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Has anyone ever tried whitewater kayaking. I just took it up recently. It's one exciting workout that really strengthens the upper and lower body. The national whitewater center:
http://www.usnwc.org/ is a 20 minute drive from work and home. I have to buy a WW kayak and get out there. The junior world championships are there this week.

I haven't done any whitewater Kayaking yet. I have only been on the lake with one. I have been down some white water rapids in a Ducky though. It basically looks like a cross between a raft/canoe/kayak.
They can be a blast and usually hold 1-2 people.

I did a duckie (or funyak) the first time too. That is a great way to get started. I realized how incredible beautiful the experience was. It is a much lighter and easier workout than a kayak. A kayak is scary and more technical snce it flips over easily. Funyaks are easier up to about class III but beyond class III you have more control with a kayak. If you like mountain biking you will love kayaking. It is a bit like skiing also.

Hey, good way to learn wwk is by certified instructors at a pool or flatwater river or lake (the pool is warmer and you'll probably spend a lot of time out of the boat in the water), Courses are often offered by universities & colleges, the instructors will probably lead you on your first moving water trips and connect you with the local club. Most of my friends have been pretty gay +ve. btw, NEVER go alone! Recipe for disaster.

Wow, a real ww kayaker on a gay site.Kool!! Great photos in your profile. I'm impressed!

All the kayakers I've met are real friendly and laid back. You've probably heard about Asheville. I live about 2 hours from there. It is a very gay friendly town. It is the east coast ww kayakers home because you can kayak pretty much all year. I've taken some instruction from the WW center and on a river once but I'm still only at class II with some class III. I have no combat roll so I really can't go on the tough stuff.

I watch the junior championship at the WW center. Some were good but they're still kids. Some of them had to wet exit.

Hey friendormate, I've always wanted to go to Asheville. I've run the Gauley in W.Va. You're lucky to be in a paddler's paradise--Vancouver BC is too. Most paddlers are cool in my experience, with a live and let live attitude. The ones that aren't tend not to be the ones ANYONE wants to place their lives at risk with.

btw, I still wet exit at times. We all do :-) But you just take a breather and get back in the boat.

My philosophy is...you must embrace the roll :-) What this translates into is...When I was a beginner, I would attempt to stay upright at all costs, but moved to a new level when I accepted that rolling was part of the moving through the water experience. It is a different experience when you become part of the river. Get as tight in the boat as you can.

have a great day! If you come west, come paddling.

You just cant beat whitewater kayaking - flatwater is just so boring in comparison. Would defintly recommend it to anyone of any age and even fitness. I teach it here in ireland and the mix of people we get is amazing.

And every kayaker is between swims! - So getting wet happens to us all!

Irishkayaker: I'll be spending most of September in London for work. My French nephew is attending Sussex U. (in Brighton). We took a lesson together at Charlotte's whitewater center. The instructor only covered the basics but I think my nephew is a natural. He’s a great kid. He started skiing at 3 is following the athletic footsteps of his Uncle. I may be contacting you for some advice on how to set up a beginner/intermediate river run.

Waterman: you are so correct about the roll. Every time I learn it I lose. Part of the problem is I don't have a kayak of my own. The other problem was explained to me after one class. 1. Women learn faster than men. 2. Young guys learn faster than older guys. 3. Being athletic works against you at first because you try to force you way back up. As an old-tired jock here I guess I have three strikes against me.

I'm glad you've heard of Asheville. I’m passing the weekend here and plan to paddle the French broad this afternoon. It’s a bit wet but that shouldn’t stop me. As for BC you live in a nature’s paradise. I have skied Whistler twice. We don't have nearly the spectacular beauty of the great northwest here in Carolina but either here or Maine is the closest thing the east coast has to offer. It is more of a warm lush feminine beauty and has the advantage of long summers, springs, and falls. In fact I think the serious paddlers, paddle all year long.

I agree about the coolness of the paddlers. So tell me, are any of the cute ones curious? . I must say, I like the bodies good paddlers develop. Asheville is a bit of a hippy town and I'm finding I need my dose of hippies every now and then. There is such a peaceful laidback tree hugging attitude here. It’s a great anecdote to Charlotte’s seriously corporate profile.

friendormate: Give me a shout if i can be of any help - but not sure of the kayaking potential around london. When I am over there its not for kayaking!

As for the roll - girls to come to our classes are always worried that they wont have the strength to roll. They end up better at it - Its not strength - its technique and a good hip flick!

And so far in my experience - havent met many gay kayakers! Not any cute ones anyway - but still the people are dead sound. Always a nice group!

Hey guys. Let's keep this thread alive with cool stories. I went back down the Nantahala but was not as lucky this time. When I hit the Class III they call the falls it gobbled me up. I should have tried a combat roll but when I'm swirling around upside down I can't seem to do anything but reach for the wet exit. The water is about 50 degrees and it burns exposed legs and hands. I had another great time.

