Wondering how to get started whitewater kayaking around the Seattle area? Here’s a rundown of some places that offer instruction.<\/p>\n
My friend Megan Kelly offers personal instruction around Seattle and also on the east side of the mountains, around Leavenworth. From what I hear she is really good at teaching the roll and also the hand roll (I don’t even have a hand roll yet so I should probably hit her up. :) <\/p>\n
She runs the Facebook Group Whitewater Wild PNW<\/a>, so to reach her you can ask to join that group and then message her via the group.<\/p>\n I took their Whitewater Fever Class<\/a> waaaay back in around 2007 and I think it’s a great way to start. It’s 5 sessions that take place on evenings and weekends so a person with regular working hours can do it, and it includes two pool sessions, which I think is a big deal because in my opinion NWOC is really good at teaching the Eskimo roll and that’s where they do it. <\/p>\n It looks like they’re still running that class even though Covid has put the kibosh on pool sessions for their Eskimo Roll class, which was a good back-up if you couldn’t do the WW Fever class.<\/p>\n If they ever start doing their Eskimo Roll classes again (which you get as part of WW Fever, but they used to also be offered separately) I highly recommend taking one to learn the roll, they have a really effective teaching technique and a very high success rate.<\/p>\n Kayak Academy<\/strong><\/a> sometimes offers whitewater kayaking and roll classes, although they tend to specialize in sea kayaking.<\/p>\n They are also a great place to get virtually any kind of whitewater kayaking gear, they ship drysuits all over the world and often have sales or second hand suits available.<\/p>\n Washington Kayak Club<\/strong><\/a> is a great organization for beginners, even if you don’t get in on their yearly class. You’ll connect with a lot of newer paddlers and WKC organizes trips on Class II and III run by more experienced paddlers who are ready and willing to rescue and clean up a yard sale.<\/p>\n These aren’t teaching groups, but you can post on these pages looking for pointers or to join on easy runs, etc. when you’re getting started.<\/p>\n Seattle Whitewater<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Seattle Whitewater Kayaking<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Whitewater Wild PNW<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n And this is a really helpful page that’s not local, you’ll find input from paddlers throughout the U.S. and the world:<\/p>\n Whitewater Kayaking 101<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Here’s what helped me when I took my roll class at NWOC, and not all instructors do the same stuff so this is what I’d keep an eye out for:<\/p>\n Also, when it comes time for your first combat roll (which you will probably not be expecting, seeing as it’s a combat roll :) – here in Washington this will take place in snow melt, so just anticipate that your first reaction when you flip in ice-cold river water and possibly bounce your helmet off a rock or two might be to FREAK OUT!!!<\/strong> a la Jerry Maguire.<\/p>\n This is totally understandable, but if you’re already anticipating that reaction it’s easier to prepare yourself mentally to instead think “Hang on a second”, collect your thoughts and remind yourself that you’re just going to do a roll like you’ve done plenty of times in the pool, and then set up for your roll.<\/p>\n Here are two posts with kayaking roll videos:<\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/ireneskayakingblog.com\/kayak-practice\/whitewater-kayakin-eskimo-rolling-videos\/<\/a><\/p>\nNorthwest Outdoor Center (Seattle)<\/h4>\n
Kayak Academy (Issaquah)<\/h4>\n
Washington Kayak Club<\/h4>\n
Facebook Groups<\/h4>\n
A Few Thoughts, In No Particular Order<\/h4>\n
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