I've had some office time in the past couple of weeks and have created a few new videos to share.
Although, I would rather be out on the water teaching and guiding kayaking adventures, one has to make do and I am enjoying the challenge of creating videos.
My first new video is called The Fourth Dimension. If you have kayaked on the Mendocino Coast, you know that it has its own unique magic - hence the name The Fourth Dimension.
In this video I share a whitewater of the sea kayaking adventure that Jeff and I had with our friend Pete DeLosa. Jeff and Pete are paddling the Pyranha 12R which is a 12 foot whitewater kayak designed for racing on steep whitewater creeks. I am paddling my new favorite boat the Pyranha Ripper (aka the RipSnake). Time and time again when it comes to rock gardening play sessions, Jeff and I are choosing the maneuverability of whitewater kayaks. Jeff tends to like some volume and the 12R is a good fit for him. I tend to like something sportier and surfable. The Ripper is a good fit for me.
Join me for a fun overview and question and answer session about whitewater kayaking in the ocean aka rock gardening.
Cate Hawthorne riding a Stout during a whitewater of the sea session on the Mendocino Coast of California.
The California Women's Watersports Collective is hosting this webinar as part of their online coaching series. Definitely check out the other sessions being offered as well. This is a great opportunity to learn from top women kayak instructors. Sessions are open to all genders and are available for all skill levels. The topics whitewater techniques, sea kayaking, yoga, expedition planning, managing fear, and more. I am honored to be included in this line-up and sharing my passion and knowledge of whitewater kayaking on the sea on May 6.
On June 6, you can join me for The Surfzone - a kayak surf skill building session. This session will have skills applicable to a variety of kayaks - sea kayaks, whitewater kayaks, surf kayaks, and fishing kayaks.
Fort Bragg, California is a bit rough around the edges. We like it this way. To live here, one has to be creative, adaptive, and willing to get wet. When Jeff and I established Liquid Fusion Kayaking in Fort Bragg in 2008, we had to do some out of the box thinking to make it work.
Earlier this month, Fort Bragg celebrated it's 130th birthday. Fort Bragg has been a lumber and fishing town for the majority of those 130 years. These are 2 extremely rugged and dangerous industries. And industries that often swing on a variable economic pendulum. Today, Fort Bragg is attempting to break away from its economic dependence on lumber and fishing. As tourism becomes an important part of Fort Bragg's economy, we are seeking how to stay true to our rugged roots. Whitewater Kayaking, Cliffside Wine Tasting, and the Strange Wildnerness - The 4 Day Weekend in Fort Bragg is the title of a recent article in Men's Journal. The author Andrew Leonard shares his experience visiting Fort Bragg including Liquid Fusion Kayaking's Whitewater of the Sea Adventure.
Working with the water to ride a wave over a rock. Fort Bragg, California is an ideal location for whitewater ocean kayaking - aka rock gardening.
In the article, Andrew alludes to the challenge of Fort Bragg reinventing itself without sanding away its rough edges. He closes his article with the lesson that he learned when ocean kayaking with Jeff - "Work with the water and not against it." Good advice for all of us in changing times - the trick is understanding how water works 😉
Liquid Fusion Kayaking's Cate Hawthorne coaching students on how to work with the water and kayak as a team in ocean rock gardens.
My goal for the hot lap series is 1 minute videos that are FUN!!! My goal is to capture a play spot or a before or after work paddle and share it in a quick 1 minute video. Quick means 2 things - 1 minute in length but also a quick edit. Too often, we spend hours editing videos trying to get them to be perfect. My goal is to get faster in my video editing yet still produce a decent video.
Be sure to like, comment, and share - this keeps me motivated to keep producing them.
Here's my latest video -
WAVE in a CAVE
A day at the beach morphs into a sea cave kayak surf session.
The Mendocino Coast of California is an awesome playground for whitewater and sea kayaking especially if you enjoy ocean kayak rock gardening and sea cave exploration. On our day off this week, we decided to a beach day was in store. We packed a cooler, beach towel, and of course threw our surf kayaks and whitewater kayaks in the pickup.
Cate went for a swim to cool off and discovered this wave in a cave. Of course we had to go surf it. The Tsunami Ranger saying "A wave in a cave is an early grave" came to mind. Today was not the case. Surfing the wave in the cave was great fun and a fun way to spend an afternoon off.
Check out the video and let us know what you think. You can watch it below but it is best viewed on YouTube or on Facebook. This week, we will post a version of it on Instagram.
Comment on it and share it! My next video project is a trailer/teaser for our 3 hour Whitewater of the Sea Adventures. If you want to try rock gardening or have friends who you want to get hooked on playing the sea, it is a must do!
I also have a few other projects in the works, but you will have to check back to see more on them.
My blog has been a bit quiet this month - you probably realize that the reason for this is that life is anything but quiet at the moment.
Liquid Fusion Kayaking is in full swing with our summer tours. Each day I consider it an honor to be able to share the outdoor world with others. From beginning kayakers (many who don't even know how to swim) to seasoned paddlers looking to improve their skills, I feel very fortunate to be able to share the wonders of the Mendocino Coast.
Locals enjoying a kayak birding tour on the Noyo River.
Combining surfzone and rock gardening skills to traverse through a rocky surfzone on the Mendocino Coast.
