Teaching the Wet Exit

Teaching my peers the correct way to bail out so they don't drown either!

Educating the Peers

The correct way to hold your paddle on the water.

The Art of Flatwater Kayaking

Paddling it up with my mentor on the Catawba.

Swift and Pretty

Learning to navigate the whitewater course.

The Beginnings of the Roll

Learning to roll so I don't drown when I flip!

The Strokes

Learning the basic strokes so I can teach them properly.

The first step

Testing the safety equipment.

Paddeling with the People

I began the final portion of my product by loading up the flatwater boats and preparing to teach my group of peers the necessary safety rules they need to succeed. We practiced the wet exit in a pool first before moving on the the Catawba River. Once we got on the water, my group took to it like ducks. We practiced basic strokes and learned about water navigation by observing the currents. It was fun for all of us and we really enjoyed getting outside and paddling the cool water of the Catawba. All and all, it was a great trip and I hope they will want to take it again very soon!

The Whitewater Wonder

As I continued on the road to project completion, I slipped into a whitewater kayak for the first time. It was much smaller than any boat that I had ever been in and the possibility of rolling over under water was exciting. I hopped in my boat and paddled out to meet my mentor and continue my education in kayaking techniques and safety. I learned loads from her instruction and really became comfortable in the plastic boats. After many hours of instruction in paddling techniques, rolling, and water navigation I was ready to begin the final portion of my product!

A long time ago on a river far far away...

As I went about looking for a mentor, I was instantly drawn the the US National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, NC. It is a series of man made courses with rapids and eddys galore. It is fed by the Catawba River north of downtown Charlotte. This facility is the first of its kind and has turned out to be a great sucess in the kayaking community. The facilities and resources that they have to offer are endless so it seemed like a good place to start my project. So I traveled to whitewater center and asked around to see if anyone was interested in taking me under their wing. I met the head of kayak instruction and decided that this was the place to pursue my education in kayak instruction. After a few meetings I was ready to hit the water and find out what whitewater was all about.