Kayaking

Your Challenge: Take a river-based skills course.
Timeframe: 3 months

Who’s Done It:

Linda Ly | 30, Los Angeles, CA

“Whitewater kayaking and rolling courses opened up a whole new world to me. I learned about technique and safety, but also boosted my confidence. I love being able to explore rivers and feeling the thrill of being in those powerful currents—instead of just viewing them from above.”

Kate Howe | 39, Aspen, CO

“The biggest plus is not that I got certified to guide but that I was able to take my kids out in the water safely. Because I have a swift-water rescue cert, I felt so much better about teaching my kids to play in this environment! Water is an incredible, beautiful playground, and even those of us lucky enough to play on it all the time can benefit from an eye-opening, life-saving experience in a controlled environment.”

WHITEWATER PARKS Where the Action Is

Whitewater parks can facilitate a gentle lesson or serve up world-class standing waves. Anna Levesque, founder of Girls at Play—an organization dedicated to women’s kayak instruction—schooled us about the difference between natural and man-made whitewater parks, giving thumbs-up to man-made parks for accessibility and difficulty, but thumbs-down for lack of natural obstacles and unpredictable water behavior—water flows differently in real rivers, she says. Parks built on natural rivers win points for slow-moving eddies and natural rocks forming the riverbed, but man-made rivers offer a real challenge. There’s only one guarantee: No matter what kind of water-park you’ve got access to, you’ll have a great time getting wet.

Courtesy of Recreation Engineering and Planning, Courtesy of Truckee River Whitewater Park, Courtesy of Recreation Engineering and Planning

Salida Whitewater Park, Salida CO

• Water Source: Arkansas River
• Type; Flow: Natural; average summer flow: 700 cubic feet per second
• Scene: Hippies and high-country brews, not to mention stunning mountain views.
• Best Feature: Fun-to-surf play holes for paddlers ranging from beginners to experts.

Green River Whitewater Park Green River, WY

• Water Source: Green River
• Type; Flow: Natural; 500–3,000 cubic feet per second
• Scene: River rats playing in 5-foot holes and rafters floating the west’s least lethargic lazy river.
• Best Feature: Castle Falls, an adjustable 8-gate feature for advanced-level paddlers.

Truckee River Whitewater Park at Wingfield Reno, NV

• Water Source: Truckee River
• Type; Flow: Natural; average summer flow 550 cubic feet per second
• Scene: Brimming with swimmers, surfers, inner-tubers, and kayakers alike.
• Best Feature: Hole 4, where kayakers spend all day practicing playboat tricks.

U.S. National Whitewater Center Charlotte, NC

• Water Source: Enclosed system
• Type; Flow: Man-made; peak flow 1,250 cubic feet per second
• Scene: A playground for Olympic-caliber athletes, families, and casual observers.
• Best Feature: The competition channel: challenging, fast class IV rapids.

With more than 100 local club affiliates, American Whitewater is one of the most influential paddling advocates in the USA; americanwhitewater.org

Gear: Paddle

The more comfortable and efficient you feel with each pull through the water, the more likely you are to go boating again and again. The paddle you use affects your power and level of ease, so here are some things to consider when choosing one.

Weight Whether aluminum, plastic, fiberglass, or wood, the ideal paddle weighs two to three pounds and has a heavier shaft with lighter blades.

Blade Shape Blades will be slightly cupped and shaped either symmetrically or asymmetrically.

Shaft A bent-shaft paddle keeps your shoulders aligned and your wrists in a neutral position to cut down on chronic injuries. Flex in the shaft makes it easier on your joints, and a smaller diameter is comfiest for a woman’s usually-petite grip.

Length Tall women paddling long boats might like a longer paddle, as will those who paddle at a slow cadence. Shorter or quicker folks will likely do best with a short paddle.

Not too heavy, not too light, just stiff enough, and with a medium-sized blade for both river running and playboating, Adventure Technology’s Play Glass paddle is a worthy choice. Available with a small shaft diameter and in a variety of lengths, this fiberglass paddle is durable in whitewater rodeos. Thirty-degree offset blades come standard, but custom offset options make this already versatile piece of equipment a no-brainer. ($200; atpaddles.com)

With a fatality rate of 15.2 deaths per 100,000 people, driving a car is much more dangerous than many adventure sports, including Scuba diving (3.5), climbing (3.2), whitewater boating (2.9), bicycling (1.6), skiing (0.4), and hunting (0.7).

Credit: Corey Rich

Profile Emily Jackson
Age: 21
Job: Professional Whitewater Kayaker
Hometown: Rock Island, TN

Favorite rivers: There are too many to name—the Nile River in Uganda, the Ottawa River in Canada, not to mention my home sweet home, Caney Fork River!