I'm so damn confused about which kayak to buy. I paddled a Phyrana Amo today and a Dagger Mambo the last time down the river. The Amo spins more but I improved a lot on my sweeps and sharpened my skills at quick cuts.

I'm also considering a jackson-4-fun. Some people tell me it is easier to roll then the ones I mentioned, others tell me it is easy to roll for a playboat but not as easy as a river runner. I like the inflatablity. My foot often falls asleep and it is nice to be able to adjust it easily.

Hey again friendormate,

It may be more accurate to say: (certain) men might need to unlearn more than (certain) women. Irish is right, Paddling is way so more technique than brawn...but it is not a matter of being athletic or not, from what I've seen is a matter of letting go what you think ought to happen, and accept what IS happening.

Also, I have taught paddling basics to people with physical challenges like Cerebral Palsy, and usually taught them to roll when the other guys couldn't because I adapted my teaching style to fit their needs. Maybe your instructor needs to let go of their style of teaching?


Re: Boats to buy

1. Decide what style of activity you prefer for starters. Playboating? River running? Hybrid?

2. Get a starter boat (used) to get your technique down.

3. Move on from there. And if you got cash, well, I know people who have 8 or 9 boats for different conditions. Yikkes. That's $C1400 + tax new apiece.

Waterman knows his stuff alright. People in our class when trying to learn the capsize drill and eskimo rescues always ask will the rescuer be on the left or right hand side. I never answer that - as once they are under water the LHS and RHS get all confused - I tell them to feel for the rescuer etc. Its about sensation - not thinking - Muscle memory is all important..

As for boats - again decide what you want. We teach a lot of people in Dagger GT or GTX. Good all rounder boat. I paddle a Dagger Mamba as my creeker and a Pyranha S8 as my river runner (with a touch or play)

I bought a lot of gear yesterday and then demoed some boats at the USNWC. It’s too damn hot here in Charlotte. I squeezed into a Liquid Logic Hoss and decided it was too small. I did get in some good rolls without anyone around. I just have to keep the damn head down and make sure my hand punches out of the water.

I keep hearing these horror stories of how people die or nearly die kayaking. A guy at work told me a story about being trapped under a rock and having to buff his way out. Another guy at work met his wife kayaking. When I met his wife she told me they quit kayaking when they told me their instructor died trapped between two rocks. Then I bought this cool books on the NC rivers and creeks. The pictures are awesome but they casually mention how the founder of the US WW Association died on one of the creaks. I’m sticking to call 3 or lower, unless I go to the WW center.

Hey, aim for Class 1 and II until you get a bombproof roll. Never paddle alone. Learn to listen to your inner voice (your gut), and tell anyone who tells you you're a wuss to fuck off. You'll know when it is time to move up a level.

The thing I like best about wwk is it is all about personal responsibility. Once you're in the rapid, you trust your skills and those around you (that's why I rarely paddle with people who's skills level I don't trust). But it is ultimately your decision to make. This for me is totally cool!

Agree with Waterman - "Less the three their never should be".

The thing i love about wwk is that its an individual sport that requires a team! In the rapids its you the water and the rocks. You have to get through it - but eyt to have to have trust in your friends - and also gain their trust. I was a typical gay growing up - hated (& still do hate) team sports - so this suits me perfectly!

You have a point Irish K. I was the top runner in HS and college and gained a lot of self-confidence from my success. I suddenly found myself hanging out with other athletes.

Now I'm quite happy doing all my outdoor activities alone. The fact that I can't find a mate won't stop me. I probably shouldn't hike up or down steep gorges, mountain bike, or go for long open water swims alone but I do. I've kayaked alone in flatwater, I've even skiied alone but whitewater is a different story. I might do it on a heavily traveled stretch of river but I think I'd rather find a buddy.

When I show up at a kayak clinic everyone seems so eager to invite you to join them.

What can i say - kayakers are a cool bunch!

You're on the money, Irish :-) Yes, it is an individual sport played in teams.

I bought a boat yesterday at the WW center. The salesman, a sixteen year old kid who is going to be a stud in about 10 to 20 years, took me down the channel. My roll is still too weak to be useful but we did one bow rescue. I also made it smoothly over the point that trashed me on my two previous attempts.

The challange are the eddies. They only have feeder eddies so you can't really relax. I ended up flippy when the feader tossed me into the main current and then had to swim through the a big wave they call M-Wave. I'm still a bit intimidated by the water at the center but If I can make it trough M-Wave I'll be home free.

It is a great place to make new friends. It's also a great place to find older athletic guys. Eveyone teaches and helps everyone else out. I think it must be whitewater culture.

