Adirondack Sports July 2023

JULY 2023 31
PADDLING
Beginner Whitewater Kayaking
Chasing Rapids in the Region
◀ NELSON MILLER, AN
EXPERT PADDLER AND “OG”
MEMBER OF ADK CLUB,
SURFING A WAVE ON THE
SACANDAGA RIVER.
▲ ADK WHITEWATER RUNS
DAY TRIPS. RECENT RUN
OF FIFE BROOK SECTION
OF THE DEERFIELD RIVER.
By Bob Frank
When many people read about
whitewater kayaking, it usually
includes spectacular footage
from exotic and/or remote places like
Chile, Nepal or Zambia. In North America,
it could be from the Ottawa River, Salmon
in Idaho, or the epic and highly coveted
run of the Colorado through the Grand
Canyon. The videos usually depict dare
devil elite “Red Bull” athletes navigating
raging rapids or defying death while
bombing off 75-foot waterfalls.
What they may not realize is that within
the broader whitewater community
there is a place for mortals that safely and
routinely want to get out on the water to
enjoy the sport and the benefits of being in
the outdoors. No offense to extreme kayaker,
Dane Jackson, but this article is geared
toward those that might be interested in
trying whitewater kayaking and mimics
my own experience as a beginner. But by
all means still check out “DJ’s” videos!
Getting Started – Within the Northeast
and close proximity to the Capital Region
and Adirondacks, there are some incredible
rivers and creeks that can be run safely
with the right level of preparation. If you
are new to the sport, one of the best ways
to enter the sport is to join a club. One such
local group which has helped hundreds
of people is the Schenectady Whitewater
Club, which is part of the Schenectady
Chapter of Adirondack Mountain Club:
adk-schenectady.org.
▲ DON ORR, A MENTOR,
LEADING A TRIP ON THE HUDSON RIVER.
The Schenectady Whitewater Club is
over 50 years old and currently has 120
members. It’s comprised of elite paddlers
who regularly tackle Class IV-V rivers to
beginners who literally have barely any
experience on the water. This is an incredibly
vibrant and inclusive group that has
“amassed a wealth of knowledge of paddling
and of the region’s rivers.” From my
own personal experience, they are enthusiastic
and eager to share their passion
with new members.
SWC leads more than 20 local whitewater
trips annually, and they coordinate
multiday events in Maine, West Virginia,
North Carolina, Ottawa, and other prime
whitewater destinations. They also participate
in several river festivals such as the
Deerfield, Beaver, and Gatineau. These
festivals not only promote the sport but
also advocate for the environment. They
are generally geared toward more experienced
paddlers, but the club also hosts
day and weekend clinics for beginners,
and winter pool sessions to help improve
paddling strokes and rolling techniques.
They also provide support with gear and
equipment.
Where to Begin Paddling – If you are
local and want to get into whitewater paddling,
are curious about it, or just want to
improve paddling skills, you might want
to consider connecting with the ADK. Or,
consider taking lessons at Zoar Outdoor
Adventure Center on the Deerfield River
in Charlemont, Mass. In New England and
the New York City area, there are other
clubs such as the Vermont Paddles Club
or Kayak & Canoe Club of New York.
The benefits of joining a club and/or
taking formal lessons are many. These
options help you figure out whether you
like the sport by easing you into it in a safe
manner. It also enables you to get exposure
to the different types of boats and
equipment required to enter the sport.
This alone can be a dizzying and expensive
experience for newbies.
Most clubs have loaner equipment at
no cost which is included in your basic
club membership. Club members are
often also very generous with loaning
equipment to beginners. Outfitters such
as Zoar offer lessons and complete outfitting
as part of their clinics. They teach
fundamental river skills such as edging
your kayak into turns, setting angles and
ferrying across river currents, and performing
river maneuvers like eddy turns
and peel outs, to set you on a path toward
confidently paddling on your own. The
Sacandaga Outdoor Center in Hadley is
another longstanding resource for paddling
locally.
River Classifications – A key aspect
of paddling moving water for beginners,
novices and experts alike is understanding
river classifications. The classifications
describe the characteristics of a river and
assign a difficulty level of a river. They
are universally applied but are subjective
and can vary with fluctuating water
levels. Typically, high water levels and
flows increase the difficulty of rapids. But
this is not always the case. Some rapids
become more difficult at lower water levels
because of exposed obstacles.
The classification systems also do not
consider the type of boat being paddled.
Some rapids may present more challenges
for rafts, while other rapids may be more
difficult for a paddler in a kayak or open
canoe. Finally, major events like ice storms
See PADDLING 33 ▶