Though my name has often been associated with the word, ‘kayak,’ it has nothing to do with my ability to kayak. Using it to help people understand the pronunciation of my name (minus the final k), kayak was even a nickname of mine through middle school. So, it wasn’t too much of a surprise when the FACES staff thought it would be fun to have me write a Learning Curve about kayaking. With the close connection of the word to my name, plus my spirit of jumping right into unknown adventure, I enthusiastically agreed, having no idea exactly what type of learning discovery awaited.
Though the day of the appointed kayak lesson dawned bright, as time drew nearer, clouds loomed ominously in the distance. I dressed in plenty of non-cotton apparel, figuring that by the end of the day, I would be soaked from the amazing tricks and rolls I would be sure to accomplish, but drying quickly in the rays of glory I’d receive for my success. With a name like Kaija, kayaking had to come naturally, right? The approaching thunderhead couldn’t dampen my confidence. Kelly Lane, of Rapid City, was to be my kayaking guide for the day, and when I pulled up to his house, I could tell that he had been involved in sports for a long time. His garage looks like a sporting goods store, filled with a variety of shapes and sizes of kayaks, skis, and many other accessories and gear with which to enjoy the outdoors.
(Read the rest of this story in Summer 2008 FACES)
