Product Description

Product Description

In the spring of 1940, subscribers to Queen's Quarterly read that the 'ingredients of a holiday in Canada are idleness, water, and a canoe.'This statement bears witness to the enduring importance of the canoe generations after the decline of the North American fur trade.Jamie Benidickson explains that the canoe's merit lies not strictly in its function as a transportation vehicle, but in its promise of unrestricted mobility, leisure, and independence.Idleness, Water, and a Canoe is a study of the place of the canoe in Canadian life, with comparative references to the United States and Britain.A blend of history, economic analysis, technical information, and social commentary, it examines the rise of the canoe's popularity and its influence on leisure activity, economics and tourism, and literature and advertising in this country.

Drawing on books, newspaper articles, original records, unusual ephemera, and interviews with paddlers, the author describes the evolution and cultural significance of two centuries of recreational paddling.He explores why canoeists have constantly sought new summer waterways, how they have practised their craft, and how much influence paddling for pleasure has had on them and on the societies in which they live.The many facets of recreational paddling are illustrated and described in a series of reflections on subjects ranging from the paddler's quest for physical and emotional renewal to what the future holds for voyageurs and their sport. Benidickson also discusses the evolution of canoe design and manufacturing, the formation of canoe clubs and organizations, the economics of recreational travel, and the paddler's role in environmental protection.

Not only will this book appeal to those interested in history, sociology, aesthetics, geography, and sports and leisure studies, but its broad scope and accessible style will recommend it to the many outdoor enthusiasts who plan yearly canoeing trips. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Enjoying canoeing in your arm chair
I enjoyed this book with a wide ranging and detailed account of recreational canoeing mainly in Canada. With over thirty years canoeing experience in various disciplines mainly in the United Kingdom (latterly open canoeing in wilderness areas including a week near Temagami) I appreciated in particular the attempts to describe the special benefits and effects of paddling in remote areas and how some experienced a closeness to God. There was much that was new to me in nearly all areas as the author has brought together the results of extensive research from written and verbal sources. Some aspects such as the Canadian summer boy, the use of the canoe as a popular image and extensive wilderness areas are particular to Canada which has a much greater historic canoe heritage compared to the UK. The author demonstrates that there are many reasons why people are attracted to canoeing. These include a love of landscape, about being closer to god, about doing what our ancestors did , about getting away from it all(whatever it may be) and about finding and healing ourselves which are elaborated on. The book is not a manual nor a guidebook. The author also states, reminiscing about past journeys and anticipating a planned expedition are absorbing off season preoccupations and his book can remind one of their past experiences and contribute to an understanding of what might be expected on a future trip. Though there is attention to detail I found the book an enjoyable and absorbing read. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Just knows how to keep you reading onward...
Calvin has a writing style that is just simply inviting and keeps me reading onward...feeling the atmosphere. He has tons of facts throughout describing everything a person could want to know about canoeing and enjoying the waterways. ... Read more

Product Description
This exciting and demanding sport is much different than it's flat-water sibling, with different equipment and techniques, all of which are covered in Basic Essentials: Sea Kayaking. Illustrations cover the many sea kayak models and accessories, as well as important information on tides and currents, packing and loading tips for comfort and safety, and a glossary chock-full of helpful terminology. With this fully updated 2nd edition, you'll discover how to perfect your paddle stroke, perform self rescues and assisted and rescues, paddle and navigate safely, pack your sea kayak for an expedition, and get your kayak on and off your vehicle. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Basic Essentials [of] Sea Kayaking
A must read book for anyone entering or considering the sport.It's a short read but is full of needed information for understanding, learning and saftey.A great stepping stone to longer more intricate books on the subject.

Use the link below to find new and used versions of this great book!

Basic Essentials Sea Kayaking 2nd (Basic Essentials Series)

Man clearly hasnt ever kayaked
Read this book, almost laughed myself silly, can not understand how this guy got published. ... Read more

Product Description
Enjoy thrilling days on the water with fewer worries—this comprehensive guide to kayaking shows you how! In describing both whitewater and sea kayaking, this book reveals the secrets to becoming a confident and proficient kayaker.

