An

age-old craft

for all ages

     How do you hold the attention of a group of energetic youth? Tell them that they’ll be playing with water and riding in a boat - that they command and propel themselves.

     This was the message from Chris Veiders and Scott Cerny as they gave a special presentation July 23 to a number of swimsuit-clad kids participating in the Summer Recreation Program.

     Representing Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS), Veiders and Cerny traveled to Gowanda with a fleet of kayaks and equipment to give a demonstration and let the “rec set” try their hand at maneuvering the one-man crafts around the Gowanda Central School pool.

     Veiders started out by explaining the differences between the kayaks. The sleek, yellow kayaks are used for touring while the wider, flatter blue watercraft is more recreational, often used for family outings.

     Just like an airplane, a kayak has a cockpit, where the pilot of the craft sits. Adjustable foot braces assist the kayaker in keeping his or her balance. Some of the touring kayaks are outfitted with a rudder that assists in tracking and steering in current or crosswind.

     The recreational kayak is generally shorter for easier maneuverability and turning, has a wider beam (the width of a boat from port (left) to starboard (right)) for stability, and has a somewhat flatter design than a touring model that provides additional stability.

     Kayaks are equipped with “tracking channels that aid in keeping the craft in a straight line in the water,” Veiders explained.

     Essential for a ride on the water is a good paddle.

     Paddles come in varying lengths depending on the water, conditions and preference. They are either one piece or two piece and consist of a tip, blade, throat, shaft, and power face and back face. Kayaks do not have motors, so proper paddling technique - and some measure of muscle tone - is essential for a pleasant ride.

     Veiders also displayed and demonstrated some of the items kayakers need, such as a personal flotation device (life vest), tow lines, float bags (waterproof bulkheads), spray skirts, dry bags and the proper clothing. Safety kits, a whistle or horn, gloves, bug repellent, sunblock, compass and GPS (Global Positioning System) are just a few of the many other things that kayakers keep close at hand.

     After this lesson on the equipment, and practice getting in and out of a kayak on dry land, everyone got to try out their boating skills in the pool.

     Like ducks to water, most of the youngsters had little trouble paddling from one end of the pool to another. Turning required a little more concentration - and practice - but soon they floated along like pros. For some, the corners of the pool “captured” the bow, or nose, of the kayak, but a well-placed push from the side got them back out in “open water” again.

     Even the recreation pool staff got into the act. Although some of the staff members weren’t as adept as the children in kayaking, for the most part they, too, enjoyed paddling around the pool.

     By the end of the EMS presentation, nearly all in the group felt confident enough to traverse something other than a school pool. Ponds, slow rivers, lakes, bays and - for the adventuresome - open ocean are just a sampling of where kayaks can be used.

     As the kids filed out to change and go to a well-earned lunch break, Veiders and Cerny carried each 60-pound kayak back to their vehicle. Veteran kayakers, they each commented on some of their journeys. Veiders’ longest was a 16-mile voyage that took four hours and provided a welcome respite from the fast pace of everyday life.

     Those interested in giving kayaking a try can visit Eastern Mountain Sports at their location across from McKinley Mall or on Niagara Falls Boulevard in North Tonawanda. For $40 a day, you can rent a kayak that comes equipped with a paddle, personal flotation device, foam blocks and straps. EMS also has a number of kayaks available for purchase ranging from $299 up and from eight feet, 10 inches to 17 feet in length.

     Veiders and Cerny, who work in the Blasdell location, can be reached at 824-1817. They also recommend visiting the Web site www.kayak-ems.com or www.ems.com .