RE: [Paddlewise] Who we are

 

Well, I guess its my turn to introduce myself.  

My name is Tim Mattson. I live in the glorious but wet Willamette valley of
Oregon where we have white water rivers, the pacific ocean (complete with
Gray whales), and plenty of flat water to paddle in. The water's cold, but
at least its liquid and flowing all year round!

I have been paddling for almost three years, going out between three and
seven times per week all year round.  I am completely obsessed with
kayaking.  I paddle up to class III white water, play in the pounding surf,
race kayaks in the open ocean, and try to take at least one week-long kayak
camping trip per year. 

I love to roll and practice it every week in a pool and whenever I paddle in
non-polluted water. I don't have a hand roll yet, but I do have a
"bomb-proof" roll on both sides (white water kayaking is a great way to get
comfortable rolling in rough water). I'm usually the one in our sometimes
heated rolling discussions advocating the roll as a basic (as opposed to
advanced) technique in kayaking.

As for equipment, I use a Feathercraft Khatsalano - usually with a Greenland
paddle - when I travel or want a playful sea kayak.  I race with a Seda
Glider using an Epic wing paddle. I use a dagger Redline or a dancer XT in
white water and surf. And for all around kayaking, I have a lovable but
clunky Perception Sea Lion.

To support my paddling, I work as a research scientist at Intel. I have a
Ph.D. in theoretical chemistry and am almost as obsessed with science as I
am with kayaking.  To learn more about my work, my boats and my few
noteworthy paddling expeditions, check out my web page at
www.proaxis.com/~matkins/tim.

--Tim

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