~by Missey Blankenbeker~
Growing up on the river, I thought I knew almost everything there is to know about floating: Paddle on the left. Paddle on the right. Take a sip of beer. Rinse and repeat. But for the past few years I’ve watched friends and family go down the river in kayaks and it looked like there might be a little more to it. Secretly, I have been yearning for the freedom of being in my own boat, but I never feel comfortable with my skill. And beyond that, I really had no idea what kind of boat I would need. Kayak’s are all different shapes and sizes and lengths and very different than the canoe I’m used to.
My first thought upon hearing about the clinic was “A clinic? Why, who’s sick?” but I guess that’s just the nurse in me!
I was amazed when I showed up at the put-in Saturday morning. There were kayaks and canoes of every color sprawled out in the grass, and everyone I spoke with was very friendly and quick with introductions. We spent the morning along the bank in our outdoor classroom, at which point I learned this very important lesson: I didn’t know squat. For example, the definition of a strainer and not the one you use to filter pasta and water, and a PFD is a life jacket, not a file you can read on the computer. (Everyone one kept saying “PFD PFD PFD.” and in my head all I could see was the Adobe logo.)
The safety instructor was thorough and quickly taught me lingo, safety, laws, and tactics for getting out of sticky situation. Instruction was even more detailed after we broke into smaller groups, which I really liked. The instructors made time for all our questions and answered them professionally. We launched out boats just after lunch, and received further instructions on form and technique. Out on the water, when I wasn’t doing something correctly my instructor observed my technique, corrected me, then watched me demonstrate to make sure I had it down.
My favorite part: I was able to practice all the techniques IN the water IN a kayak. Not just one kayak, but several. I was glad to have the outfitter from Ozark Mountain Trading Company there because I was in and out of different boats all day long―similar to bar hopping, but i was kayak hopping! Club members were also happy to let me test drive their personal kayaks, so I got a really good idea of what I was looking for. All in all, it was a very educational day spent with some very knowledgeable people. And who knows, maybe next time I’ll be good enough to hold the paddle and my beer!
{ 2 comments }
Just wondering when the next kayak clinc will be and if we will need to bring a kayak. We are interested in becoming memebers however we do not own a kayak or canoe but we enjoy the river experience! We really do not know what we are dong and would enjoy the education and fellowship that a club has to offer.
The next whitewater clinic is scheduled tentatively the first weekend in April, and the Recreational Clinic is usually every year in June. Last year, Ozark Mountain Trading Company provided demo boats for the Recreational Clinic, which enabled people to try different kinds of kayaks and canoes. Generally, club members do have their own boats, but it’s possible someone could lend you one if you attend a club float as a guest. I encourage you to follow the website and find a monthly float you’d like to go on, then contact the trip leader for details. I attended the recreational clinic last year to brush up on my paddling terminology, and found it really informational and a lot of fun. You are always welcome to attend a meeting as a guest.
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