Kent Ford, highly acclaimed kayaking instructor and 2-time world-champion paddler, gives you a solid foundation on which to build your kayaking skills. He discusses choosing the proper equipment and clothing, fundamental strokes and maneuvers, and guidelines for safe kayaking. The book also provides descriptions of 64 of the world’s best kayaking destinations and 9 of the author’s favorite rivers.

Like all the books in the Outdoor Pursuits Series, Kayaking emphasizes safety, environmental responsibility, and—most of all—the fun of outdoor activity! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A solid start that doesn't oversimplify the sport.
Actually, it's two sports -- depending on who you ask.Ford does a great job of acknowledging and exploring the similarities and common concerns of sea and whitewater kayaking.The simple and straightforward advice on instruction and gear selection makes this a great book to read before you ever get in a kayak.It provides you with the knowledge to ask good questions and make reasonable decisions when you go to purchase gear.The book splits later into sea and whitewater sections, so if you are already sold on one and don't want to know about the other, you might shy away from this title -- don't.Expert paddlers agree that all types of paddling have something to teach all types of paddlers.Taking a few minutes to become more familiar with the other side of kayaking will benefit you, and the getting started angle of this book is too good to miss.For the undecided, or for future whitewater paddlers, this is an easy to read overview of strokes, river reading, vocabulary,and other concerns with good photos to help explain major points.Simple advice on rolling, manuvering, playing, and safety will give you plenty of things to learn as you begin to explore the awesome fun of kayaking., ... Read more

Product Description
The Maine guide canoe is an emblem of the great wilderness of Maine - and of brilliant craftsmanship. In this classic book, master canoe builder Jerry Stelmok shares his vast knowledge and experience, taking you through the building process in clear, step-by-step progression with large photographs detailing every stage.

For those who long for the grace, flexibility, and durability of the traditional cedar canoe, this book offers a unique opportunity to both own and build one. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fine instructional manual
The book is very thorough in procedures for building a wood/canvas canoe.The author explains in detail the process from start to finish and has very detailed photos depicting his process.Unless you have previously studied boat building, you may have a hard time understanding the plans included at the end of the book.The drawings are complicated and require a bit of forehand knowledge.Fantastic book for anyone interested in building their own canoe.

Great book for those interested in how canoes are made
I read the book because I wanted to know how wood and canvas canoes are made.This was the book recommended by a friend that has four wood and canvas canoes.I found it to be a straight forward book on how to make a canoe starting from selecting the wood, to stretching on the canvas.Every step was explained as if your father was teaching you the family business. ... Read more

Product Description
Kayakers, canoers, and rafters: rejoice! The classic guide to running Oregon whitewater has been completely updated.

*236 runs (35 new to this edition) make this the most comprehensive guide available
*Includes new quick-reference index of all runs
*Expanded section of exploratory runs for those craving adventure/little-known routes

Soggy Sneakers will take you from the high desert to the ocean surf, from steep creeks to gentle streams and rivers, from runs within one hour of urban areas to remote rivers in the wilderness. Members of the Willamette Kayak and Canoe Club--who have run all of Oregon's rivers--share their expertise and detail rapids and landmarks found on each run. There's something for everyone, from Class 1 (flatwater) excursions to Class 6 (most challenging) adventures. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Club Written Guidebook
Soggy Sneakers has been in print since the early 1980's - and it has stood the test of time better than I!

I was in High School in Eugene while the project was being finished - starting as a project by mentors Gene Ice and Bob Porter it metamorphed into a club based model for a great guidebook.What makes this book unusual is that there are almost as many authors as rivers - insuring that the author is writing not about a river he or she has run once, but usually several times, at several different times of year and water levels.

As such the descriptions are written about favorite rivers and although this does lead to a bit of discrepancy in comparing different rivers that is more than made up by depth of knowledge and enthusiastic writing.

The completion of the book by the Willamette Kayak and Canoe Club, many of whose members are academics at Oregon State University, only adds to the professionalism and usefulness of the book.

And I think they've even got one description written by yours truly left...

