BWCA was going to post in general, but thought id try it here first. Boundary Waters Group Forum: Solo Tripping
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   Group Forum: Solo Tripping
      was going to post in general, but thought id try it here first.     

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07/09/2012 10:10PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
im 99% sure im going to buy a royalex wildfire on wednesday...setting myself up for more creek/river type trips.

i live in the twin cities and am interested in taking a WW paddling class of sorts. class I/II type.

suggestions?
 
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tonyyarusso
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07/09/2012 10:44PM  
Honestly, I'm not sure you need a class if you're only looking at Class I/II. Just hit a river and start having fun. You could try contacting the Minnesota Canoe Association to see if they know of any though. You might be out of luck for this season - it looks like a lot of these sorts of things are done in May and June. See:
University of Minnesota - Duluth: Recreational Sports Outdoor Program
Rapids Riders
 
OBX2Kayak
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07/10/2012 06:56AM  
Try the American Canoe Association (ACA). It offers courses all over the country.
 
07/10/2012 07:28AM  
Make sure to get the combo class......River Paddling/Banjo lessons....
 
07/10/2012 09:14AM  
Tony's right, Class 1/2 rapids are pretty much just about reading the river to pick a line to avoid rocks and keeping your boat pointed downstream and in control. Not sure where you can take a class, but if you want, I'm planning on canoeing the Namekagon and Upper St Croix Rivers soon and you're welcome(or anyone else here) to join me. I haven't been on the Namekagon for a number of years, but I remember it as simple class 1 rapids and some cool scenery. Here's what I'm thinking:

Timing: July 21 or 28th weekend trip. Drive up to Grantsburg, WI on Friday afternoon and leave vehicles at outfitters and have outfitters shuttle boats/people up to Hayward or Cable. Do a short paddle that afternoon/evening so can get an early start on Saturday. Saturday and Sunday will be full paddle days to get to Highway 70 @ St. Croix River(near Grantsburg and our vehicles).

Trip Length: 100- 120 river miles depending on put-in location. 50-70 miles on the Namekagon and 50 miles on the St. Croix.

Group Size: Like to keep it relatively small since there alot of miles to paddle.
 
Minnesotian
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07/10/2012 10:12AM  

Or check out the Rapids Riders here in town. Looks like they offer some classes later in the year.
 
07/10/2012 01:39PM  
I learned by trial and error. But the most helpful thing I can offer to a beginning river paddler.

When the river current wants to carry you into a rock or undercut bank full of downed trees and hanging branches, you must paddle faster than the current to stay in control. Also, as said above, constantly read the current/water to see what's coming, an have a plan where you want to go. The earlier you turn to avoid an obstacle, the better. If in doubt, get out and walk the bank to scout a tricky area, then choose the best route, or portage it.

Classes will help, but you'll be fine on a class I/II river.

Once you get acclimated, head on down to my neck-o-the-woods for some Ozark river tripping. Yeeee-Hawww!
 
07/10/2012 02:30PM  
quote cowdoc: "Make sure to get the combo class......River Paddling/Banjo lessons...."



LOL.....archery may come in handy also :)
 
07/10/2012 02:45PM  
LOL....I thought about that for the perfect trifecta!
 
mr.barley
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07/10/2012 03:42PM  
quote mooseplums: "
quote cowdoc: "Make sure to get the combo class......River Paddling/Banjo lessons...."




LOL.....archery may come in handy also :)"
Having a pretty mouth can't hurt either.
 
oldirtybassturd
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07/10/2012 05:04PM  
U know how to squeal like a pig city boy? Maybe they gots a class fer that 2.
 
07/12/2012 11:48AM  
i learned ww paddling with the mn canoe asso. and ymca camps. i did years of ww before i had any classes though. contrary to conventional wisdom it is often better to use a controlled back ferry rather than trying to outspeed a fast current. this takes quite a bit of skill and practice, but once mastered it puts you in solid control rather than being at the mercy of the current. bill masons book path of the paddle has excellent instruction on controlling a canoe in whitewater.

in the twin cities their is no better river than the kinnikinnick river in river falls, wi, to practice your fast water paddle strokes. unfortunately the take out point is under construction and that necessitates a longer trip ending at the st. croix river and a portage up the bluffs over lake st croix. still it is worth it.

for your new bell canoe the kinnikinnick river is canoe heaven.
 
07/12/2012 12:22PM  
quote tonyyarusso: "Honestly, I'm not sure you need a class if you're only looking at Class I/II. Just hit a river and start having fun. You could try contacting the Minnesota Canoe Association to see if they know of any though. You might be out of luck for this season - it looks like a lot of these sorts of things are done in May and June. See:
University of Minnesota - Duluth: Recreational Sports Outdoor Program
Rapids Riders"


+1 for the U of MN Duluth program. My son took the class a few years back and said it was a great learning experience. He really enjoyed it.
 
markaroberts
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07/12/2012 06:22PM  
I have kayaked for years. Paddled a lot of rivers here in KY before I took my first class. I was amazed that I learned (ACA class 1 and 2).

There is more to kayaking then just staying in the boat through a class 1 or 2. If you are in a crossover or sea/touring kayak, you really need to know how to do a wet exit and reentry. There is also knowing what to wear as you are bound to turn it over in pretty short order (most do so just getting in a kayak for the first time).

Do it right. . .go on line at ACA and look up an outfitter that offers classes and take a class 1 and 2 combo. . .that gets you up to class II rapids. You will not regret it.
 
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