Guide to Getting Started
Hitting the river for the first time can be an exciting and daunting experience. It may be a
new environment, and the gear is often, at first glance, imposing and unfamiliar. Spending some
time thinking about, and considering the key aspects of the paddling landscape described here,
will hopefully make your initial experiences on the water more enjoyable.
Know the Gear
If you are thinking about hitting the river for the first time, the first step is becoming
familiar with the gear required to paddle safely. Essential gear includes a helmet, sprayskirt,
personal flotation device, throw rope, river shoes, weather dependent protective layers, and of
course a paddle and a kayak.

Keep It Simple
Kayaks come in all shapes and sizes. If you are thinking about running rivers beyond
flatwater and class I rapids, you might want to strongly consider searching for a boat designed
for whitewater. Whitewater boats generally fall into two categories, boats that are designed for
running and descending rivers, and boats that are designed for doing tricks on features like
waves and holes. There are kayaks designed for all kinds of specialized purposes, but if you are
just getting into the sport, keeping things simple is a great idea. A general all purpose river
running kayaking is not the only way to get into the sport, but it can provide a great introductory
platform to learn the essential skills for river navigation and safety that will open the door to
future paddling adventures and interests.

Learn to Get Into and Out of the Boat on Land
Getting into the kayak and out of the kayak is often one of the most perplexing parts of
kayaking to people unfamiliar with the sport. The sprayskirt is an essential piece of gear that
consists of the tunnel, (the part the hugs you waist), and the spraydeck, (the part that stretches
around the cockpit rim). The sprayskirt is the piece of gear that serves as the medium between
the paddler and the boat. The kayaker wears the sprayskirt, and the sprayskirt mates to the
boat. The sprayskirt keeps the water from entering the boat while traveling downriver, and
ideally keeps the inside of the boat mostly dry. The grab loop is sewn into the spray skirt. The
grab loop should always be on the outside of the cockpit rim, because if the paddler flips upside
down and cannot perform a roll, pulling the grab loop disconnects the sprayskirt from the cockpit
rim allowing the kayaker to swim to the surface. This may seem scary for some people, but
basically, you pull the grab loop and fall out of the kayak into the river. There is not a whole to
do other than pull, but it is essential that you are comfortable with this skill before you hit the
water. Practice this on land many times before you get to the water. You will get to the water
with a sense of confidence that will help you focus and acquire skills more quickly.

Adjust Your Gear
Adjusting your gear is essential to an awesome day on the water. You want to make
sure that all straps and closures are properly tightened and fastened. You want the tunnel of the
sprayskirt to fit snugly around your waist, your helmet to have minimal movement on your head,
with special attention given toward making sure your helmet, even with some movement, covers
your forehead. The personal flotation device should fit snug to the paddler’s body. It should not
be uncomfortable to breath, but the PFD should also not have significant space or movement
once the straps are tightened. If it is cold outside, a paddler often wears a drytop, or a drysuit, to
remain warm. Warm fleece layers are often worn underneath as a layer between the skin and
the drywear. Dry tops and suits, often have latex gaskets that fit tightly on the neck, wrists, and
ankles. The points of contact between the skin and the latex can sometimes be uncomfortable,
and the latex material may need to be trimmed accordingly. Shoes are always a good idea on
the river. They aid traction and ability in a rescue situation, and modern shoes have rubber
soles that have significant advantage over bare feet when it comes to moving quickly over wet
rocks. Putting some time into fitting your gear before you hit the river will be well worth it later.

Outfit Your Boat
Adjusting and outfitting your boat is another important part of aiding in your success on
the water. In the same way that the gear should fit the paddler snugly, the paddler should also
have a snug fit in the boat. Different paddlers have different preferences, but generally, and this
probably seems obvious, one does not want their boat to be too tight, nor do they want the boat
to be too loose. There are five important points of contact between the paddler and the kayak,
the back, the thighs, feet, the butt, and the hips. The paddlers back is often support by a
backband in modern boats, but older boats might use only foam as the main support. Snug fit is
not a substitute for good posture and position in the boat, and this is something a paddler will
work on and refine as they move forward in their skill progression. The paddlers thighs will come
into contact with the thigh braces, two thinner pieces of plastic that hold the kayakers legs in
place just above the knee. The kayakers hips will come into contact with the boats on the left
and right side of the body, and the paddler’s feet will come into contact with a piece of foam, or
foot pegs. Finally, the paddler sits atop a seat molded to the buttocks. Collectively, these
contact points create the feel between the paddler and the kayak. The backband of a kayak is
typically adjustable with ratchets located within the cockpit rim, and these contact points are
often adjusted by adding or removing layers of foam. Extra foam often comes with the purchase
of a new kayak, and it is well worth the time to work on your fit before your hit the river. In the
beginning, even though you will not know or understand much of the difference, a good fit can
aid significantly in your acquisition of skills.

