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Topics Fitness Food Health Natural Pamper Special Style Events Medical Directory Reader's Picks RSS Info About OHL Advertise Archive Photos Return to Mail Tribune NEWS NOW Pastor's sermon: "Violence will not have the last word" GOSIA WOZNIACKA, Associated Press TAMI ABDOLLAH, Associated Press Read Pastor's» Oregon shooter showed little sympathy in calculated killings GOSIA WOZNIACKA, Associated Press BRIAN MELLEY, Associated Press Read Oregon shooter » Our View: Gun lobby's influence exceeds its support Read Our View: Gun» Pastor's sermon: "Violence will not have the last word" GOSIA WOZNIACKA, Associated Press TAMI ABDOLLAH, Associated Press Read Pastor's» Oregon shooter showed little sympathy in calculated killings GOSIA WOZNIACKA, Associated Press BRIAN MELLEY, Associated Press Read Oregon shooter » Our View: Gun lobby's influence exceeds its support Read Our View: Gun» Paddling adventures Kayaking offers an exhilarating way to enjoy scenic rivers and lakes Pete Schaefers has loved the water since he was a kid, but it wasn't until he was 43 that the Coos Bay resident decided to try kayaking. He took a beginners' paddling class in 2003 at a local community college and was hooked. Comment By TEXT BY CATHLEEN COLE MailTribune.com By TEXT BY CATHLEEN COLE Posted Jun. 30, 2014 at 2:00 AM By TEXT BY CATHLEEN COLE Posted Jun. 30, 2014 at 2:00 AM Preparing for a lesson --> Your instructor will tell you what to take with you for your lesson and what will be provided, but here's a basic list: Take with you: Bottled water Sunscreen & lip balm Sunglasses ... » Read more X Preparing for a lesson Your instructor will tell you what to take with you for your lesson and what will be provided, but here's a basic list: Take with you: Bottled water Sunscreen & lip balm Sunglasses with strap Bathing suit or clothes that can get wet Dry change of clothes Hat (optional) Towel Waterproof camera (optional) Lunch and/or snacks Medications (if needed) Provided: Life jacket Helmet Booties Wetsuit (if needed) Splash jacket (if needed) Kayak Paddle Sprayskirt (whitewater only) Kayak safety tips • Never paddle alone. • Always wear a life jacket. • Whitewater kayakers should always wear a helmet. • Have the proper kayak for the type of water you are paddling. • Make sure all of your equipment is in good working order. • Know proper rescue techniques if an emergency occurs. • Know first aid and CPR. • Always wear proper clothing for the conditions. Read up on kayaking Pete Schaefers of Southern Oregon Kayakers (kayak.coosweb.com) recommends: • "Soggy Sneakers: A Paddler's Guide to Oregon Rivers" by Willamette Kayak & Canoe Club and Pete Giordano • "Kayak: The Animated Manual of Intermediate and Advanced Whitewater Technique" by William Nealy Paddlers' Paradise Southern Oregon has many beautiful and scenic rivers including Rogue River, Smith River, Illinois River, North Umpqua River, Lower Klamath River, Elk River, Sixes River, Millicoma River and Coquille River. Whitewater Rapid Classification Class I (Easy): Moving water with a few riffles and small waves. Few or no obstructions. Class II (Novice): Easy rapids with smaller waves. Clear channels that are obvious without scouting. Some maneuvering might be required. Class III (Intermediate): Rapids with high, irregular waves. Narrow passages that often require precise maneuvering. Class IV (Advanced): Long, difficult rapids with constricted passages that often require complex maneuvering in turbulent water. The course may be hard to determine and scouting is often necessary. Class V (Expert): Extremely difficult, long and very violent rapids with highly congested routes, which should be scouted from shore. Rescue conditions are difficult and there is a significant hazard to life in the event of a mishap. Class VI (Extreme): The difficulties of Class V carried to the extreme. Nearly impossible and very dangerous. For teams of experts only. Involves risk of life. » Social News Pete Schaefers has loved the water since he was a kid, but it wasn't until he was 43 that the Coos Bay resident decided to try kayaking. He took a beginners' paddling class in 2003 at a local community college and was hooked. Of the three main types of kayaking — whitewater, flat water and ocean — whitewater is Schaefers' preference. "I'm a little bit of an adrenaline