Check which boat the writer was using
My open tandem canoe group used Soggy Sneakers on an exporatory (for us)week long trip in Southern Oregon. We found that the ratings listed in the book varied considerably depending on wether the writer was a kayaker, rafter or open canoeist. When a rafter called it a Class II it was a very different thing from when an open canoe rated it Class II. We got skunked several times before we started looking at the boats the raters were using. An open canoes Class III is a rafter's Class I and a Kayakers Class II. Once we figured that out we found the book very useful.

Classic Oregon boating book
Soggy Sneakers along with Paddling Oregon (by Robb Keller) are the two definative books about boating in Oregon.

Soggy Sneakers -published by Seattle Mountaineers-is in its third edition and features over 200 runscompiled by members of the Willamette Kayak and Canoe Club who have run allof Oregon's rivers.

Included are Class 1 to Class 6 runs, with maps anddescriptions of flow, gradient, length and character of each run. The bookis an easy read and includes information on where to obtain shuttles andthe best seasons to run.

The one criticism I have is the book fails tospecify which type of craft (kayaks, canoes, rafts) are suited for eachrun. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (5)

Good starting guide.
This guide gives the new to Florida kayaker a starting menu of possible trips. Coupled with Google maps, the trip can be previewed from start to finish. These trips are mostly Class I waters and even the scenery is graded. There is an Appendix listing Outfitters but it is somewhat outdated. Use the yellow pages to get a more current list. Don't forget your camera!

Finding New Water Trails
A good comprehensive review of paddling waters in Florida.Very useful in planning trips.Lists section distances, and entry/exit points, and some places of interest along the way.Over all a good planning tool.

buy something else
Maybe if you live in Florida you can make sense of these maps.There are no cities on them.If you're not from Florida, like me, they make no sense at all.Also, the distances he lists are sometimes self-contradictory.One of the maps shows the Pacific ocean.Last time I checked Florida is not near the Pacific.If this were the only fault with this book, it would be one thing, but I think it is just symbolic of the general quality of this book.I have only paddled on one of these rivers, which he lists as good paddling, but it is actually choked with fallen trees - you have to portage about every fifty feet.

If you want to know where you can paddle near some city in Florida this book is useless.You can't figure out what listed rivers are near that city.Even if you can figure out where these rivers are, he doesn't give you enough information to know which one you want to paddle on.

Get this book, you won't be disappointed
I own this book and it does a great job covering the entire state's top paddling spots. The book breaks the state down into nine geographic sections and cover the rivers and spring-runs in the area with notes, a sketched map(drawn accurately from topo maps) and other info on the waterway being covered. This is the FIRST EDITION and there is a second edition supposedly coming out in April 2007, but I'm pretty sure both books contain the same info.

A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to Florida
There are a lot of rivers in Florida and this book does a good job of letting you know where they are and it also includes a short review on each river. I have paddled many of the rivers in the book and I find their reviews are very accurate. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (4)

Nicely Updated
This new edition clearly has updated information which in some cases, needed to be. It makes this book more useful and a fine resource for good paddling choices. It added a few new areas but left some still not included, which, in my opinion - is good - something should be left for the explorers out there. This series continues to improve and offer new paddlers some great choices to find and remind experienced paddlers some places they may have over looked.
Rick

Need more water sites
Disappointed; very little in my area. I have AMC guides when I lived in New Hampshire; this is nothing like those little books. There is good info, but not all lakes, rivers covered. Sometimes they refer you to other books for info!?!

Could have more useful info...
Definitely a nice book overall, with thorough descriptions of calm bodies of water in New York State.However, I'm disappointed with the lack of map detail.In addition, there are no coordinates given (i.e., lattitude and longitude).This is an updated book and should definitely include coordinates for modern-day GPS users.I had to cross-reference another book that had better map detail and included coordinates (title: The Hudson River Water Trail Guide-6th edition).

very helpful
In time for spring and summer, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) has released a new, second edition of Quiet Water: New York, a Canoe and Kayak guide to the Empire State compiled by John Hayes and Alex Wilson.



As the title suggests, the authors are very clear that their new guidebook is designed for the canoe and kayak enthusiast who is look for quiet or solitude.There is no whitewater assistance offered here.However, ninety different options around New York State including nine locations within Central New York are suggested in this book.



"Quiet Water" also includes a plethora of helpful suggestions to plan your next outing on the water.The books provides maps, habitat descriptions of each area, phone numbers, websites, even a description of animal habitats one might encounter on the water.Scattered throughout the volume are photos from the water and profiles of local animals.



