rutabaga..Rutabaga..RUTABAGA This Memorial Day Weekend!

Monday, May 19, 2008

Hey All: Rutabaga in Madison Wisconsin still has some slots open for The Brent Reitz Forward Stroke Clinic! As of today, May 19th, each of The 3-days of this upcoming 3-Day Weekend, has at least a single spot remaining for YOU!. If you are on-the-fence about checking out my class...Come On Down! This is the only opportunity I have to teach in The Mid-West this year. I'd really like to help you learn the best way to move your boat with the ENTIRE SEASON out in front of you. I know the Winter this Year was A BEAR, and that the Spring Season has been FREEZ'N. But Summer's Here and it's time to Hit The Water RUNN'N! Check out http://www.rutabaga.com to sign-up. Hope to see ya in "Mad-Town" this coming weekend, Brent

Next Kayaking Clinic is set for Madison Wi this May, and a NEW one for Half Moon Bay, CA on June 8!

Friday, May 09, 2008

Hi All: California Canoe and Kayak has just booked another Forward Stroke Clinic with me @ Half Moon Bay, Ca on June 8. Check out their website @ http://www.calkayak.com to sign-up! I'm looking forward to seeing you in Princeton Harbor next month. I'ts off to Madison Wisconsin this month, (May 24, 25 & 26), to teach 3-Days of Clinics for Rutabaga Paddlesports soon! Check it out at http://www.rutabaga.com Cheers and Happy Paddling, brent

Headed up to Sacramento to teach Kayaking tomorrow (4.19.08 at “O-Dark-Thirty AM!")

Friday, April 18, 2008

Hi All: Just a note to let you know I'm headed up North-ish to Rancho Cordova (Sacramento Ca Area) to do another clinic for California Canoe & Kayak tomorrow morning. Check out my "Clinic Page" for calendar updates, or go to http://www.calkayak.com to check out their classes . Folks are HUNGRY for their Forward Storke Training up @ Lake Natoma! I hear there's a waiting list, so I better schedule another one up there soon!
Come this Memorial Day Weekend, Madison Wisconsin @ Rutabaga is next on the schedule . Check out their classes at http://www.rutabaga.com
I'll be booking more dates soon, so keep your eyes on the websites if you are interested in signing up. Hope to see ya On The Water Soon. Cheers, brent

Raul is seeking Kayak Knowledge All The Way From Sweden!

Here's an international friend looking to Tune Up His Stroke... Raul, Thanks so much for the kind words about my film. Sounds like you need to continue to do some more training in your WARM Living Room!
Have fun in your race this summer, and I hope my DVD helps you enjoy your race to it's fullest!
Cheers & Here's a Big Thank-you all from The USA to SWEDEN!
brent
http://www.wildsprint.com

Hallo Brent.
I gor the dvd two days ago and whe love it. Now i am eager to try. But
the ice has just left the river and it´s still ice on the lakes. I dont
want to svim in that water just yet .
I am 55 years old and a will take part in my first adventure race at the
end of july. Some of us never give up, do we .
cheers
Raul

Brent Reitz skrev:
Raul, Check out http://www.rei.com and let me know if they ship overseas. I can
also do some more checking for other suppliers that do overseas
transactions.
Let me know if this works or if you need more help. Cheers and
Thanks, brent reitz

dear sir
My name is Raul L. and i live in Sweden. Vhere can i buy the DVD
"Forward Stroke Clinic Video for Kayaking"?

Headed Off to Half Moon Bay this morning for another Kayak Clinic!

