Customer Reviews

Whitewater Kayaking with Ken Whiting DVD

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This video is outstanding in that it meets its intent as an instructional video. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because even though it is an instructional video, I expected there to be some motivational type excerpts, of which there was very little. Ken's approach to teaching is good though, and the layout of the video is such that you can go back and watch segments as you work on different maneuvers without having to search the video for them, God bless the DVD. I highly reccommend this video for anyone looking to get started into kayaking, or for someone like myself who has been paddling for a few years and needs to be reminded of the basics every now and then.

This video is ok, but after watching EJ's River Running Basics I have to say that I can see where this video is lacking. For the same price EJ's video is three times as long and goes into much greater depth. This video is still good and there's useful things in it, I know I'll revisit it. But if you're just getting started I'd recommend EJ's video.

This DVD set is a box set of videos throw together as a bundle.
I did not like the way it goes from beginner to expert skipping the most important part of kayaking which is reading the river.

The first DVD covered rolls, great, I now have 3 DVD's on rolling now.
The second DVD was divided into 2 sections almost as if it was 2 DVD's covering the same thing put on one disk.
This DVD covered how to paddle and do eddies, then it goes straight into class 5 and play boating.
It skipped the stuff that a beginner needs to really know like how to read AND RUN a river.

Having gone down a few class 2 and 3's in my sort time kayaking, I have seen many river features that scare the heck out of me.
They are easy to find on any river, but hard to put into words. One would be a rapid on a turn (with and without a under hanging rock wall). do you follow down the center of this rapid and hope you dont crash into the wall or take the inside? Here is another one, say your going down river and you see a rapid that has a sideways wave / eddie line thing. I usually take the wave head on at a 90 degree angle to the wave, because if you go straight down the river when you hit this thing, it will flip you for sure.
I think there is another option a saw in another video where a guy would hit that wave on the side of his boat. I have never tried it but would sure like to know more. anyway these some are the things (and there are many many more) river features you see all the time on the river that will wipe you out.

The last DVD is on play boating only. Will look at that one in the next few years when I have mastered HOW TO GO DOWN THE RIVER WITHOUT HAVING MY A$$ HANDED TO ME. :)


I would recommend this DVD set to someone that needs to learn how to roll, creek, and playboat. not for someone that is looking for tips on how to run your basic class 3 river.

Rich images, smart editing, clear dialogue, and a fun attitude really combine well in this video. My husband agreed with me that this is way beyond informative. We will watch it when our rivers are still, covered in ice, and we are yearning to get on some liquid water. We will watch it in spring, to review great ideas. We are sharing it with friends who are learning. It's a really good video.