Comments for Ocean River Sports

Comment on Going Wild In My Kayak #3 – Cool Arctic Buzz by admin

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 23:05:27 +0000

Oystercatchergirl, Thank you for your comments on the Ocean River Blog. Jacques Sirois is inspiring us to look more closely at our surrounding natural environment in coastal Victoria and Vancouver Island. Do you have any new artwork?

Comment on Going Wild In My Kayak #3 – Cool Arctic Buzz by Oystercatchergirl

Oystercatchergirl — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:57:02 +0000

We are blessed to have Jacques Sirois in our midst. He is an bottomless well of knowledge about the natural wonders right at our doorstep, if we care to look. Kayaking in and around Victoria would be sadly lacking without the keen and passionate nature interpretation we enjoy in the blog entries of Jacques. Keep them coming. And always give right of way to oystercatchers! — Oystercatchergirl

Comment on Going Wild In My Kayak #3 – Cool Arctic Buzz by admin

admin — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:42:42 +0000

Bob, at Ocean River we are lucky to have a writer like Jacques Sirois and readers such as yourself. Maybe you would consider submitting an article or two from time to time… Our objective is to reach out to and engage people whose interest in kayaks and canoes is as a vehicle to get closer with our amazing natural environment.

Comment on Going Wild In My Kayak #3 – Cool Arctic Buzz by Bob Peart

Bob Peart — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:34:22 +0000

Jacques’ writing and description of what he sees is elegant. He provides an insight into the natural world around Victoria that is inspriational. Thanks Jacques and please keep writing and posting.

Bob

Comment on Learning and Teaching Rolling by Mark Byrne

Mark Byrne — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:49:27 +0000

Too funny Gary! I will have to remember the “hip flick” when I start my rolling. Who knows ……. maybe I will have to try one on February 11th

Comment on Going Wild in my Kayak #2 – A Perfect Winter Day. by Yvan

Yvan — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:03:22 +0000

Reading your article made me feel like I was right there. Now I want to do kayaking in a similar environment, rich in biodiversity. Thanks for sharing your passion. Keep it up !

Comment on Going Wild in My Kayak #1: James the Human Otter and Eskimo Roll Master by Lisa Q

Lisa Q — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:49:00 +0000

Hi Jacques, very interesting and pleasant to read your article. I learned amazing things: number of roll types of a kayaker, the term tuliq and the fun loving behaviour of otters. thanks!

An Inuk from the East.

Comment on Kayaking and Fitness in the Off-Season by Mark Byrne

Mark Byrne — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 01:41:38 +0000

Great blog post!! Congratulations on your certification Gary.

Comment on Boats on the Colquitz River by R

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 23:25:58 +0000

I am writing in response to the comments pertaining to paddlers and dog walkers. Both are an issue so in this case pointing fingers and suggesting to focus on one or the other is a moot point. Some paddlers are aware and respectful of wildlife, other are not. For the most part, wildlife disturbance is usually due to ignorance. For example, if a single paddler is on the river for 15 minutes and 5 paddlers visit the river everyday, then the total minutes of disturbance per day is 75 minutes (not 15). In addition, paddlers are likely using the waters at the most opportune feeding times. Just because animals dont’t have a 9-5 job does not mean that their activities are not limited to certain times of the day (often the best foraging times for wildlife are the early morning and late afternoon). Widlife is constantly in a battle for survival and every ounce of energy lost to evading a boat needs to be replaced with food that must be caught or found. Every seond spent avoiding a dog is a momment of foraging lost. These are life and death scenarios at certain times fo year (breeding season and winter when food is hard to find/catch). I know these are very basic examples, but I wanted to get people thinking along the lines of the wildlife and questioning the situation to a greater depth.

As for historic use by First Nations. This too is moot as in the past, wildlife had large expanses of habitat. If they were scared away from one area, they would forage in another till the “threat” moved on. Look at the CRD from google earth. There are few areas left for wildlife, making the remaining areas that much more important, and the wildlife they support that much more vulnerable.

I too am a paddler, and I have a walked a couple dogs in my day, on and off leash. I am also a wildlife biologist. There is a balance and it can be found, if we work together, and grow as individuals and as a community.

Comment on Going Wild in My Kayak #1: James the Human Otter and Eskimo Roll Master by James Manke

James Manke — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:33:15 +0000

Thank you Jacques for the kind words Rolling a kayak gives me a great sense of peace and has helped me become more relaxed and in tune with my surroundings. I highly recommend others to engage and push their limits…. I’m so inspired!

Here is a recent video with some rolls and stretch rolls I use regularly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVMrhn8j72w&hd=1