The staff at KayakDave.com is very excited to announce the launch of our new Whitewater Category in collaboration with the folks at Zoar Outdoor!
Zoar is based on the Deerfield River in Western Massachusetts and is one of the primer whitewater outfitters in the Northeast. They offer a wide range of services to the paddling community including: expert instruction in whitewater kayaking, guided trips on local rivers, and the fully-loaded Zoar Outdoor Outfitters Shop.
One of the undeniable truths in the world of kayaking is that there are two niches that are separated by a sizable rift: the sea kayakers and the whitewater kayakers. It’s natural for folks to levitate toward one niche of paddle sport or the other for reasons of interest and local resources. For example, one might ask: “Why should I travel across the state to brave some rapids when I can enjoy a relaxing paddle on the bay only a half hour from my home?” This is certainly a valid point. However, many times the rift goes beyond simple logistics and involves a bit too much prejudice for my liking! I’ve heard fellow paddlers say things like “Whitewater is too scary for me!” or “Sea Kayaking is too boring for me!” without ever giving it a try. Clearly, it’s time to debunk the myths and attempt to bridge this gap in our sport!
See…sea kayakers can enjoy whitewater too!
The instructors at KayakDave.com and Zoar Outdoor agree that folks can gain a lot of insight and improve on their skills by practicing different types of paddling! This motivated us to open the new whitewater category with the goal of guiding our readers as you expand your paddling horizons. Expect to see a wide range of topics from instructional posts and videos to whitewater-specific gear reviews. The Zoar Outdoor staff has also invited some of the KayakDave.com instructors out to their base for some river training and we look forward to reporting on our experiences later this summer!
Get Stoked and Stay Tuned!
-Dave Arruda, KayakDave.com
-Keith Reinemann, Zoar Outdoor