky.

Gotta love it when the young ones start in this sport!! And 4.4 is a nice beefy level through some of those drops. Props to Jay and his support team! Wish I could have been there!!

Yeah, Roger. I'd fogotten that the electronic gauge is about a foot off. I was thinking 3.5. Several times he'd drop in a wave only to have it break over his head.

He hadn't gone very far when he told me this was way more fun than riding in a raft. Obviously he's not in to spectator sports.

4.4 was beefy for Dad too in an unfamiliar boat. :shock:

Hi Tim and congrats to Jay for putting the Big P. notch on his boat.

Tim, do you mind telling me Jay's weight? My oldest grandson has been paddling a Jib, but has put on some weight over the winter, as has his grandpa . I'm guessing that he is around the 100# mark now and concerned that he might be too heavy for it now. What do you think? Thanks.

T.Prater

Jay weighs in at 70plus. Small frame, big heart. The last specks I looked at the Jib went up to 120? You'd have to be pretty compact to hit 120 and fit in that boat. If you had long legs or big feet, don't think you'd make it.

We got the boat mainly because Crane gave us a pretty good deal. Couldn't really make the case for a Jackson. I figured he could paddle it for a few years and then sell it to another small paddler.

Speaking of which, all you parents out there who have gear that has been outgrown, let us know. I'd love to have some good gear at a good price. Kind of like shoes, you have to buy it to fit, but the fit only lasts a few months. Jay is using a break-down rec paddle I got at Academy for about 25 bucks. Until he hits a growth plateau or flat out needs a top line paddle, we'll make due. As Jay outgrows his stuff, I'll be sure to pass along the savings to some other new paddlers.

WTG, Dude! Just getting a kid that age out of the house is a major accomplishment these days. SurfPup is a really good-hearted kid, but has given in to the pressures of slackerdom. He just turned 13 and now lives three hours away. He's failing everything except gym, quit all sports and extracurriculars, and his mama allows co-ed sleepovers.

I was thrilled when I coaxed him out to the rock quarry last weekend. We discovered a nice little uphill trail to Ft. Roots and a waterfall that looked like it could be anywhere in the Ozarks. That's the first time he actually enjoyed an outdoor adventure in about a year.

I don't have cold weather gear for him, so I'll need to wait until warmer weather, but I'd sure like for him to meet the kids of the ACC and get out and have some healthy recreation. Maybe we can hook him into getting him out more, even paddling, if there are some kids his age along.

A little warmer weather brings my kids out, 13 yr old likes to kayak class 2-3, 10 yr old kayaks 2-2+ some 3, 15 yr old likes to R2 with mom. All of them love the outdoors and loves to camp, so yes there are alot of kids out there.

Time for a youth-oriented meetup on a river? Be glad to come along as support in whatever way. Ideas anybody?

That sounds good Roger, Just name the place, try to do some camping to go along with the boating. Tim

i sense a dark force in your posts tim e.

Prophet, or whoever you really are: been to your house, drank your beer, if they made an open boat for folks his size (real canoe, not one of those weird mutants like Rob and Roger use) I'd have him in one. By the way, I have 2 (two) really nice Prophets in the garage: need another one?

My son was drawn to the dark side by his demon-possessed uncle, Byron the temptor :twisted: , who offered Jay a small kayak at the tender age of 8. It was then that I lost him to the darkside, not forever, I hope. Redemption lies in time and a bigger Jay. Some company or another makes a small canoe, but alas, it is beyond my means at this time. Better to haved a paddler in a 'yak than a game-playing couch potato.

Roger, Tmuse, et al, a big campout-paddling kidpallooza would be great. We'll let Marcel tag along to make critical rope throws.

We need to have some kind of gear pool for kids as they outgrow gear for those coming up behind. I've got a few various pieces of neoprene, mostly small, but anything is better than nothing. Jay is using a rec 'yak paddle from Academy that I cut down for him., garage sale wetsuit, hand me down booties. It works. Can't see the logic in forking over big $$ for gear that will be outgrown. Gear should be functional, not a status symbol. (note my paddles)

Time to go look up some kayak rolling videos, Grant.

Hey, it's your kids so you pick the spot. Mulberry at TB or Big P at Long Pool. Hey, there's always the Illinois Bayou with the campsites there if we go primitive. Or it could be the Tot on a warm summer day, remember Tim M.? Bring the DO's and do it right.

And Mr. Eubanks, you're welcome to jump in the mutant anytime!!!!

Tim, that force seemed like it was coming from a larger source than your son, but that may have been influenced by a bad rumor. glad to hear of the first solo run for Jay, thats awesome.

please dont get rid of any Prophets without letting me know!

No plans on letting go of the Prophets any time soon. You will be first on my list if I do.If my back problems don't get fixed,I may have to become a dedicated oar daddy.

having spent some time in the dark boat, a blade in each hand sure makes life simpler. Easier, but simpler. If my knees and ankles would allow it, a C1 conversion might be in order.