Few things are more thrilling than strapping yourself into a kayak, sliding down a concrete incline into the water only to catch a current that leads you straight down a rocky cascade of water – even if you do tip and end up swimming back to shore.
The summer kayaking instruction season is about to end, but we took advantage of the opportunity to try the sport with Renaissance Adventure Guides, 2109 S. Wads-
worth Blvd. in Lakewood, and had a swimming time.
Who it’s for: You would think that all of the rowing requires great arm strength, but after learning proper technique, we didn’t find it straining. If you like the outdoors, know how to swim and don’t mind a bit of a challenge, kayaking might be for you.
Prerequisites: If you’ve never kayaked, you need to take a Basics & Roll Class, where you learn how to escape when you tip upside down, how to paddle and how to roll.
After practicing on the lake at Chatfield State Park for a day, we were ready for the river, where we could apply our skills on moving water.
What it’s like: We traveled down the South Platte River starting at the Carson Nature Center in Littleton on a cold and rainy evening.
“There is a possibility we may get caught in a flash flood,” said instructor Eric Bissel. “If that happens, try to paddle really, really fast.”
After some gentle teasing, Bissel prepared us for some real dangers including strainers, which are found closer to shore and act as river filters.
“The river is a spaghetti strainer, and you are the spaghetti,” Bissel said, reminding students that strainers come in such forms as trees, weeds and “RVs that some old man drove into the river.”
But strainers and fast-moving water are only a few of the things a novice kayaker needs to be aware of. Sometimes rocks and other foreign material find their way into the middle of the river, and some serious problems can arise if you don’t dodge them.
After a quick lesson on common sense, it is time to get on the river and practice eddies (by pointing the boat at 11 o’clock and attempting to drift to shore) and ferrying (by positioning the boat at 1 o’clock and paddling against the current with the expectation that you make it to the other side of the river without tipping).
Easier said than done.
By the end of these two exercises, we put to use everything we learned in our crash course, namely escaping from the kayak, and got our first taste of whitewater swimming.
Fun Factor: Once you swallow your first mouthful of water, you realize that being underwater – even if it is moving – isn’t all that scary. Being able to paddle downstream and catch fast-moving currents doesn’t compare to any land activity we have ever done, and it is one heck of an abdominal exercise.
Advice: As I’ve learned, kayaking is counterintuitive. First of all, you need to remind yourself that the desire to breathe underwater can cause you to panic unnecessarily. We learned that we can survive for at least three minutes underwater, which is more than enough time to release yourself from your boat.
Make sure you have a boat that fits you properly. The first kayak we tried was so big that our legs were fully extended even when it was adjusted to its shortest setting.
Don’t be afraid to tip during class. Even if you fall into the water, people are there to help.
The morning after: Your arms and midsection will hate you, but the pain should last only a day or two.
Details: A basics and roll one-day class on Chatfield Reservoir is $110; a basic one-day river course is $110. More information at 303-988-2943;
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– Desiree Belmarez