A great companion guide to anyone who looking to paddle this summer. ... Read more

Product Description
The primary beginner's text for river kayaking, Introduction to River Kayaking is a thorough guide to learning the basics of river kayaking.
... Read more

Product Description
Pennsylvania contains more miles of rivers and creeks than any other state except Alaska, making the Keystone State a prime destination for canoers and kayakers. This guide contains information for 211 of the commonwealth's rivers, creeks, lakes, ponds and reservoirs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Kayaking in PA
I am new to the kayaking experience and ordered this book in addition to another similar one. I found it not as useful because it addressed the broad perspective of Pennsylvania versus my personal geographic interest in SE PA and southern NJ locations. A glossary of terms would have been helpful for the novice kayak reader. The locations were described in a manner that challenged me in looking at maps for specific access points. The other reference book provided GPS coordinates that were more useful because some water access points are really not obvious.

Pick up your paddle and go!
I now understand why it has taken so long for a book on this subject to be published; it is simply a monumental undertaking, and Mr. Mitchell is to be congratulated for his effort. As he mentions in his introduction, PA has 'more waterway miles than any state except Alaska'. The real challenge in writing this book was deciding where to draw the line in the scope of what it would cover, and do it in such a way that the information would stay useful for a reasonable period of time.

"The Guide focuses primarily on sizeable flatwater rivers and streams...'this is not a guide to whitewater rivers and creeks'. Industrialized rivers, or those open to heavy commercial traffic are not included.

"There are 211 separate excursions described in the book, organized by watersheds. At the beginning of each section there is a watershed map showing all the trips described. Each individual trip includes a 'thumbnail' map showing access points. A data table for each trip shows pertinent USGS gages with suggested minimum levels, and a maximum recommended level where it applies; difficulty rating; hazards; scenery rating; notes on fishing and camping, with a narrative.

"Each description is designed to give the reader an overview, and a fair sense of what may be expected from the experience. It lacks exhaustive detail, but it is certainly more than adequate and will whet your appetite for exploring beyond your [geographical] comfort zone. This, coupled with a PA Gazetteer and maybe a AAA TourBook will put you well on your way to enjoying many new adventures on our state's waters."

Review of paddling book
Books were in excellent condition, shipping was very fast.Very interesting and informative book for quiet water paddlers.

Jeff Mitchell has done it again!
Jeff Mitchell has done it again!He has written a concise, detailed and most importantly an ACCURATE guide to wilds of the Keystone State.Wonderful !
... Read more

Product Description
The Best of Paddler Magazine compiles into one volume the finest articles from Paddler's first decade of publishing canoeing, kayaking, and rafting tales. Including sections on Humor, Destinations, Reflections, Profiles, and Expeditions - The Best of Paddler touches on paddling triumphs and tragedies, the ground-breaking leaders and the next wave of up-and-coming paddlers, and the offbeat humor and silliness of paddlesports aficionados.From the tongue-in-cheek classifications in "Evolution of A Paddle Species" to the elegiac reflections on 1997's losses in the paddling community in "The Tragic Summer of 1997," editor Eugene Buchannan inspires paddlers old and new with tales of outrageous excitement, disastrous mistakes, and paddling's real-life heroes and champions.Working with the talents of over a dozen authors published in 60 issues of Paddler, Buchanan combines his great love of paddlesports with eight-and-a-half years experience as editor of Paddler to amass the best of the best in paddling tales.Paddler Magazine has been the premiere magazine for paddlesports since its inception in 1991. Backed by the American Canoe Association, and published bi-monthly, Paddler is the offspring of Canoe Sport Journal, Canadian Paddler, and Ocean Kayak magazines, among others. ... Read more

Product Description
Make it easy to get started in the exciting and demanding sport of kayaking.Introduce yourself, your family and your friends to a sport that allows you to test your full physical potential.Teach others proper kayak technique.Know the sophisticated technical terms of the sport before you begin lessons.Know what to expect from whitewater instruction schools.Eliminate bad paddling habits while kayaking in rough waters.Choose the latest equipment for a safe whitewater experience. ... Read more

Product Description
Canoeing is one of the fastest-growing outdoor activities-- more than 9 million people enjoy the experience each year. It allows you to socialize with friends and family while exploring new places as you relax and enjoy the outdoors. Canoeing not only provides you with the basic skills and knowledge you need to safely head out for adventures on a variety of water trails, but it also presents a strong foundational understanding of this recreational activity.