If your roll is weak, get tighter in the boat (so tight it almost hurts) and practice that hip flick. You are aiming to become one with the boat.

Also, practice ferrying at 45 degrees from shore, across the eddy line, then all away across the river. Good practice is to do this facing upstream and then back across facing downstream.

Good luck!

Wow... i've searched to no avail for other gay kayakers and low and behold here ya'll are! I'm in Chattanooga, right down the road from the Ocoee (Home of the 1996 Olympic Kayak Course - http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/ocoee/aboutUs.shtml) and try to get up there as often as I can. If any of you fellas ever get down this way, gimme a shout and we'll have to go boating!

Roll-On!!

Think I am too far away RJTN

We tried setting up a gay kayakers group here in Dublin - but the problem was getting a loan of equipment - Its hard to get people involved in it enough to buy their own gear before they have got hooked.

Love kayaking....and nice to see others here who enjoy it. Asheville is awesome...I'm from South Florida but our group heads up to NC/TN almost ever year and we head right to the mountains. Just incredible up there.

I've never done whitewater kayaking myself...although been on duckies pleny of times...see pics in my profile. Those were taken in the Ocoee and we've been on just about ever other river in that area...Nolichucky is my favorite...nice class III/IV rapids mixed with amazing views! Love it...


Kayaking down here in S.Florida is more about spending time in mangrove tunnels in coastal areas or inland rivers...but of course no rapids anywhere...flat as a mirror! But its tons of fun also...just being outdoors for me is a blast. I have two 12-foot Wilderness kayaks that have been great so far down here.

Obviously whitewater kayaking is riskier...my first time our guide broke his arm when he got caught in an Eddy....but overall its always an awesome time!

Yeah, I know one other boater who's gay + a bi guy. We are a small band of rainbow warriors, my friends. btw, if I can find it I'll post a pic with my helmet--I wear a rainbow sticker :-)

I've been white water rafting and cliff diving twice in West Virginia, and would love to go again. It's an awesome time.

The thread lives on!! I was traveling the past three weeks and I see we have some new contributors.

Rjtn: I've heard some great things about the Ocoee and would like to make it up there when I'm nice and confident. If you make it to the Charlotte whitewater center drop me a line.

I had a great day at the center before I left on my 3 week business trip. I did my first successful roll in the rapids. I kayaked with a woman who I met at in the water. She was right at my level and we had a blast. Thanks for the advice waterman. The woman I was kayaking with also had an inconsistent rolls and I realized in both our cases the problem is the head pops up just a bit too soon. Unfortunately on one of my swims the kayak slammed into my leg giving me a nasty bruise.

Apex: I’ve kayaked some of those mangroves.

Tempo94: You sound like a prime candidate for trying ww kayaking.

friendormate: congrats on your first moving water roll.
good thing you are noticing: head last out of the water.

Oh, something I've been meaning to say: listen to your body!!! When you get fatigued, call it quits for the day, despite what your buddies say, despite what you committed to do.

A year or so ago, I almost bought it in what normally is a Class IV with a must-make-move takeout 30m above a Class VI slot canyon (really gnarly water, boulders and undercuts). Because it was after a heavy storm I'd rate it Class V ending in a VI+. I wasn't quite feeling right in the boat and in my boredom (yes, in Class V) came close to missing the take-out. I was a dumb-ass! So friendormate, in wwk, we are all beginners. Remember: the river is completely new, everday.

For general information: rivers are ranked from Class I (flat) to VI (extreme experts only, after 1-2 hours of scouting and then usually only one line of travel you can't miss). Ranking changes by the day and sometimes the hour, especially if there is higher danger of hypothermia, pinning, undercuts, sweepers (when a tree falls crown-first into the waterflow it acts like a pasta strainer), etc. So yup there are lots of dangers, but it is nevertheless an awesome sport with awesome maneuvers.

My goal now is to paddle with intent and clarity of purpose so as to run a beautiful line.

Hey, are co's making long boats anymore (13')?

I can only find short playboats and hybrids now.

Hey I am up here is asheville and paddle around a ton love to see some of you guys on the rivers up here. maybe we could plan a trip since we all have gear you know something chill and fun... I went down for a lesson and a couple of runs at the wwc in charlotte that place was real chill but it is def. man-made i felt all kinds of detached from nature and there was a sort of toilet bowl effect when i went down. my advice nothing beats a real river. but that is not to say that the WWC isn't bitchin' i had a blast, learned a lot, and love the pratice. Winter boating there was real chill.

hey ashevillekid, you ever run the Gauley? There is a toilet bowl sort of effect in the drop at Pillow Rock. Also at Iron Ring. I was there for Gauley Fest one year--if you've never been, its every September. The river is awesome but pretty tough/lots of undercuts, boulder gardens and one major sieve in a blind channel, but some wicked Class V drops.