junkie," he says. Schaefers, the webmaster of Southern Oregon Kayakers website (kayak.coosweb.com), loves the challenge of whitewater kayaking and making it safely through a rapid. But he also enjoys the beautiful scenery. "It's the exhilaration of getting out into nature," he says. "Running water refreshes me." Good exercise Leslie Dopp of Kokopelli River Guides and Kokopelli River Center in Ashland believes kayaking is a fun sport because it's a great way to stay cool in the summer and it's an enjoyable activity to do with friends. It's also good exercise. "Kayaking is a great form of exercise that strengthens the upper body, abdomen and back," she says. Schaefers notes that it helps to be in shape when you start paddling, especially in whitewater, but skill and technique are more important than strength. It's also beneficial to be flexible, since getting in and out of a cramped kayak can be tricky. "You do need to be in good physical condition," he says. Take lessons Schaefers is a big proponent of lessons, especially if you plan to go whitewater kayaking. But even if you're just planning to paddle around a flat lake, it's important to learn safety skills and the proper way to paddle. When researching kayak lessons, look for schools with instructors who are certified by the American Canoe Association like the instructors at Kokopelli. This means they have been trained in proper and efficient paddling techniques and safety and rescue techniques. When you've chosen an instructor, make sure to get a list of what to take to the lesson and what will be provided (see the sample list). Once you've decided that kayaking is the sport for you, you'll want to invest in your own equipment. During the first lesson, according to Dopp, you'll learn all of the parts of the kayak and the paddle. You'll learn how to properly "wet exit" from your kayak — get out of the kayak if it flips upside down. You'll also learn proper paddling techniques and bracing — the technique of keeping upright with the paddle if you're about to flip over. The Eskimo Roll, the hardest technique to learn, is also covered in the first lesson, but not necessarily perfected, Dopp notes. "This may take several times out in the kayak or many years of practice," she says. "Everyone is different when trying to learn how to roll a kayak." Whitewater proficiency It usually takes longer for new paddlers to get comfortable with whitewater kayaking. "Some people take longer than others to become confident in a whitewater kayak," Dopp says. "Some people are confident their first time out in a whitewater kayak. There is no magic number of days to make someone confident." Typically, after about four days in a whitewater kayak, according to Dopp, the average person can feel comfortable paddling in Class II whitewater. Schaefers personally hasn't been in a dangerous situation, but he's been on trips where others have been hurt. On one river journey, a fellow kayaker got tangled in a "sweeper" — a tree that had fallen in the river. Another kayaker risked his own safety and got the kayaker out of the tree branches amid the raging waters. Once freed, the shaken kayaker made it to the riverbank and walked out of the woods, refusing to get back on the river. Although Schaefers wasn't on the trip, a friend of his once decided to run a river after a rainstorm when the water was at flood stage. He went over a waterfall and got sucked under the pounding water. "He made his peace with God," Schaefers said of his friend who got lucky and eventually got out. Popular paddling Kayaking offers the thrill of shooting through river rapids or the relaxation of paddling around a calm lake — both wildly popular recreational pursuits. "Kayaking instills confidence," Dopp believes. "It builds camaraderie with others." It's also not that expensive a sport to get into, according to Schaefers. Once you get your gear and some buddies to go with, day trips are fun and cost-efficient. "Your expenses are gas and lunch," Schaefers says. By TEXT BY CATHLEEN COLE MailTribune.com By TEXT BY CATHLEEN COLE Posted Jun. 30, 2014 at 2:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction Archive Terms of Use Privacy Policy Contact Us Advertise Careers Copyright © . Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Southern Oregon Media Group: Mail Tribune.com | Ashland Daily Tidings | Medford Nickel