So how do I get into this awesome sport?

[thunderman]

Just some background information:

Born and raised a surfer in CA, now a meteorologist in Arkansas. Love adrenaline, love anything to do with water and the outdoors. I have been interested in getting into this for a while and it looks like now is the time. So how do I start? What kayak is a good starter?

Mike

[Lifejacket]

A couple pieces of information would help. Are you wanting to go down river on 6 mile trips, park and play, overnight, creek or micro creek? Where do you live? What is you height and weight? Are you wanting to paddle only in warm weather or year round? How much are you wanting to initially invest, also are you looking for new or used?

My first recommendation would be to try and attend a pool session close to you. This would allow you to see different boats and meet different paddlers. Most paddlers do not mind letting you try their boats and look at different pieces of their equipment: paddle, PFD, helmet, nose plug, spray skirt, booties, ect..

A second option is if you are close to Hot Springs, would be a trip by Ouachita Outdoor Outfitters. Don, Jeremy, and staff are very helpful. You can also find JeremyM here on the board.

Good luck.

[thunderman]

I am 6'2" 190 lbs. I want to do mainly rivers, overnighters are not the main focus of what I want to do. Just some good fun and a challenge. In terms of weather, year round but mainly fall - spring when the rivers are flowing.

Used gear is the best for me, under $400 would be optimal.

Mike

A couple pieces of information would help. Are you wanting to go down river on 6 mile trips, park and play, overnight, creek or micro creek? Where do you live? What is you height and weight? Are you wanting to paddle only in warm weather or year round? How much are you wanting to initially invest, also are you looking for new or used?

My first recommendation would be to try and attend a pool session close to you. This would allow you to see different boats and meet different paddlers. Most paddlers do not mind letting you try their boats and look at different pieces of their equipment: paddle, PFD, helmet, nose plug, spray skirt, booties, ect..

A second option is if you are close to Hot Springs, would be a trip by Ouachita Outdoor Outfitters. Don, Jeremy, and staff are very helpful. You can also find JeremyM here on the board.

Good luck.

[JTarver]

Rivers vary depending on how much gradiant you are wanting to tackle. Since you seem new to the sport, line up some quality instruction first and foremost. We have a whitewater school here in May..but sign ups are prior to that. Classes fill up quickly, and first come first serve. More information on the school can be found on the homepage.
For steeper creeks and larger waterfalls, a creek boat will be the ticket. For rivers up to class III you can usually stick with a River running style boat, or a playboat if you want to start doing tricks and aerial moves. You will amass a quiver of boats the longer you stick with the sport, and you'll love them all. Well, most of them.
If you're in Little Rock area, we have pool sessions wednesdays and saturdays at the University of Ark. at Little Rock campus, at the Donaghey Student Center. I post each week if the sessions are on schedule or closed for swim meets, etc. The pool is located right in the middle of campus approx.
Aside from that, the "for sale" part of the message board is a wonderful resource that I use frequently. It's your best bet for good used gear, of all kinds.

Hope this helps, feel free to PM if you have any questions. Welcome to the board and the sport thunder.

Joe

[A Savage spanke]

With an awesome subject like that one!

[hdh]

2010 School of Whitewater Paddling

Arkansas Canoe Club’s School of Whitewater Paddling is an opportunity for you to learn how to enjoy whitewater, to build your skills and knowledge, and to have fun with us.

http://www.arkansascanoeclub.com/Defaul ... eId=543452" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jermdog]

Get a used playboat and practice playing until you're comfortable and then you'll be surprised at what you can run. It teaches you so much faster than getting a river runner or creeker to begin with. Besides, the only thing that's close to year round in AR is play. There are always all-stars for sale for fairly cheap. You would fit in one nicely.
Good Luck
Jeremy

[FarPastGone]

Do you chase storms?

- Matt

[A Savage spanke]

Do you have a funny awesome tattoo?

-Ryan

[mgood]

Just some background information:

Born and raised a surfer in CA, now a meteorologist in Arkansas. Love adrenaline, love anything to do with water and the outdoors. I have been interested in getting into this for a while and it looks like now is the time. So how do I start? What kayak is a good starter?

Mike

Buy a boat. Follow Harlan (hdh). Watch and learn what not to do (except how to swim correctly).

[Fish]

Awesome sport indeed, but if you're chasing whitewater creeks, meteorologist is a tough job to have! You want time off work when it's stormy. :)

If you love the sport, you'll get on plenty of rivers around here. Lot's of folks here are passionate about paddling little plastic boats in awesome places. You came to the right place - welcome aboard!

- Fish

[FarPastGone]

Do you consider yourself clever?

- Matt

[Fish]

Do you consider yourself clever?
- Matt

Do you consider indicating who the heck you're talking about? :)

- Fish

[FarPastGone]

I really hoped to offend everybody, but I was just screwing with Spanke.

But seriously do you chase storms? I will teach you how to kayak if you take me on some storm chases.

- Matt

[bmartin]

Welcome Mike. Lots of good people here with ACC. One way to start getting plugged in would be to go to one of the UALR pool sessions on Wed evening or Saturday afternoon. New and experienced boaters will go and most will freely share their knowledge and help with the basics and learning a roll. There is a current post and it looks like the sessions are on for this week. Joe does a good job keeping people updated weekly. You can go without a boat - many people will let you borrow theirs to experiment with for part of the time, but would suggest posting first to make sure someone will be there with something that will fit. The school of white water paddling already mentioned in May is a great crash coarse. Once you get a boat and gear look for posts on some of the good 'training' runs and feel free to jump in. Cadron creek is probably one of the most popular in central AR and I have been with many first timers on that creek.

If adrenaline fixes are what you are after, I might start with a big playboat or an aggresive river runner. There are lots of brands and even more models and it can be daunting sorting through them all. Here is a link that might help as you shop for boats.

http://www.eddyflower.com/BoatSearch.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;