Online Kayak Coaching Sessions

Wednesday May 6, 2020 - Whitewater of the Sea Webinar 

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.

In my happy place - on a wave!

Shelter in Place Videos

These are crazy, uncertain times.  I feel very fortunate to have a comfortable home, agreeable partner for sheltering in place, lots of projects, and lots of good books to read.  What has been difficult for me is the economic uncertainty and not being able to play outside (hike, bike, kayak, camp).

If I wear a mask can I go surfing? Please, pretty please!!!

Who is that masked woman?
Cate surfing the Dagger Stratos 14.5 sea kayak on the Mendocino Coast of California

All beaches, trails, and parks are closed in Mendocino County, and Mendocino County's SIP orders state that you cannot drive to exercise.  As an avid mountain biker, trail runner, hiker, surfer, and kayaker this is extremely challenging especially in stressful times.  One positive is that I have gotten back into doing weight and flexibility training.  

With extra time at home, I have been working on some new videos.  My current video goal is to tell a story.  I have a couple of instructional and how to videos planned as well.  My story telling videos will have 2 versions.  The Hot Lap version will be 1 minute videos designed for those without a lot of time or attention span.  The second version will be the full edit and is likely to be between 2.5 and 5 minutes.  My videos will all be posted on Liquid Fusion Kayaking's YouTube Channel.  

Please subscribe to Liquid Fusion Kayaking's YouTube Channel.  This way you can be notified of new videos.  It also helps me stay motivated to produce more content.  To subscribe, here is a link.  Click on the subscribe button.

My latest videos are from a little shelter in place adventure that Jeff and I had last week.  It is called the Shelter in Place Triathlon.  We walk/hiked from our house, swam across the Noyo River, and sea kayaked out into the ocean.  There are 2 versions of the video - a fast and fun 1 minute and a fun commentary filled 5 minute video.  

Shelter in Place Triathlon - 1 Minute Edit

Shelter in Place Triathlon - 5 Minute Edit with Commentary

Please watch and comment on the videos.  I'd also love to hear any feedback or suggestions that you have for my videos.  In particular, do you like the one minute edits or longer edits or both?

Be well and be kind,

Cate

PS If you haven't heard - The California Watersport Collective is offering a series of online coaching webinars with an all star cast of kayak instructors and a huge range of topics.  I will be presenting Whitewater of the Sea on May 6.   Check out the line up of webinars - CWWC Online Coaching

Vitamin Sea Video

Crazy - uncertain times.  Need a break from the news and a dose of Vitamin Sea?

Sea kayak rock gardening on the Mendocino Coast of California

Here is a one minute Vitamin Sea Video that features some of our Mendocino sea kayaking and rock gardening highlights from 2019.  The video below might not show up well in your browser - if so, use this link to watch on YouTube.

I am working on some more videos.  

Be sure to subscribe to Liquid Fusion Kayaking's YouTube Channel to be the first to see them.

Sea Kayaking Camping Trip

My favorite way to getaway is on a kayak camping trip.  Whether on the river or the sea, I enjoy loading up my kayak and disconnecting from the world for a few days (as many as possible).

Loading up my whitewater kayak on a self support kayak trip on the Eel River.

A kayak is a great vehicle to carry all the necessities into the wilderness.  And you can often carry a few non essential items.  My favorite non essential items are my ukulele and a book (or kindle which offers me many books).

Playing the ukulele by the campfire on Mendocino's Eel River during a self support whitewater kayak trip.

At the  moment, I am tasking away on my winter projects and dreaming of my next kayak camping adventure.  I am planning several self support whitewater river kayak trips for the spring and sea kayak camping trips for this fall.

Sea kayak camping on the Mendocino Coast of California

I took a bit of video on last year's sea kayak camping trip into the Akwa Triangle and am in the process of putting together a couple of videos.  Where is the Akwa Triangle?  It is a favorite remote stretch on the Mendocino Coast.

Sea Kayak rock gardening in the Akwa Triangle on the Mendocino Coast of California

Here is video from day one.  Please use the link if it doesn't play well in the blog.

I hope you enjoy the video.  A second video sharing our rock gardening and sea cave exploration from the trip is in the works.  Stay tuned.