Get the Right Size Paddle
Finally, using the right paddle size and having the correct offset or feather, the degree of
angle difference between the left and right blades is key to learning, progressing, and excelling
in the sport. There is, for some reason, a lot of discussion around paddle length and offset, but
generally, a forty-five to sixty degree offset is ideal, and if you are running rivers, a paddle size

that is slightly larger than the recommended height/paddle length ranges listed on most paddle
manufacturer websites. Bottom line: give your paddle length and offset due diligence.

Key Points:

● Use the gear you have effectively
● Get the right size paddle
● Helmet should be snug.
● PFD should be snug (should not pull up over your head)
● Wear shoes and tie your shoes
● Always check to make sure your grab loop is on the outside of the boat
● Make sure your gear fits the weather conditions and the water temperature,
summer boating, keep the sun off, sunscreen can make your hands greasy
● Have water, a first aid kit always a good idea, including a Sam Splint

A group of Dagger employees and pro team members headed to the U.S. National Whitewater Center to welcome their new President and CEO Rich Krause, and members of the executive team – Vice President Marty Ford and CFO Wayne Feasby – by taking them whitewater paddling for the first time. 

The day began with a tour of the facility followed by a whitewater kayak lesson. After an explanation of important tips and skills for beginners, followed by some on-water practice, the three men were ready to hit the rapids.

After some solid runs, the group grabbed lunch and moved onto a group rafting session.

It was a fun-filled day of whitewater and an incredible experience to share as a team.

By Regina Nicolardi

Like many paddlers today, I am just as often scouting a rapid for photo opportunities as I am to run it. Capturing a moment on the river can provide that same feeling of accomplishment as when you stick a line. But it can also feel equally as frustrating when things unravel, and you find yourself with a memory card of images that just don't do the run justice. There are really no secrets to getting a great shot – just a general understanding of your camera and taking the time to observe a few key elements. When approaching a rapid for a photo, there are two major factors I always keep in mind. Where is my light? And where is my line?

Know the intended line your paddler will be passing through from the top to the bottom of the rapid, and how that works with where you decide to position yourself. Take time to think about the outcome you will achieve from your chosen shooting place. Will the paddler be charging at you? Will they be paddling away from you? How will the boat be angled in relation to your position? If the paddler puts the boat on edge are you going to catch the bottom of the hull or the paddler's epic ear dip? Experiment with different shooting elevations to see how standing on a tall rock produces a different aspect than down near river level. Frame the shot so the paddler passes through with a minimum amount of panning and burst. Too much of this and your camera may lag – missing the best shots because it is busy writing the files or loses focus.

Here is the same rapid on the White Salmon with two different perspectives on Dagger athlete Sam Grafton.
 

Next, think about how the light is working in relation to your line. Lighting is tricky to master and every situation is different, but here are a couple basics to help you get started. If you are shooting in bright sun, it’s best to have the sun at your back allowing for your subject to be directly lit. A lot of times whitewater is shot in the middle of the day when the sun is over head. This works, but it presents a lot of strong shadows and bright spots. If this is the case try tightening the shot up a little bit to give your camera a more specific area to meter. Also don’t be afraid to play with the sun, by shooting into it you can create silhouettes and solar flares. If it’s a cloudy day, or you’re deep in a gorge, light is softer and more even to work with — but because there is less it raises the potential of shooting a blurry photo. This is where learning your way around the camera’s manual mode to maximize light will make a difference.

This shot was taken in bright over head sun - I zoomed in to minimize the amount of bright spots and shadows, making the light appear more even. Dagger athlete Adriene Levknecht looks strong and although the whole drop isn’t in the frame, it eludes to something stout.

Remember, great whitewater photos don’t have to happen during the crux of the biggest drops out there. The stronger the paddler looks, the stronger the photo. Sometimes the best moments are even in the run-out, or during a portage. When deciding which photos to share, remember not every shot is a keeper. Choose your best work to present, otherwise it will be lost somewhere in a brodak album of hundreds. Have fun and be creative

Regina Nicolardi is a professional photographer, who just wrapped a five-day shoot with Dagger in the Pacific Northwest. You can see more of her work at www.reginanicolardi.com

Cancer is lonely.  Young adults affected by cancer know this all too well.  One of the biggest contributors to feelings of loneliness for young adult survivors is the lack of belonging.  It can be hard not knowing if there are others out there like you, dealing with the unique challenges a cancer diagnosis presents during the “formative” years of your life.