Readers will find

• indispensable advice on gear and equipment selection, food and nutrition, fitness, water trail etiquette, and safety and survival skills;
• step-by-step instruction of basic paddling skills and techniques;
• informative consumer, technique, and safety tips; and
• Web-based resources to help you plan trips in the United States and throughout the world.

The book also includes the Quickstart Your Canoe DVD. This instructional DVD guides you through an introduction to paddle sports and basic safety and paddling techniques so you can enjoy a safe boating experience. It contains videos of the essential skills and techniques of canoeing, making it easier than ever to learn the basics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great all-encompassing text
This text is excellent.It is full of photos that clearly show everything that is explained.Covers all paddle strokes, safety, pre-planning, types of canoeing, and river reading (with great diagrams.)Only thing missing is an index - so at times, it's hard to find exactly what you're looking for.But a great read and resource! ... Read more

Product Description
A Thousand Miles in the Rob Roy Canoe recounts thetravels of John MacGregor in a "decked" canoe, known now as a kayak,on the lakes and rivers of Europe in 1865.

The book outlines the joys and difficulties of this pioneering paddlerfrom his first "shakedown" cruise down the Thames and on the edge ofthe English Channel to his final triumphal paddle up the Seine intoParis.

As MacGregor was making the trip in 1865, his voyages became aninternational event that was cataloged in newspapers as far away asthe United States. "Canoe spotting" became a popular pastime in Europeas MacGregor made his way as whimsy dictated down some of the mostwell known waterways in the world.

His observations recall a fascination with the glorious days of lifethat many find missing in the rush of our modern world. His prose iseasy to read, much more modern in pace than his Victoriancontemporaries. Altogether, this book is a wonderful read for thearmchair traveler. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Not only a significant part of history, but a great read.
This is the book that single-handedly launched not only modern canoeing and kayaking, but most modern small boating.It is absolutely marvelous to read-- fun in it's own right, and also a time capsule that allows you to travel back in time 150 years and see how many things have changed and how many things have not.

One of the earliest kayaks
Scottish sportsman John Macgregor was an outdoor writer and distant relative of Scottish folk hero and outlaw Rob Roy. Macgregor designed and built a hybrid canoe / kayak with a sail and kayaking paddle which he named the "Rob Roy". He then paddled through the rivers, lakes and canals of Germany, France and Switzerland, portaging between waterways on a cart or on trains. This was a completely novel idea for the time, traveling alone, by water, in a boat so light it can be carried, and it fired popular imaginations across Europe. His account of the journey became a best seller read by royalty and laymen alike, attracting newspaper attention and crowds along the route.

"A Thousand Miles" was written as both an account of the journey and a sort of travel guide for those wishing to follow in MacGregors wake. Indeed, fellow Scotsman Robert Louis Stevenson was so enthralled by MacGregors trip, he soon made his own Rob Roy, which he wrote about in An Inland Voyage, Stevenson's first published book. One can profitably find comparison between MacGregor and Stevenson's accounts, Stevenson being the genre imitator, but superior in writing quality.

MacGregor's account has a degree of Victorian optimism that is refreshing, not unlike Jules Verne's "Around the World in Eighty Days", the world is an Englishman's oyster with new and exciting modes of transportation making outdoor expeditions available to everyman. At times his account becomes journal-like and banal, commenting on every town, supper and rapid he comes across, and there is no central narrative other than the curious mode of travel and incidental encounters - but for learning about the details of European life in the 1860s and the zeitgeist of the time it is an authentic and pleasurable journey that was influential.

Originally published in 1866, there were many later editions while Macgregor was still alive, I think up to nine, that had additions including a map, discussions of the Prussian War in the 1870s etc.. the success of "A Thousand Miles" would spur Macgregor to take many more voyages and other travel accounts of his trips in the Rob Roy, but this was the first.