Favorite thing about kayaking: The people you meet, the places it takes you, the killer body it encourages, and the freedom and feeling of being one with the water.

Most used paddling skill: Keeping my head above water! As a whitewater kayaker I spend a lot of time upside down, good thing I know how to get back up using the roll!

Short term goal: Win the ICF Freestyle World Championships in Platting, Germany.

Biggest challenge as a pro: Giving myself a break. I have such drive to improve myself. When I wake up, I ask myself: What can I do today that will make me better at kayaking by tonight? Obviously the answer is to go kayaking, but some days my body wants me to spend time with a good book and a cup of tea.

Long term goal: Living healthily and happily ever after.

Skill: Reading the Water

Predicting how your boat moves through the water is a hard-earned skill that’s complemented by an eye for what’s happening in the river around you. Knowing how to read currents and spot obstacles can help you pick a line that has—for lack of a better word—flow. Here are some pointers to guide your way:

Know the nature of the river. In general, the fastest flow in whitewater will be down the center of the river. The current on the river edges moves more slowly.

Follow downstream-pointing V shapes. They reveal the course of the main flow and are also called “tongues” of clear water. Upstream-pointing V shapes warn of rocks just above or below the surface.

Always look ahead. The water is dynamic. If you’re just staring at the bow of your boat, you’re a step behind.

Clap abbr \’klap\

1. A memory-friendly acronym for Communication, Line-of-Sight, Avoidance, and Positioning: critical elements for river safety.

Skill: Choosing a Kayak

Women-specific kayaks are built to accommodate a low center of gravity. They’re easy to lean and usually smaller in the deck, but you’ll want to factor in other length, weight, and shape options, too. “A long boat can be loaded down but still carry its speed,” says Bob McDonough, senior designer for Confluence Watersports, who warns that loading down a short boat will only give you barge-like performance. “While short boats may be slower,” he says, “it takes less muscular energy to keep them moving.” So how do you choose between a stubby playboat and a tour-ready vessel? Bob helped us navigate the tricky waters of boat selection.

Necky Manitou II Polymer, $1,050;neckykayaks.com

Best for when: The weather’s nice and the kids and their picnic will float the river with you.

Hobie Mirage Outback, $1,799; hobiecat.com

Best for when: You need a sturdy boat that won’t tip when you cast a fishing line.

Wilderness Systems Pungo 100, $699; wildernesssystems.com

Best for when: You’re working you way up: slow-moving rivers this summer, whitewater next.

Dagger Approach 9.0, $699; dagger.com

Best for when: You’re an ambitious paddler and will conquer some class IV by year’s end or you seek speed on fast-moving water and live for play holes.

Perception Essence 16.5, $1449; perceptionkayaks.com

Best for when: You’ll take multi-day trips on rugged rivers, big lakes, or touring coastal beaches

GLOSSARY River Features

Whitewater is graded by classes I through VI. Think lazy-river for class I and high-impact, unrunnable rapids for class VI. No matter what type of river you’re running, you’ll sound like a pro if you use lingo that describes features accurately.

Chute An area where a river’s flow is suddenly constricted—energy and volume are compressed, amplifying the current into a narrow tongue of water.

Eddy A calm spot usually found along inside river bends and below obstructions where currents circulate, stop, or turn upstream. Often marked by a sharp boundary—an “eddy line”—of swirling water and bubbles where opposing currents diverge. Typically good places to stop, rest, or go ashore.

Haystack A series of rhythmic waves resulting from the convergence and slowing of channel currents, usually associated with deep water rising, underwater obstacles, and ledges.

Hole A feature that can hold boats and paddlers for extended “play.” Caused by water falling over a rock, dam, or other gradient, creating pressure sufficient to cause a vertical reversal of water flow and forcing some water to recirculate at the base of the drop.

Pillow A cushion of water that often forms along the upstream edge of boulders. A large pillow—usually in big rapids—can often be used by boaters to avoid collisions with the obstacle or boulder beneath it.

Riffle A section of river in which shallow gravel or sandbars cause numerous small surface waves.

Paddle Strokes

These strokes will help you position the boat skillfully and stay on your line.

10 average number of days per year a kayaker spends on the water days

21% percentage of kayakers who occasionally skip wearing life jackets

Tip

Paddle with your core. Rock-hard abs ensure that each stroke really counts, but strong obliques can also help with balance. “With each paddle stroke, rotate your whole torso and unwind with a twist so that your abs are doing most of the work, not your arms,” says women’s waterfall record-holder Christie Glissmeyer, who ran Oregon’s 82-foot Metlako Falls in 2009.