kayaking

One day my friend asked me if I wanted to try out kayaking. I said "Sounds fun sure" He took me to the community center pool in town to teach me how to "roll" a kayak roll is what u have to do when you flip upside down in the kayak. Your head is under the water so you have to roll back to normal. The first day was hell I thought I was never going to get it, but i didn't give up. There is a certain technique that you have to learn to roll the kayak back. If you mess up in one of the many steps you won't be able to roll back to normal, and your head will stay under the water. It took me about two weeks to get it down. I knew when I went to the river the racing water was going to make the process way harder and I felt like I needed more practice, but we didn't want to keep paying to go to the community center so we decided I was ready. I got geared with my ten dollar Walmart helmet, I was ready for war against the river. On my way there I saw the big rapids, fast water, and huge rocks. I was scared and nervous, but I was more excited. We started our adventure. Right away we hit some rapids, and I flipped over in the middle of the rapids. My whole world changed, I had felt like I forgot everything. In moments like this a deep breathe would help a lot. To bad theres no oxygen under water. I attempted to roll back. My kayak didn't even move I was still under the water. I could feel the strong current taking me and I could not do anything about it. I was just waiting for a rock to fuck up my face. I had the feeling of hopeless and anger. I had no choice but to do a "wet exit" that is when you pull a strap in the kayak and you get lunched out of the kayak. So now I was in the middle of the river trying to swim to the side with a paddle in hand and a 50 pound kayak in the other in cold water. Lucky my friend helped me out. 30 minutes later I was ready to go. I knew the rapids were going to get bigger and faster. I was cold, no confidence, and my spirits were killed. I had to keep going though I was a long way from home and hitch hiking was not a option. My friends told me that I had to paddle harder and keep my speed in the rapids. My the river my bitch. A few minutes later I saw the rapids coming up. I felt a empty feeling in my stomach. I could picture myself under the water struggling. I was scared, I was breathing like it was going to be the last time I was going to take in air. It was getting closer, my heart started beating rapidly. Then I felt energy going through my body. The fear was taken over with adrenaline as I hit the first few rapids. I was puddling non stop. Rapids were hitting me like waves I couldn't see much. The top of my kayak would go up so high I felt like I was jumping through the river. I never saw it coming it came out of no where and I flipped. The fear and adrenaline both got 100 times more intense. I learned from my mistake though. I knew I had to block it all out and just imagine myself rolling back first before I attempt to try it. My body just moved and just like in the pool I was back right side up except I was getting splashed by water and had no idea where I was. Then I heard my friend screaming at me with excitement telling me to puddle so I did. Splash splash! I made it. I got the biggest feeling of relief I could still feel my heart beat I stop puddling looked at my friend and just screamed "yeah!!!" I had the biggest smile in my face the fear was completely gone. The adrenaline was slowly going away and my body was flowing with the biggest feeling of relief and happiness.     

That's me rolling in a surf area in my town.