Great Book
This is a delightful book by a Victorian gentleman who obviously had some dash and a sense of the theatrical, but also a wonderful dry humor and spirit of daring.It is a wonderful book to readas you get ready for an extended canoe or kayaking trip, or just to read by the fire on a cold winter evening.It is interesting to see that MacGregor faced many of the same challenges of traveling by kayak through Europe that you still find today. ... Read more

Product Description
Welcome to The Armchair Paddler, more than thirty amazing stories set on every kind of water. From the Amazon to the Rio Grande, from Pakistan to Peru, from the Arctic to the Inside Passage - these are tales of paddling, rafting, and sometimes (regrettably) swimming the world's rivers and oceans in search of adventure, beauty, and death-defying challenge. The Armchair Paddler is full of revealing accounts of triumph and near tragedy, of endurance and frailty, of just how far technique and courage can take a person.Whether we're given a history lesson on the origin of the kayak, passengered across the rough and rugged waters of a stormy white-capped Atlantic Ocean, or told of the sad ecological condition of what were once some of the worlds most beautiful waterways, The Armchair Paddler never fails to inspire and teach. The excitement, the fatigue, and the numerous life-threatening accidents are documented with great detail and wonderful attention to the human spirit. A roster of experienced boaters and renowned authors make for riveting, unforgettable tales of thrilling exploration. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Good Collection
The image of the boatman on a river or alone at sea sets off a whole range literary claxons.With this legacy, which naturally leads to a heightened feeling of grandeur, it is a wonder that everyone who has ever set paddle to water has not felt impelled to likewise set pen to paper in attempt to claim his place as some sort of modern Odysseus.Of course, many paddlers have, without much success. There have also been, however, a few excellent writings by boaters.The Armchair Paddler, subtitled, Adventures by Canoe, Kayak, and Raft, is a collection of these writings.

The best stories and essays in this collection are written by authors who are able to keep their ego from interfering with their story.In John Hildebrand's account of paddling the Yukon (Reading the River), he reflects on the lessons he learns from the river with such honest humility that it is impossible not to be taken in.Hildebrand's prose is just as appealing.He knows exactly which details to include so that in one well pruned sentence you are right there beside him: "The truck rocked in the wind as we parked above a beach littered with tethered skiffs and dogs curled in the mud."

In "The Starship and the Canoe," Kenneth Bower nearly disappears from his own narrative.As he describes the first kayakers, the Aleuts and Eskimos, who "practice ten different rolls to meet ten different contingencies at sea" and can repair broken boats at sea, he has sense enough to step quietly out of the text. While Whit Deschner remains flamboyantly visible in his story, he is ready and able to laugh at himself.In an excerpt from "Travels with Kayak," we get to see the rivers of Pakistan through the eyes of a roguish humorist.Deschner leads up to his tale with a discussion of junk mail:"In the return, stamped envelopes into which I was supposed to merrily deposit my checking account, I instead stuffed rat droppings.I added the following advice.`The enclosed feces are from laboratory rats that may have been used in experiments involving highly contagious diseases.When you are through washing your hands please delete my name from your mailing list.'"

Unfortunately, The Armchair Paddler does not succeed in entirely separating the flotsam from the jetsam.There are several stories written by hands more accustomed to a pair of oars than a keyboard.More obnoxious is the rare piece whose subject is simply a veil for the author's proclamation of his own heroism. But these are in the minority and though they do not reach the bar set by the other writers, they will interest those involved in the sport.

The Armchair Paddler introduced me to several excellent unknown authors but it also has its share of famous writers.There are essays by Wallace Stegner, John McPhee, Eric Sevareid and an excerpt from James Dickey's seminal Deliverence.The book is broken up into seven sections: Beginnings, Big Drops, The Far North, The Grand Canyon, Journeys Abroad, Out to Sea, and Preserving our Rivers with four to seven pieces addressing each topic.It's a book that any paddler will enjoy. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a book for intermediate, proficient paddlers who wish to develop their skills to an advanced level. The book looks at increasingly difficult types of paddling: the fast and furious sport of white water and the sea,and extreme paddling,which refers to specialist discipline such as playing paddling, surking, and the competition scene. ... Read more