Whitewater of the Sea continues to be a blast! I highly recommend it for anyone who is adventuresome, physically fit, and comfortable in the water and especially if you are interested in ocean whitewater kayaking aka rock gardening or rock hopping. Our funnest trips are groups of friends or family who come out together. Last week, we had a family of 7 including 5 teenagers. Everyone rocked!!! It was especially seeing the teenagers watching in awe as their Mom got some of the best rides of the day.
A Mom showing her teenagers how it's done on a Whitewater of the Sea Adventure.
Jeff and I continue to take Tuesdays off. The idea is that it is a day of rest and rejuvenation. We definitely get both. I have a blog drafted to share more about our Tuesday adventures which include whitewater river kayaking, kayak fishing, surfing, and mountain biking.
Catch of the Day - Vermillion Rock Cod aka Red Snapper
As of June 2018, Liquid Fusion Kayaking has been officially running kayak tours and classes on the Mendocino Coast of California. I have been reflecting on the evolution of our business and am excited to see what the next 10 years will bring.
Check out this sea cave kayaking video. This video was made by a new whitewater paddler who had his first taste of whitewater of the sea and kayaking in sea caves with us this winter on our New Years Whitewater n Surf Safari.
Kayaking in sea caves on the Mendocino Coast with Liquid Fusion Kayaking.
He found some caves and whitewater of the sea in his backyard and made this video. Check it out and if you like it - give it a thumbs up and share it. Here's a link.
We are stoked to see Cordell out there exploring and playing in the whitewater of the sea and look forward seeing more of his adventures.
Whitewater Kayak Rock gardening on the Mendocino Coast
My favorite part of the Paddle Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium is the post symposium shenanigans. Often a crew of paddlers stop by Liquid Fusion's headquarters on the Mendocino Coast to decompress from the symposium. Of course rock gardening is part of the adventure. This year we had 2 groups stop by. The first was a crew of whitewater kayakers.
What happens when you get a crew of "sea-curious" whitewater kayakers out in sea kayaks for a rock garden expression session? You get the Stoutside Ball.
The ocean was rowdy. Our team of whitewater kayakers have the strokes and skills. Today was seeing if they could put them together to dance with the sea. Jeff shares the Plan, Position, Perform concept with them as it applies to timing pour-over rides and surfing through the rocks.
We reviewed the safety concept of "Outside" and went off to play. "Outside" is a term that we use when a bigger wave is coming. When a big wave is spotted, we yell "Outside." Everyone yells it to make sure that everyone on the team knows. Individuals then are responsible for making sure they are in a safe spot.
Jeff Laxier teaches the "Outside" strategy.
The day started off with some class fun pour-overs in the bay. The guys were getting their sea legs and working on their timing on pour-overs.
Demshitz Dave Fusilli getting his rock garden boof stroke down #seaboof.
After a warm-up, we threaded the needle through some technical rock garden passages - surfing through sea caves and tunnels and dancing in slosh-pits.
Through the Tunnel of Love.
Snowy Robertson surfs through the slosh pit.
Our journey took us to an area with several pour-over options. The medium tide and chunky swell made for fluffy pour-over rides with gaping hydraulic landings.
Jeff Laxier looking good on a pour-over ride in his Dagger Stratos.
Jeff and his 14.5 foot kayak swallowed by the hydraulic. Then the sea spit him out.
After several rides, the gang started to get the feeling for timing the waves and were looking for the bigger waves to get bigger rides. When the larger sets would hit the outer reefs, the gang started calling "STOUT!" Hence the term "Stoutside" was coined.
Max Blackburn on the pour-over with perfect timing.
Dave rides a fluffy stout. #stoutside
Snowy with a well timed boof stroke. #seaboof
During our play session, many "Stouts" were ridden and many were watched with awe.
Cate Hawthorne riding a Stout! #stoutside
Going to the ball isn't all about showing off your dance moves but sharing the dance with others.
Jeff Laxier surfing his sea canoe.
Thanks so much Dave, Max, and Snowy!!! It was so much fun to be on the water with yinz and share your energy and stoke. Check out a video short of our adventures on Immersion Research's Instagram and Facebook .
Instagram users share your whitewater of the sea inspired photos and videos with hashtags #stoutside #seaboof and #whitewaterofthesea. And watch for more from @womanonwater @jefflaxier @liquidfusionkayak
Sea kayak rock gardening on the Mendocino Coast of California.
We were guiding day 3 of Liquid Fusion Kayaking's Whitewater n Surf Safari. The goal of this 3 day trip is maximum fun in whitewater kayaks and obtaining the Mendocino Whitewater Trifecta - whitewater river running, rock gardening, and surf kayaking. Unfortunately we had a beautiful warm and sunny December which meant no water for a whitewater run on the Eel River. As usual, we make do with what mother nature give us and we had 2 days of really fun rock gardening. Now on day 3 it was time to find some surf. The swell forecast was very small and our students were skeptical if we would find any waves. We found some.
Here are some shots from my first wave of 2018 -
Thanks Jeff for capturing the shots and sharing the stoke! We are going to rock n surf in 2018!
Cate is a high energy person who loves sharing her passion for learning and the outdoors with others. Cate has several K-12 teaching credentials and a masters degree in education. After 13 years working in public schools, Cate moved her teaching talents from the classroom to the water.
Kayaking is one of her many outdoor adventure pursuits on the Mendocino Coast. When not kayaking, Cate is likely to be mountain biking, hiking or running in the forest. Cate is an avid birder, connoisseur of wild mushrooms, and writer. She is an ACA certified whitewater and sea kayak instructor, wilderness first responder, and is a Lieutenant in the Tsunami Rangers.
