Out on the Water

By Adrienne Montgomerie

"It’s glorious. You glide through the water, see birds and rock climbers. You’re just free, you’re out with nature."
- Amy Doofenbaker, kayak enthusiast

"I felt like a mermaid, I was so free," says Dr. Amy Doofenbaker. The kayak released "Dr. D" from the wheelchair and crutches that are the reality of her daily life.

Whether because of her disability or simply because she’s Amy, Dr. D has a unique perspective on risk. While most able-bodied people are intimidated by the stereotypically confining and tippy kayak, she says she never thought to be intimidated.

"Why would I be?" she said. "I thought it was glorious. I would be more intimidated walking up my driveway in the dark. You glide through the water, see birds and rock climbers. You’re just free, out with nature, out with healthy people, and they don’t see your [disability]."

In the small town of Chesley, Ontario, where she is known simply as Dr. D, Amy Doofenbaker is first and foremost a veterinarian. She is also a kayaker, she is a wheelchair athlete who has set three world track records, and, just over a year ago (February 14, 1998), she was presented with the King Clancy Award and inducted into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame for raising more than $18,000 for cancer research over several years of Terry Fox Runs.

At the age of 14, Amy Doofenbaker first dislocated a kneecap in a skiing accident, and then lost a large portion of the muscle mass to the complication of gangrene. Doctors said, "You’re a cripple now. You’ll never finish school, or have a career." Dr. D had to see for herself.

In her wheelchair, Dr. D began an athletic career, culminating in three world track records. She not only finished school but went on to university and veterinary school. At the University of Guelph’s vet college, Amy discovered she had a problem with overheating. With characteristic troubleshooting savvy she began studying in tank tops and sourced out an ice vest for use in the operating room. (They’re designed for power-plant operators.) After several years of ill health her doctors told her she had multiple sclerosis.

Terry Fox had long been an inspiration to Dr. D, and her participation in the annual run was what had motivated her to take up long-distance racing. But everything changed when she developed MS. Physical activity continually raised her body temperature, threatening to trigger an
exacerbation.

Then, in the course of her vetly duties, Dr. D saved "Terry’s" life - and the owner thanked her for rescuing his severely dehydrated cat in the only way he knew how:
He took her kayaking.

Dr. D quickly learned to prevent overheating by regularly dipping a cup into the water and pouring it over her head. Overnight travel is still intimidating because of the threat of having an attack far from help and home, but she hasn’t ruled it out.

Dr. D has done rivers in her kayak, as well as challenged 12-foot waves during the first-ever Terry Fox "paddle." Mostly, Dr. D paddles close to her home, around Lion’s Head, Georgian Bay. She has travelled most of the coastline between Tobermory and Hope Bay - a feat which
ranks just below her mobile vet service on her list of pride-and-joys.

An R5 river kayak was Dr. D’s choice because it is a lightweight, stable boat with a cockpit large enough to accommodate her leg brace.

"Independence is the most important thing [for me]," says Dr. D. "If I needed help getting the kayak on and off the car it would defeat the purpose."

We asked Dr. Amy Doofenbaker and Roy Wilhelm, Canoe Ontario’s Inclusion Representative, for their tips on kayaking with a disability. Here’s what they had to say:

DON’T GET HUNG UP ON SPECIALTY PRODUCTS. Each kayaker will know what is the best adaptation for his or her ability. Most adjustments can be done with common supplies from the paddling shop, hardware store or medical supply outlet. The goal is to be able to paddle with as little extra work and gear as possible.

TRY OUT A LOT OF BOATS. See what is easy to paddle, lift and get in and out of, and what gives you the physical support you need. Many shops will let you try before you buy. At the very least, you should be able to rent a few different boats before you make your choice.

Generally, people with mobility or balance-related disabilities find that a WIDER, LARGE- VOLUME BOAT feels more stable and is easier to enter. You might consider a ride-on-top kayak like the one Tom Selleck used to paddle on TV’s "Magnum PI". There are several models.
Boats can also be adapted to increase their stability. At the very least, you can snap a pair of sausage-like air bags called sponsons onto the sides of your kayak - making it tippable only with a great deal of determination.

Look for good LATERAL SUPPORT. Most kayaks come with a built-in, adjustable back support, but a simple camp chair - like the Crazy Creek Chair or Canoe Accessories’ Canoe Back Rest - will perform wonders. For complete support, an adjustable "bathtub" chair is available in several sizes, though it makes paddling more of a challenge. If your kayak doesn’t come with a neoprene seat cover, try coating the seat with a non-slip tape like the one used for bathtubs.

Roy Wilhelm suggests that a LONGER PADDLE will make paddling easier for a person with agility or strength concerns. Paddles typically are made of slippery wood or plastic. Use tape to improve your grip and limit the wear and tear from a prosthesis. Better yet, slip a sleeve (for one
hand only) made of PVC pipe over the paddle to allow your terminal device to slide easily over the shaft. If your hand simply can not grip the shaft, consider securing the paddle to one hand (never two!) with a Velcro glove.

A good deal of stability in a kayak comes from wedging your legs under the deck. Make this easier by ADDING CLOSED CELL FOAM to the thigh braces, bringing them down to the level of your legs.

One of the most important things to have is a SAFETY PLAN. Think about what you’ll do in the case of a capsize and practice the routine in a safe place. Swimming pools are great for this. Even with thighs braced, it’s hard not to fall out of a large-volume kayak when you’re upside down. Nevertheless, you may decide not to wear a skirt when you paddle. (A skirt keeps you warm and dry by keeping out wind, waves and drips from the paddle. If you develop the skill to lean into your turns, "brace" or "roll," you’ll need a skirt to do the moves without flooding the boat.) Try it out. For extra security, plan on paddling with a more able-bodied buddy, and consider using a double kayak.

