Learning How to Paddle and Roll a White Water Kayak

OVERVIEW

With the weather getting colder and the days getting shorter, I’ll probably only do one or two more intro to kayaking classes – one this Saturday and perhaps one next week (unless we get a lot of interest for winter kayaking…we have wetsuits! :). This trip is intended for complete beginners – those who have never been in a white water kayak. If you want to run down a river through rapids, learning the basic techniques first is a must. We’ll spend a couple hours at Walnut Creek Park learning and practicing basic paddling techniques. At the end of the session we’ll spend some time learning how to roll. I’m planning on doing 1 2-hour session (holds 5 people), but if enough people sign up I can do more, if that’s the case I will email you your scheduled times. So SIGN UP EVEN IF THE TRIP IS FULL. If you don’t get another email from me, you can show up at the Walnut Creek lower parking lot a little before 1. For directions please follow the ‘Walnut Creek Park’ link below. I can organize car pooling if anyone needs a ride. The water will be cold and you will get wet so dress warm. We have wetsuits and splash jackets for you but you may want to wear something warm over the wetsuit (fleece, wool, polypropylene,…avoid cotton if you can). For anyone who has taken this class and wants to practice their roll – please wait for the trip to fill, sign up on the waitlist, and I can take a group of 5 after the intro classes are over for an hour or so of roll practice. Please email or call me with any question. 760-2739.

UVA Outdoors Provides:
Kayaks, skirts, paddles, pfds, helmets, nose plugs, wetsuits, splash jackets

Mother Nature Provides:
Cold water, so dress warm! A chance of rain which WILL NOT cancel the trip but will make things colder.

You should bring:
Bathing suit, towel, water, change of warm clothes, clothing layers that can get wet (avoid cotton if you can).