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Hi All: Just a note to let you know I'll be teaching in Half Moon Bay today and then off to Sacramento next Sat for a Clinic. If anyone's interested in checking-out the LIVE version of the Brent Reitz Forward Stroke Clinic DVD "come on into the club!"! Check out availability at http://www.calkayak.com, cheers, brent

A question about Paddle Grip and Hand Width from “Bill”

Monday, March 24, 2008

Dear Brent,
You have been so gracious to give me advice in the past and I thank you very much for that. I have another question for you. I now have a wing paddle and I have moved up to a surf ski. It has been great fun but very challenging. One of the things I am struggling with right now is keeping my hands in the right position on the paddle. They tend to move around a lot and it seems like I am constantly adjusting to the right position. I have tried putting tape on the handle but I still seem to move up the handle. I have notice in your video when you are demonstrating with your wing paddle you have some type of orange handle grips with a raised ring or stop that may prevent your hands from moving up the paddle handle. Can I buy some type of grip that would assist me in keeping my hands in the right spot? And if so where can I order it? And as far as proper hand position, holding my paddle horizontal above my head I am placing my hands at the spots where my elbows are at 90 degrees. Is this correct? Thanks again for your help and your video is great…I look at it often. Regards, Bill

Bill, in an effort to share this knowledge with everyone, I've choosen to post Your Question - and My Answer to my site:
Bill: I typically “customize” all my paddle shafts by adding a very thin piece of “paddle-grip” material to increase the circumference ever so slightly. I subscribe to the analogy of tennis players using a larger grip to help avoid tendonitis issues. This is an Old Theory, but one that has worked over the years for me. Hand Size of course is key in this debate. The material I like to use will vary with the diameter of the shaft. However I have had good success with The Purple Grip material that I THINK came from Salamander…However, I’m not sure anymore, as these company keeping being bought-up and product mix changes…Regardless, the material is as thin as I can find. The other KEY customization I make is to COVER up this Grip Tape Surface with High-Grade Vinyl Electrical Tape. In my humble opinion, The Surface-Area of ALL of the grip tapes out there, are WAY TOO AGGRESSIVE. For paddlers who even do modest mileage, the stock-surface will tear your water-logged hands to shreds if you don’t cover it with something more slick which allows the shaft to rotate freely. (I am not a fan of gloves...) Also, I typically wrap the grip-tape from the Paddle-End toward The Center, thereby utilizing the thin edges of each ½ inch tape edge to keep my hands from slipping toward the center of the shaft by mistake. Lastly, I like to measure the exact distance from the center of the shaft where the INSIDE of my hands will rest (see note below). Then I simply use Additional Electrical Tape to "raise" this area so I can "Feel" when my hands may be "cheating toward center"...Got it?

Regarding your Hand Position: You need to go a bit NARROWER than you are describing. You should grip the paddle in a fashion where your Upper Arm and Lower Arm are at 90 degrees to one-another, but then MOVE YOUR HAND INWARD ABOUT ½ - 1 hand’s width. Your Upper and Lower Arms will now be at a slightly ACUTE angle vs. 90 Degrees. Hope this helps Bill, brent

Thank you to ALL, for yet Another Wonderful & FUN Canoecopia of Kayaks and Canoes!

Monday, March 17, 2008

Thanks to all of you who supported me last week by attending CANOECOPIA, 08 and my Forward Stroke Clinic in Madison, Wisconsin. Of course, for those of you who did attend, you were VERY thankful my demonstration was done in the comfortable confines of a nice-warm-conference-hall! For those of you where were NOT there,…Let me clue you in: The Temp on Sat Nite was 11 degrees Fahrenheit…yikes! Of course, my Midwest Friends are used to this, but this wimpy California-Boy had forgotten what that was all about!
I had two really great 1-Hour Presentations, complete with a few harmonica riffs as well as a Special Guest Appearance by Darren Bush on Guitar! Darren owns Rutabaga and is the Grand PU-BAH for Canoecopia every year. He and his trusty-staff seem to pull this incredible event off more smoothly each year. They never cease to amaze me and my hats are off to each and every one!
I have not heard the attendance numbers yet, but there are usually over 20,000 Paddlers (or Gonna-Be Paddlers!) strolling the isles over the 3-Day Weekend Event. Simply an unbelievable showing of New Gear, Great Deals, Great Paddling-Related Presentations, and New Smiling Faces, all “joined-by-the-hip by one kind of paddling discipline, or another!
I’ll be doing my Master’s Series; On-The-Water Class for 3-Days over this coming Memorial Day Weekend, so “Come-On-Down!” Find out how to sign-up to take this class in Madison WI, by going to http://www.rutabaga.com and click on their “programs” link.

