Flatwater Kayaking

As summer temperatures continue to soar and the bike-challenging wind finally begins to subside, thoughts turn to water sports of the non-motorized variety. Last year I picked up a couple inflatable kayaks from Pedal & Paddle Bike Shop, conveniently located on main street in downtown Pierre, SD. Manufactured by Advanced Elements, Inc. the kayaks provide a good approximation of a hard shell but with the added feature of being stowable - a trait hardshell models, except for much more expensive foldups, can never mimic.

Both kayaks, a solo and a convertible one-or-two-person model, inflate quickly, easily and hassle-free using just a handpump. Military grade valves allow precise inflation pressure and set-up time is usually 10 minutes or less.

Both kayaks far outperform a canoe, not only stability-wise but also efficiency-wise. And, talking about stability, the bow of the convertible forms a stable dive platform for cooling off on those hot summer days.

Weighing in at around 25 pounds and 55 pounds for the solo and convertible, respectively, creates a package that is as easy to cart around as it is to paddle. What more could a serious recreational specialist ask for?

I have paddled these kayaks on rivers - including the Missouri and Columbia - as well as lakes, on flat water and wind driven chop, and am impressed by how well they handle the conditions.

Recently my wife and niece took the kayaks for a spin on Sylvan Lake in the heart of the Black Hills of South Dakota. Following their paddle session I deflated, packed the kayaks in their traveling bags and stowed them conveniently in our van. With the kayaks safely placed inside the vehicle, no worries about loose or broken tie-downs entered my mind as we cruised back to Pierre.

As opposed to tying the kayaks on the roof of the van or pulling them behind on a trailer, my gas mileage didn't decrease. Although the mileage doesn't matter much on short trips to The Hills, on longer trips, like the one we have planned for northern Minnesota, the difference will likely be enough to treat ourselves to some fine micros hidden away in the northern woods.