Learning to Kayak

Julianna heading to the river

This May, I rolled up to Wildwater River Guides for the first time buzzing with excitement  about the new community of guides I would be joining on the river for the 2013 season. I had my kayak strapped to the roof of the Subaru, but still felt like a bit of a poser rolling into the parking lot with it.

See, this is my third season guiding rafts, but I had yet to muster the courage to really get into whitewater kayaking. Sure, last season I did a few class I-II runs and went to some pool sessions. I even got one combat roll in. But I definitely did not feel like a kayaker. Loading my boat onto my car after nine off-season months of land-time, the little plastic boat seemed pretty foreign to me. How the hell did I go about getting that thing rolled over? What if I get out on the Wenatchee and swim the whole darn thing? As I walked up to Wildwater to meet the crew for the first time, it was clear that this would have to change.

The first thing I saw when I walked up was literally a pile of kayaks. A pile of them. After some introductions and chit chats, it became clear that this was a group of serious boaters. Being the one raft guide who doesn’t kayak, I was going to be the odd (wo)man out. Everyone would be gearing up to go boating, and I would be trying to find a raft to hop in. This was it. After beating around the bush with it all last year, I was going to have to get into my Liquid Logic Trigger and spend some serious time there.

I was wracked with nerves. I went to an eddy to practice rolls and hit none of them. I had forgotten everything and could never get it back, I momentarily thought. Then, I had a funny realization. I shook my head, blew the water out of my nose, pushed the hair out of my eyes, and once I could see clearly I realized that I was completely surrounded by boaters. Some of these boaters were even kayak instructors, and most of them were my friends. I had a wealth of resources sitting right in front of me, most of whom were more than willing to offer advice and even some instruction.

The instruction kayak fleet at Wildwater River Guides

Over the next few weeks I got in my boat more and more with the Wildwater crew. I learned a couple of things both on and off the water. My roll got more confident. I got much better at eddies and peel-outs. I even got worked in a couple of holes. But those things probably wouldn’t have happened at all if I hadn’t been surrounded by an amazing community that is truly passionate about sharing whitewater with everyone they meet. People who are stoked tend to rub off on those around them. And solid group of knowledgeable boaters and instructors around makes learning the sport come totally naturally.

Here’s the advice I can offer from my nascent stages of learning to kayak: find yourself some good instruction. Surround yourself with people who care about kayaking and are willing to help you reach your goals. Go out as much as possible. If you’re on the fence about it, just do it. The guides and boaters at W
ildwater will make it all but impossible for you NOT to get out there!

Written by: Julianna Fultineer