Introducing Others to Whitewater

Some may argue that there are right ways and wrong ways to introduce people to whitewater.  Being a Swiftwater Rescue Technician and whitewater instructor, I evaluate each individual and give them experiences based on what I think they can handle, and most importantly on what the fun to danger ratio is.  My main goal, no matter who the student, is to get them off the river at the end of the session saying "That was so much fun, I want to do it again!"

My friend and roommate Crystal is an adventurous, tough chick.  I took her to a free huck rodeo at Quyon Falls in Quebec with the intent to huck the falls and then teach her some rolling and strokes.

After watching a number of beginners gleefully hucking over the lip of the falls, I asked Crystal if she wanted to try it, telling her that the consequences on this drop at this water level were minimal.  She had never been in a kayak before, but was willing to give it a shot.

I put her in my Peak drydeck, but without securing it to the boat incase she did tip and was nervous about a wet-exit.  We then set the boat up at the lip of the falls, got her in it, and gave her a push over!  Some friends were waiting at the bottom in their boats incase she needed any help.

We sent her off the falls three times, with the guys waiting at the bottom to help if needed.  Great thanks to Shawn and Grahame especially, and everyone else for their words of encouragement.

Today, Crystal got to experience not only kayaking, but one of the reasons why I love the sport so much:  the friendship and encouragement that you get from the kayaking community.