Sign up for safety
The Tennessee Valley Canoe Club is hosting a Swift Water Rescue Course May 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. to give local paddlers an opportunity to learn and practice safety techniques in Class III whitewater. The class will be taught by certified American Canoe Association instructors, and the cost of the class is $50. For more information or to sign up, call 423-618-8587 or email safety@tvccpaddler.com.
In his years of paddling, Mike Shillinger has had some pretty close calls.
“I actually went completely under a rock once,” he says. He had peeled out of an eddy when a sudden downflow submerged him and his kayak immediately. Shillinger is an American Canoe Association-certified swiftwater rescue instructor and a retired Army colonel, so he understands how to respond under pressure. But once submerged, even he felt a sudden onset of fear.
“Situations like that are why we train paddlers in safety,” says Shillinger, now safety chairman of the Tennessee Valley Canoe Club. “Water is extremely powerful, and you don’t want to find yourself in situations you’re not prepared to deal with.”
Shillinger’s training and experience helped him free himself from the potentially deadly encounter, though he says the kayakers he was out with could have provided assistance as well. Here are a few tips to ensure your paddling trip doesn’t go from thrilling to terrifying.
Never go alone
This is true of many outdoors activities, but if things go south on the river, not having someone to help you out could result in serious injury, or death. Even the most experienced kayakers can find themselves in situations where getting free on their own might not be a possibility. Never assume you can handle everything yourself.
Practice your maneuvers
“You have to maintain your skills,” says Shillinger. You may know how to execute a roll to right yourself in the water, but if you haven’t practiced it, that knowledge may be next to useless.
Know the river
Even if you’re an experienced paddler, if you’re unfamiliar with a body of water, don’t just dive in. Consult with veterans of that river or stream, boat with people who’ve paddled it before, and check out maps that detail potential danger spots.
“You can be a hotshot boater, but if you don’t have experience with the rivers you’re on, you’re the same as the novice paddlers out there,” Shillinger says.
Accept your limitations
People are always looking to push themselves, but understanding when you’re in over your head can save your life. This applies to paddling on more treacherous water than you’re accustomed to, as well as trying to help another boater when you’re unsure of what to do. If you don’t have the skills to assist a victim, the best thing you can do is call for help.