What are your thoughts about responsibility when friends get together to paddle? Have you ever found yourself in an uncomfortable or even dangerous situation when there was no clear leader? I spend a lot of time in leadership roles on the water. I lead sea kayak trips on the Great […]
Tag: whitewater kayaking instruction
Advantages of an auto lock carabiner
Whether you’re whitewater boating or sea kayaking, there are definite advantages to using an auto lock carabiner. In whitewater kayaking, non-locking carabiners are a no-no. There’s too much risk of getting your PFD or a throw rope caught in the open gate of a non-locking carabiner. This could cause entanglement […]
My Version of Tuesday “Golf League”
Some people like to golf, and that’s okay. But instead of joining a golf league, here’s how our informal group of whitewater kayakers (numbering anywhere from 4 to 14) enjoys spending every Tuesday evening at our local whitewater venue, the Red River near Gresham, WI, flowing tonight at about 400 […]
First-time paddlers try whitewater
Northeast Wisconsin Paddlers’ (NEWP) annual student whitewater outing on the Red River took place this past Saturday. Each year this event gives students from NEWP-led kayaking classes in Appleton, Green Bay and Fond Du Lac the opportunity to practice skills they learned during indoor pool classes. For some it was […]
Grand Canyon — Day 10: Lava Falls
Monday, September 10 This morning the mood is different. There’s the usual friendly banter over coffee and breakfast. But as we pack the rafts and kayaks the tone is quieter, more subdued. Each of us is thinking about the giant rapid waiting for us. Before we launch from our campsite […]
Grand Canyon – Day 4, Part 2: Hance and Sockdolager
Our fourth day on the river had already seen some spectacular whitewater challenges. Now it was time for one of the biggest. According to trip leader Steve Mace, Hance would be the most technically challenging rapid we would encounter during our 12-day trip. I love the following description of Hance […]
Team River Runner’s Wausau Whitewater Weekend 2018
Team River Runner‘s sixth annual Wausau Whitewater Weekend was a huge success this past weekend, with 128 vets, volunteers and family members. This was by far our best-organized Wausau weekend ever, thanks in large part to event organizers Tom Schrader, Linda “LT” Tomsevics and Craig Esposito. A big “thank you” […]
Great Day for a great Dane
Sabastian, our Rotary club’s 16-year-old exchange student from Denmark, was introduced to whitewater kayaking on the Red River, which was running at a low, beginner-friendly level on June 12. He did great! A natural on the water. No capsizes other than premeditated ones for safety training purposes at the beginning […]
An Unsettling Follow-up
This morning I received unsettling — but not completely surprising — news about the identity of a deceased kayaker from Appleton, Wis. Before I tell you about it, let me take you back to March 4 of this year. On that date, NEWP board member Bill Merrick sent an email […]
The Myth of the “Experienced” Kayaker
We’re now in the most dangerous time of year for paddling. Air temperatures are rising. River and lake ice is breaking up. River levels are high. The desire to get on the water in marginal conditions — possibly without proper equipment and training — inevitably leads some people to the […]