Part of your safety plan must be a well-fitting PFD (PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE, or life jacket). While altering a PFD voids its warranty and certification, crotch straps and a grab-loop can make a huge difference to both you and your rescuers.

TAKE A LESSON. Don’t fret over finding an instructor who knows a lot about your disability. Just find someone creative and open-minded who’s an expert on kayaking. Paired with you - the expert on your abilities - you’ll discover a quick payoff.

No way you can paddle a kayak? How about pedalling one? Greg Holloway and Current Designs have each built a kayak with a bicycle drive train that "goes like the wind." In fact, that’s what kawak, the name of this modified vessel, means. With a bit of ingenuity, and a couple of weeks in the shop, Holloway was able to fit his sleek sea-kayak with an eight-dollar, oversized model airplane propeller powered by a bicycle’s gear box. It adds about 2.5 kg to his boat but it makes her go up to 10 knots an hour - about a third faster than he could paddle.

Holloway has given his kawak training wheels using sleek outriggers that make the boat virtually untippable. Kawaks are steered with a hand-line, but a little adaptation could get around even that barrier.

"This works," Holloway says. And he’s willing to share the idea.

Finally, for getting your boat on and off your vehicle, consider two things: a way to hoist the boat on your vehicle, and a manageable way to secure the boat to your car. There are several products and strategies that can get the boat onto your vehicle. Consider a buddy to help, or a
hatchback or truck to slide the kayak into. An outrigger is a retractable arm that extends your roof rack, allowing you to lift one end of the boat at a time. Rollers, let you roll your boat along a roof rack. A swing boom, lets you winch the boat up to roof level with about six pounds of
cranking effort and then easily rotate your boat onto your roof racks. An add-on called the Storer lets you winch the boat up to the roof of your garage for storage.

Driving to the put in (where you put your boat in the water) is arguably the most dangerous part of your journey. It doesn’t take a lot of strength or dexterity to secure your boat to your shuttle vehicle if you have the right tools. Straps made of webbing with a cam-lock require only a pull to
lock the webbing in place and are easily released with the press of a thumb. Generic sets are available at most paddling centres, and automotive centres (such as Canadian Tire). Ratchet straps, also available from automotive centres, are much like the webbed straps but have a winch that lets the gears do the work of tightening the lines.

Canoe Ontario’s Roy Wilhelm is currently putting the finishing touches on an addition to his organization’s instructor’s manual called Inclusion, One Stroke at a Time. Canoe Ontario looks forward to increasing awareness about kayaking as a sport for people with disabilities.

Happy paddling!

(Adrienne Montgomerie is a freelance writer living in Parry Sound, Ontario.)

RESOURCES

PUBLICATION:
Canoeing and Kayaking for Persons with Disabilities, by Janet Zeller
A manual for instructors, published by the American Canoe Association
Cost: $14.95 (U.S.)
Phone: (703) 451-0141

SOURCES FOR ADAPTATIONS:
In addition to your local paddling shop, hardware store and medical supply outlet, you may find the following sources helpful in achieving your paddling goals:

Aquamotion Engineering
Adaptive boarding systems and adaptive front-facing rowing systems
Norwood, Massachussetts
Phone: (617) 769-0590

Canoe Accessories
Canoe Back Rest
Toronto, Ontario
Phone: (416) 461-9597

Current Designs
Kawaks, kayaks and canoes
Sidney, B.C.
Phone: (250) 655-1822
Fax: (250) 655-1596
Website: http://www.cdkayak.com/
E-mail: info@cdkayak.com

Grey Owl Paddles Ltd.
Lightweight paddles
Cambridge, Ontario
Phone: (519) 622-0001
Fax: (519) 622-0723

Greg Holloway
Kawak owner
Victoria, B.C.
E-mail: zounds@ios.bc.ca

Millerton-Lancelot Co.
Lancelot Launcher
New York, New York
Phone: (518) 789-4008

Mermaid Stabilizer
Full floatation canoe stabilizer that’s easily installed without tools and works on either side of the boat
North Battleford, Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 398-2889
Toll-free: 1-800-215-5307
Website: http://www.w2d.com/mermaid
E-mail: mermaid@w2d.com

Ontario Recreational Canoeing Association (ORCA)
Serves canoeing instructors and the public with innovative ideas on adaptations for people of all abilities in the activity of canoeing
Roy Wilhelm, Inclusion Representative
Toronto, Ontario
Phone: (416) 426-7016
Fax: (416) 426-7363

Parson A.D.L. Inc.
Hand closing straps, transfer slings, no-slip safety strips,
ergonomic handles, safety treads, chest
straps, transfer boards and Velcro, webbing and plastic buckles
Tottenham, Ontario
Phone: (905) 936-3580
Toll-free: 1-800-263-1281

Georgian Bay Kayak Ltd.
Sea Float( sponsons
Penetanguishene, Ontario
Phone: (705) 549-3722
Website: http://www.bconnex.net/~timkayak/
E-mail: timkayak@bconnex.net

Swift Canoe & Kayak
Will adapt the boats it makes to suit the needs of people of all abilities
Dwight, Ontario
Phone: (705) 635-1167
Toll-free: 1-800-661-1429

INTRODUCTORY KAYAKING OPPORTUNITIES:
Vancouver Park Board
Bonnie Friesen, Adapted Aquatic Specialist
Vancouver, B.C.
Phone: (604) 257-8500
Fax: (604) 257-8501
E-mail: bonnie_friesen@city.vancouver.bc.ca