Rather than a lake, Kayaking lessons will take place in a pool at the University of Idaho.
This Wednesday, the Outdoors Program will hold Open Kayak Pool Sessions at the UI swim center as well as a Whitewater Kayak Clinic from 7 to 10 p.m.
“Our kayak skills clinic in the pool teaches people some of the fundamentals that you need to start paddling whitewater,” said Elise Clausen, Outdoor Programs Coordinator for the climbing center.
This class teaches participants safety tips, fitting tips and maneuvering, Clausen said.
“This coming Wednesday night we will be teaching folks, proper boat fitting and how to do wet exits and self-rescues. So, if one day they flip over … they can properly flip back over and escape the boat and get to shore or safety,” Clausen said.
The clinic will also teach T-Rescues, which is a companion rescue involving two people with kayaks. She said it is an important maneuver for kayakers to know and an educational process. “Lastly, we will learn basic paddling strokes and maneuvering,” Clausen said.
The class has no intended experience level – it was built to teach safety skills for new boaters and experienced boaters alike, according to the UI Swim Center event calendar.
Whether a kayaker is a beginner, intermediate or advanced paddler, the pool sessions and clinic are a way to learn new skills in a boat.
The Whitewater Kayak Clinic is $40, with all equipment and instruction included.
“The best part of this course is the value of the lessons you are being taught. You learn these skills for almost nothing. We even provide the gear.” Clausen said.
This is the only Whitewater Kayak Clinic being held this semester, so Clausen said she highly encourages anyone interested to participate.
In the future, the Outdoors Program plans to teach courses that further the knowledge people might gain from the clinic, Clausen said.
“We are going to be doing other workshops that teach students how to perfect rolls, including how to prefect the perfect eskimo roll,” Clausen said.
Outdoor Program will host a kayaking trip sometime next semester, she said. Before the trip, she said they will teach participants the fundamental basics needed in order to go on the kayaking trip.
“We hope to see many people go on this trip and we hope to see many people attend the clinic as well,” Clausen said.
Kilty Ellis can be reached @[email protected]
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