Kayak Canoe Training for the Aca Champanships

OVERVIEW

With the ACA Champanships fast approaching, lets get out on the water and I will pass on some racing tips. I use to race both slalom and down river (wild water) when I was in college in the UK. I was highly ranked and won several races in both formats.

The section of the James River above Richmond offers lots of class 1 and 2 rapids and is a great place to learn and/or practice river racing skills. This trip is for beginner – intermediate paddlers looking to improve their river racing skills: Beginners are those that have been in a white water kayak on flat water or those that have only been down a river a handful of times. Intermediates are those who are comfortable paddling class 2-3 rivers. Please do NOT sign up unless you have taken the intro flat water class with me or have similar experience, which means you must have experience paddling a white water kayak while wearing a spray skirt and know how to wet-exit or paddling a canoe on a river. Knowing how to T-rescue is recommended but not required. Call me if you are not sure of your qualifications, 434 296 4812 (home) 434 242 2417 (cell no reception at home).

**This is also a great opportunity for intermediate paddler who are interested in learning this section of river to lead future trips. We need more kayak trip leaders!!!

We need at least 1 driver in order for the trip to roll. Your name will go onto the waitlist when you join, then I will move the first driver and then add names in order of those who signed up. I’m setting the trip max to 6 people as that is the number of boats I can tote, but may expand it depending on the number of drivers and boat transporters that sign up. If you have a boat and gear and can transport it, you are automatically in.

Depending on peoples interest between paddling kayaks or canoes, my SUV can carry 6 kayaks or 2 canoes or 1 canoe and 3 kayaks

The Club provides: Boats, gear, boat transport, including dry tops, wetsuits, a limited selection of gloves and booties. Depending on the number of people going we may not have enough wetsuits and dry tops to fit everybody, please ask around to see if can borrow one. The water is still quite cold this time of year.

You should bring: swim wear (several non-cotton layers), footwear that can get wet, towel, change of clothes, sunscreen?, water, snacks, your boat/gear if you have it, pack a lunch to eat before or on the river (eat light), money for food/snacks after the trip