My next teaching trip is coming in a few weeks. On March 28 – 30, I head to San Diego…(probably NOT 11 degrees Fahrenheit!) for The Southwest Kayak Symposium. I just received word that both of my On-The-Water Classes have SOLD-OUT…but come on down anyway, as this is another excellent event for learning & connecting with other paddlers from all over The West. Again Super-Instructors from all disciplines and experiences will be there to share their knowledge. Not to Forget, the Great Saturday Nite BEACH BONFIRE JAM-SESSION that is always one of the highlights every season! So be sure to check out how to get involved on the web at http://www.southwestkayaksymposium.com Here's looking forward to another fun-season On-The-Water, Enjoy, brent

Back In The Kayaking Saddle for 2008! (Revised & UP-DATED on 2.22.08)

Saturday, February 09, 2008

Hi All: Sorry for “The Long Non-Update”…no excuses, just taking a break! However, no rest for the wicked, and I’m looking forward to “Rock’n Out” in 2008.
DVD Sales are still strong, EIGHT YEARS after being released! I guess you guys and gals out there in Paddle-World Like It. So, A BIG THANK YOU to all of my friends out there who are purchasing, and recommending, my film. Thanks Again!
I start off The Clinic Season in Madison Wisconsin teaching for Rutabaga at CANOECOPIA, The Worlds Largest Paddlesport Expo! This is the Granddaddy of all Paddlesports shows and features not only ALL the paddling gear any of you could imagine, but also a myriad of experts and masters of every kind of paddlesport-training you could imagine. The Presenter List is really incredible. Over 20,000 folks will attend this Expo. I’ll be speaking there Sat and Sunday, March 8th and 9th. Check out the event at http://www.canoecopia.com
Local Clinics begin April 13th @ California Canoe & Kayak in Half Moon Bay Ca. Sign ups are now open on the CCK website at http://www.calkayak.com Click on the Classes-Bay Area link to sign-up!
Remote Clinics continue with another invitation to San Diego for the Southwest Sea Kayak Symposium, http://www.southwestkayaksymposium.com, this coming March 28, 29 & 30. Then another whirlwind trip BACK to Wisconsin, (this time after all the ICE is gone!) to teach 3 back-to-back Clinics for Rutabaga, May 24, 25 & 26, as part of their Master’s Series. Check out signing up @ http://www.rutabaga.com
Okay, well here's wishing you all Happy Paddling this new season! The wind's beginning to kick up here in Moss Landing and my surfski is "calling my name"! Gotta get out there and get some good rides before heading off to play a gig at the AT&T; golf Tourney tonight! Cheers and "Keep On Rock'n" (or should I say "Paddl'n"!), brent reitz

Great Story by Joe Glickman about This years Surf Ski National Championships

Friday, October 05, 2007

Ya Gotta Read this great kayking story about last weekend's race here in San Francisco Bay. Chris Stout and I raced a Two-Man Ski the following day and had a Blast. The Story that Joe writes is a great overview of the sport! Go to this website and read Joe's account!
Surfski website

Notes from an aspiring Irish Wildwater Racer!

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Yvonne has been working with me via the Internet to get FASTER! Here's wishing her the Best Of Luck on her upcoming race in France. You GO GIRL! Brent,

"Sorry for the very slow reply but I dont have net access at home at the moment and work has been a bit crazy.
Thanks a lot for the update, as you guessed I wont be able to make it over to your clinic in October as the trip to France for the Ardeche Marathon is not long after it.

I'm finding your DVD extremely beneficial. It's made me think about what I am doing with the paddle and boat rather than just slapping at the water and being all arms. I still have a lot to work on though and when I feel my stroke is a bit better I will ask someone to video it and send it on to you to have a look at.

The guys I paddle with have noticed a distinct improvement in both my technique and speed which has given me some hope. I now manage to keep up with 2 of the C1 paddlers for a lot of the training session whereas up until recently I was trailing well behind them. I am determined to get over to one of your clinics now more than ever as I feel my paddling would benefit hugely from your critique and analysis.

Cheers.

Yvonne"