Level Up Your Whitewater Kayaking
You’ve just gotten a little taste of whitewater kayaking at the Learn to Kayak weekend in Ohiopyle. Are you interested in the full feast? We are sure you are starting to see that the Youghiogheny River is a great place to learn the ropes. Our continuing kayaking classes take full advantage of such an awesome classroom. Beyond the introductory clinic, we offer boat rentals, Middle Yough shuttles, a full gear shop, a Learn to Kayak II class, and private instruction. Here are the next steps to level up your whitewater kayaking.
Getting On the Water
Demo Kayaks
You can’t get on the river without a kayak, and purchasing a boat is a pretty big commitment. There are a range of different whitewater kayaks: creek boats, playboats, and river runners. On top of that, each manufacturer has their own hull and edge designs. There are a lot of options out there, and we stock many of them for purchase at our shop. To help kayakers find their glass slipper of a boat, we offer demos of the most popular kayaks on the market.
We suggest new kayakers try out a bunch of different boats while they are learning, and taking out a new demo frequently gets you a lot of time on the river. Practice makes… you better. We offer these demos on the Middle Yough, the perfect place to learn.
Find a Paddle Partner
First step to take out a demo boat on the Middle Yough, which you should have paddled during your Learn to Kayak weekend, is finding a buddy to go with you. Your buddy doesn’t have to be paddling a whitewater kayak, they could be in a recreational kayak, ducky or even a raft.
You know that swimming thing? Part of the learning process is making mistakes, and some of those lead to coming out of your boat. Having someone else to help wrangle you and your gear is quite literally a life saver. Even better to find a paddling partner that is more experienced on the river than you. We’ve even created a new Ohiopyle Learn to Kayak Facebook group to help keep in touch with past and future Learn to Kayak Weekend participants.
Set Up Shuttle & Reserve a Boat
Next step is to give us a call to secure your middle shuttle and reserve a boat. We have a limited number of seats on the bus to the Middle put-in, so the earlier the better and never rely on just showing up. Make sure to mention that you have participated in the Learn to Kayak weekend while finding a demo. We don’t just rent out whitewater kayaks to anyone, only people that we can verify have some knowledge of the craft and hazards on the river. Demos on the Middle run you $20.
Ideally, you’ll acquire the most basic of gear to get you started, a helmet and personal floatation device (see Get the Gear below.) This helps us know you are committed to continuing your kayak education and care about safety while on the water. It’s better to wait until you are certain on purchasing a specific kayak to pick up a skirt for yourself. We are happy to lend you a skirt and paddle for the day.
Show Up & Paddle
Finally, it’s time to show up and paddle. When the boat hits the water at Ramcat, take a deep breath and remind yourself you’ve done this before. Make sure your buddy has your back, and start practicing. Don’t just go down river, focus on your paddle strokes, find eddys to enter and exit, ferry across mellow currents, and play around. Practicing the fundamentals you learned in the Learn to Kayak class is the key to becoming a better whitewater kayaker. Additionally, these boat control skills are required as you head your next formal instruction opportunity.
The Next Clinic
Beyond self-practice, it’s important to get feedback from an experienced and trusted paddler. Our Learn to Kayak II class is a great opportunity to get back together with a professional instructor and further refine your paddling skills. On top of that, it’s a great way to meet other paddlers at your same level and commitment to the sport. Snag their number and become whitewater kayaking buddies!
For safety and class dynamics, we require paddlers to be proficient in fundamental kayaking skills for Learn to Kayak II:
- Basic boat control
- Eddy turns and peel outs
- Ferries
- Self-rescue (wet exits)
This clinic is designed to help paddlers gain a deeper understanding of moving water, with a focus on river features and how to use the fundamental skills to move through and around these features. It also gives you another formal instruction opportunity at a lower cost than private instruction. The class includes a day on the water, all necessary gear, riverside lunch, transportation and discounts on gear.
Get the Gear
The Important Stuff
During the Learn to Kayak class, you learned all about the gear necessary to safely whitewater kayak. Helmet, personal flotation device, skirt, paddle and kayak are non-negotiable. However, there is a whole world of accessories and clothing to make kayaking more comfortable. As a Learn to Kayak participant, you can take advantage of a discount in our gear store.