On September 26, 2013, just two weeks after my 24^th birthday, I was diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma, an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.  Just mere months after graduating from college, I was to be sidelined for the next 6 months to endure chemotherapy.  Choosing a battleground to fight cancer was not an easy decision.  The first cancer treatment center I visited was filled with patients two or three times my age.  Just sitting in the waiting room was enough to make me feel extremely isolated and alone.  My only other option was to be treated at a children’s hospital with kids less than half my age.  Since I still felt like a kid in my heart, the decision to battle cancer alongside other kids was a bit more comforting.  Each round of chemotherapy required me to stay in the hospital for an entire week.  Each week I lived in a hospital room alone, with only the cries of scared children filling the halls of the inpatient treatment wing, while I sat in my bed getting pumped full of life-saving drugs.  I had no one to talk to who would understand what I was going through, or so I thought.

Near the end of my treatment, a nurse working on my floor handed me a card for First Descents, an organization dedicated to providing surfing, climbing, or kayaking camps to young adults affected by cancer to empower them to reclaim their lives and connect with other survivors.  After attending a couple short overnight trips with First Descents in the year following my treatment, I decided to attend a week long kayaking trip in Bryson City, North Carolina.  I thought I was just going to meet some new people and kayak down some rivers, but my trip would have a much larger impact on me than I thought.

What you don’t expect from cancer is how much it can take away from you.  After having caner I lost physical strength, I lost a sense of identity, I lost friends, I lost confidence, and I lost the feeling of control over my life.  In short, I lost my freedom.  That’s what learning to kayak gave me; a sense of freedom.  While I am on the river, I am in control, I decide my fate, I am in charge of my destiny, and I can truly feel free.  Basically, I was hooked on kayaking the moment I first pushed out into the water.

Throughout my week with First Descents, I tried to soak up every detail I could about kayaking.  Each time we learned a new skill, I wanted to immediately move on to the next.  Luckily, one of the lead staff members for FD named Adriene, recognized this eagerness and tenacity in me, and took me under her wing to help me discover kayaking.  To the disbelief of her, and everyone else on the water, I was able to roll on my first day!  At that moment I was filled with emotions that had become unfamiliar to me in recent history.  I finally felt like I was good at something and I had a sense of accomplishment like I’ve never know before.  At last, I felt like I belonged.  While I was on the water, I no longer felt out of place and sharing that feeling with other survivors only helped make it feel like home.

One day during camp, Adriene (who also happens to be a professional kayaker) told me I should compete in the GoPro Mountain Games in Vail, Colorado.  I had only been kayaking on the river a few days and the thought of actually racing sounded a little crazy to me, but since I was not willing to let this new found freedom slip away, I decided to do it.  One short week after leaving camp, with only three days on whitewater under my belt, I was in Vail getting ready for the Kayak Down River Sprint.  I was filled with nervous excitement from the moment I arrived on Friday, up until the start of the race Saturday morning.  Besides chemotherapy, this was probably the only other time in my life where I thought I might have a heart attack. 

Fortunately for me, Adriene was competing at the games as well and volunteered to help give me some coaching before the race.  After getting geared up Friday afternoon, we decided to do a run down Gore Creek where the race was to be held.  Finally, after six long days of waiting, I was back on the water with a paddle in my hands.  Although seeing the course gave me a little more confidence, I was still just as nervous for race day.  I knew that in the morning I would be on my own and would be paddling alone for the first time.

The weather was sunny and calm the morning of the race and I found myself using the same pep talk I would use before going into the hospital: I was going to do this thing one way or the other so I might as well give it everything.  Before I knew it, I was on the water paddling as hard as I could, just trying to stay straight down the course.  Just like in the hospital, I was alone again, racing towards the finish, but this time I was in control of my fate and it was up to me to decide how I would survive the day.  Surprising to me, I finished the race without a scratch, and managed to place 41 out of 47!  Once again I found that feeling of belonging that I had lost years ago and I felt free.

Although I will not get everything back that cancer stole from me, I now know that kayaking can help me reclaim some of the life I had lost.  It has allowed me to connect with other survivors in a new way as we used the river to forge bonds that can’t be broken by time or distance.  Kayaking gave me renewed confidence in myself and showed me how to take back control of my life.  I know far too well that life will not go according to plan, but in spite of all of the challenges that come my way, I will always be able to look forward to the next day on the river.

Michael Burek - First Descents camp participant