Samantha ChristenChattanooga’s Samantha Christen is a flatwater kayaker with industry connections worth shaking a paddle at. She is an American Canoe-certified instructor, a member of the Jackson Kayak Exploration Team and a brand ambassador for Accent Paddles, which basically means she gets to travel throughout the Southeast, educating others on the joys of kayaking and repping cool gear.
The clinics she leads include how to kayak camp, how to paddle with one’s pet and how to choose among the myriad of kayaking-related gear – a field in which she is a bona fide expert.
Here, Christen recommends some of her favorite pieces of equipment, and also shares what is on her wish list this season.
Favorite boat: Jackson Kayak Journey
Christen describes it as an all-around solid boat, measuring 14 feet and weighing 61 pounds. “It serves me well for solid cardio and sprint/skills workouts, long-mileage days, and days when I simply want to enjoy gandering at the wildlife on slow creeks and tributaries. It is also crazy-fun in the ocean, and – surprise! – the Journey is safety rated up to Class III big water,” she says.