Our Ohiopyle Outfitter Store has all of the basics and then some. In addition to the non-negotiables, we have dry tops, quick-dry paddling clothing, wet suits, specialized shoes, tie-down straps, and a lot more. Our in-house paddling experts will help you find the gear to get you started and keep you comfortable on the water.
Staying Warm
A few things to consider when thinking about gear: air and water temperature. When it comes to expanding your whitewater kayaking season beyond summer, or staying warm in the chilly waters of the Yough, having the right gear makes a big difference.
When you are cold, some of your fine motor skills go out the window making performing key skills on the river harder. Plus, as a beginner, the risk of immersion and possible hypothermia is a lot higher. Making sure you have the right equipment, like wet-suits or dry tops and suits, ensures your safety on the river.
Clothing
Beyond staying warm, it’s also important to wear the right kind of clothing and shoes on the river. Cotton kills as we like to say. Cotton takes a long time to dry and has no insulating properties while wet, so it keeps you damp and cold longer than suggested. Quick-dry clothing like synthetic blends are a better choice for a day of paddling.
On top of that, having shoes that do well in the river environment can make it much easier to navigate slippery rocks at take-outs or when you find yourself on the bank emptying your boat. Astrals, which we stock in the store, have a special rubber sole that grips particularly well to wet rocks. They also drain excess water. You should avoid wearing flip flops. No one wants to carry a boat over rocks and gravel barefoot when the river claims your kicks.
Kayak Transportation & Storage
Additionally, it’s important to think about what you need to transport and store your boat. Many people tie their kayak to the roof of their car using rack systems or foam blocks and cam straps. It’s important to securely attach the kayak to your roof, without possibly warping the plastic. Our staff can teach you the art of tie-downs when you pick up your first boat.
You also want to make sure you store your boat, and the rest of your gear, out of the sun. Consistent sun exposure can warp and weaken the material of the kayak. This could lead to cracks and “oil-canning” that either sink your kayak or cause it not to track well in the water.
We are happy to help answer any questions you may have about proper gear.
Private Instruction
Do you want even more individualized coaching? Our private whitewater kayaking instruction option allows you to work one-on-one with a professional to really hone in your skills, or learn more about local runs. We even offer lessons for you and a few of your friends too.
Private lessons are ideal if you want to fast track your progression or have very specific skills you want to concentrate on. Once you’ve mastered the fundamentals, we also offer both intermediate and advanced private instruction, to help you throughout your entire kayak progression. Additionally, all of our instructors intimately know the Youghiogheny River and can help you learn specific lines through rapids. We even have experience on a lot of additional rivers, like the Cheat, Savage, Stoneycreek and more.
If you do choose to book a private lesson, make sure to let your reservationist know about your skills and what you would like to work on so that we can get you matched with the perfect instructor.
Bonus: Roll Clinics
Learning how to roll back up after flipping is hands down one of the most important skills to learn in whitewater kayaking. Staying in your kayak as much as possible is vital to keep you safe on the river. Anytime you are out of your boat, you risk very serious consequences. Rolling is also the hardest skill to learn, and causes many new paddlers to plateau in their progression.
We have a roll-master on staff, Josh, that absolutely loves helping people achieve their roll. Legend says he has taught everyone in Ohiopyle how to roll their kayak. He loves it so much he hosts regular clinics dedicated to the art throughout summer. And he does it for free.
These informal clinics take place most Wednesday evenings. A group gathers on our porch around 5:30 before gearing up and walking over to a spot just below the bridge in town. You can rent some of our equipment for $20 during the clinic. Pro tip: we never really know when Josh is going to be in town or not, so giving us a ring before heading into Ohiopyle is probably a good idea.
Learning how to whitewater kayak can be daunting but it’s also endlessly rewarding and even a little addicting. It’s a sport that not everyone has the opportunity to do, let alone get good at. We are incredibly lucky to have some of the best water in the country to learn on. Our mission is to help you take advantage of such a privilege, while being safe and having fun.