The University of Idaho swim center is partnering with the Outdoor Program to provide whitewater kayaking clinics for students, staff, faculty and community members interested in learning more about the sport.
On Wednesday evening, the swim center hosted an Intro to Whitewater Kayaking clinic where future kayakers could learn the basics of traversing the rushing rapids common in the Pacific Northwest. Another advanced clinic will take place next Wednesday, with a deadline to register by Tuesday.
Attendees learned about skills specifically related to whitewater kayaking, such as how to avoid capsizing your kayak in faster waters, how to right the kayak after it has flipped as well as how to spot and avoid shallow areas in whitewater rapids so kayakers don’t end up with a damaged vessel.
Nathan Moody, an outdoor program coordinator and organizer of the clinics, said his reason for getting involved in kayaking was the potential for adventure and the freedom it brought with it. He said the purpose of the clinic was to prepare for crowds who are more interested in outdoor summer activities than before the pandemic.
However easy someone may find still-water kayaking, Moody said whitewater kayaking is a completely different experience. He said everyone can learn at least one thing from these workshops, even if they have prior experience in the sport. These workshops explore different methods of maneuvering the kayak which requires more leg strength than traditional kayaking and knowing how to quickly roll a kayak in roaring waters.
Reasons for kayaking may vary greatly from person to person, but whatever your reason, these clinics will be a great experience as both an introduction to kayaking or a chance to learn and practice advanced techniques.
Moody said the clinics are a cheap option to begin a kayaking career. Normally, low-quality inflatable kayaks sell for around $140 minimum, and a solid kayak that will last longer can run up to $1,500. But with the cost of these clinics being only a fraction of that, participants get the chance to learn about kayaking at affordable prices.
These annual kayaking clinics cost $50 for students and $75 for non-students. The beginner course taught participants knowledge of basic kayaking, such as how to enter and exit the boat, how to steer and how to effectively use the paddle in different types of currents. The advanced course teaches how to kayak in whitewater specifically, as it requires a much higher use of your legs in order to pilot the boat around the shallow areas of rivers, as well as a much finer level of balance in the boat.
These clinics are an inexpensive option to learn whether kayaking is the right hobby without spending hundreds of dollars on a vessel that might just sit in the corner of the garage collecting dust after a couple of uses.
These two clinics are the only kayaking-related events happening on campus this year, but with the possible relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions due to the vaccine, Moody said there may be more events like this next year.
For those interested in kayaking, Moody said he recommends taking it to the Potlatch River in Palouse during the summer months. Since the river dries up in the late fall and only reappears mid-spring, the chance to enjoy the river is short, but Moody said being able to seize the opportunity is quite nice.
Dylan Shepler can be reached at [email protected]