Gut punched, but in a good way...

On Sunday, James and I set off to do a little paddling and fishing. He's nearing on 5 years old now, so I thought I'd let him try paddling the kayak, just for grins. Keep in mind that we're heading out on the T160DH, so I thought he'd be overwhelmed, and we'd give it up after a minute or two.

Not so.

By the end of the evening fishing/paddling/blackberry gathering session, he was maneuvering the big kayak darn near as well as his mom does, and was paddling a lot faster than I can swim. For hundreds of yards. Heck, had to yell at him to stay put.

He ( and I swear this is without one single bit of prompting from me) tells his mom that he needs a "new, new, new, new, new kayak"

I left the 1030SW in my backpack, but will post video of him this coming weekend.

I'm looking at the Yostworks Sea Flea, though I bet he'd be pretty happy in my Jive, if I put some sort of skeg on it.

I can also hear the wailing of Jonathon, when he sees that big bro gets to paddle, and he doesn't.


Darn, but they do grow up fast, though....

Scott

Very cool Scott.  I look forward to taking my daughter on the yak for the first time, let alone her first solo paddle.

I have 6 kids and 2 grandsons. It is amazing what they CAN do unless we tell them they can't. Glad you got to be amazed by your kids... They will keep on doing it 

Thanks for sharing Scott. It's always good to hear of kids getting into any sport.   

My son, Omar, is 9 years old and he handles the P15 pretty well but I have to buy him a shorter paddle, 220 is way too long.

On Sunday, James and I set off to do a little paddling and fishing. He's nearing on 5 years old now, so I thought I'd let him try paddling the kayak, just for grins. Keep in mind that we're heading out on the T160DH, so I thought he'd be overwhelmed, and we'd give it up after a minute or two.

Not so.

By the end of the evening fishing/paddling/blackberry gathering session, he was maneuvering the big kayak darn near as well as his mom does, and was paddling a lot faster than I can swim. For hundreds of yards. Heck, had to yell at him to stay put.

Darn, but they do grow up fast, though....

Scott

There's really a phenomenal amount of energy and stamina a kid can put into something they like to do, I don't know were it comes from but we've all seen it,

Wow gonna be great to have a partner on the water, Congrats

kudos to you for letting him try.  When shark_bait was 5 we went for a family mountain bike ride.  I rode ahead and SB and my wife followed.  I was going to hit the top then meet them on the way down.  SB kept saying he was "going where daddy went" and plugged away on his little one speed up some serious inclines to summit.

Keep letting them try stuff, and watch out