BRANCH OUT

Explore Gulf County, Florida Parks.

About boats: if your goals lean towards flatwater, such as lakes in fair weather or float streams, you could pick up a sit-on-top, inflatable, or touring kayak. If you want to paddle whitewater, you could borrow or rent a boat to start. Some paddling shops have demo programs, in which you pay a fee that lets you try a certain number of boats. Sometimes, a portion of that fee will apply to the purchase of a new boat when you’re ready to buy.

Selecting your first boat will be tough, and it depends on your goals. An affordable sit-on-top is typically better for lakes, fishing, and float streams with class I-II current. For beginner whitewater, like the Nantahala, you will need a ducky (an inflatable sit-on-top kayak) or a whitewater boat with full kit, including helmet, PFD, spray skirt, and more. Regarding hard shells, most people start with either a medium- to largervolume river runner, which are more stable, or a lower- to medium-volume river play boat, which are more maneuverable but harder to keep upright. This is why trying out a few boats, whether borrowing, renting, or joining a class, is definitely the way to go.

Several of my best paddling friends basically got started on their own, and I really admire their initiative. They found some flatwater, usually a lake or a float stream, and gave it a try. Most did this with a friend or two, then later sought an instructor to iron out the kinks. In the case of us raft guides, we met so many paddlers and made friends. Thus, we got tips from experts on the river. Being broke dirtbags, we also maybe sometimes lurked within earshot of a class and stole knowledge. Basically, our clinics happened while eddy hopping.

“One thing about proper instruction is it can help avoid bad habits,” said Tosh, emphasizing the importance of starting out by building a foundation of skills.

Figuring out where to become a paddler is tricky. There are so many paths you might follow, as long as they lead to water. Try to start small and don’t be afraid to progress slowly. For flatwater, look to short runs without major obstacles or hazards, i.e. no dams or construction debris. Or try a small lake—but remember that stiff winds can raise waves. When it comes to whitewater, both Tosh and I agree that the Nantahala River is one of the best places in the Southeast to start whitewater kayaking. You can even rent a raft or a ducky from the NOC and take it down yourself—still challenging, yes, but with a wider margin for error than a hardshell. After the Nanty, you could try the class II-III French Broad, the class III Pigeon River, or the class III+-IV Ocoee.

If I Become a Paddler, What Should I Expect?

Paddlers are an interesting bunch. We spend significant time doing the same things: left stroke, right stroke, left, right. Maybe an arm stretch here or there (recommended). We see some amazing sites, from wave pipes curving like glass to riverside waterfalls spraying mist to sweeping forests rising up the canyon walls into the sky.

If the rule is true, about 10,000 hours of practice being the path to expertise, know that paddlers will spend 10,000 hours talking and thinking about paddling and 100,000 hours actually doing it. To become a paddler you have to put in the time. The more hours and days you commit to spending on the water, the better you will be, the more fun you will have, and the more you will paddle.

The paddling community is a dedicated bunch of outgoing people with a natural tendency toward camaraderie and a desire to spread this shared interest. Some of this attitude comes from the nature of paddling. Unlike other outdoor sports that involve explicit or implied competition, like bike or ski racing, paddling is typically a group sport with shared objectives: Progressing down the river together; assessing the lines through rapids; watching out for each other; hooting and fist pumping when everyone makes it safely to the bottom.

“The river is a dynamic environment,” said Tosh. “It can put you in state of vulnerability. Some people fear the unknown. And when you’re sharing that with individuals it creates a deeper bond.”

Mike Bezemek has paddled rivers all across the country, some of which he shares in his books Paddling the Ozarks, Paddling the John Wesley Powell Route, and Discovering the Outlaw Trail.