Free Kayaking Lessons with Duke Recreation

For Abi Riak, a free opportunity for fun is too good to pass up - especially when it's right on campus.

She recently splashed around at the Brodie Recreation Center, where she and other Duke community members took part in a weekly, free kayaking clinic with staff from Outdoor Adventures, a program wihtin Duke Recreation and Physical Education.

The clinic is open to all Duke community members with membership at Brodie or Wilson recreation centers. Classes are held at Brodie on East Campus from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays through Nov. 18.

"Kayaking is the most fun I've had in my entire life and I get the same feeling being in the pool because I know what I'm working toward," said Riak, manager for operations and programs at the Duke Divinity School's Center for Reconciliation. "I just booked a trip to Chile because of the class. It's helped build my confidence to do what I need to do on a real river."

Participants in each class are welcome to bring their own equipment, but Outdoor Adventures provides all kayak equipment. After signing up online, students and employees only need to bring appropriate swim attire, a towel and any other water gear like a nose plug or goggles.

Because the class is geared toward introductory kayaking, each session begins with learning safety protocols, which includes exiting a kayak while in the water and turning over in the water. Instructors then break everyone into groups based on experience level to work on additional skills like forward, reverse and turning strokes.

Classes also work on skills through relay races and obstacle courses.

"It's fun because it can be challenging and gets people outside the normal comfort zone of going out for a run or lifting at the gym," said Shaun Fisher, trips program specialist for Duke Recreation's Outdoor Adventures and an instructor with the kayak class. "It can be a good social culture, too, because we're all from the Duke community and it's meant to be a comfortable atmosphere."

For those looking for enhanced kayaking experiences, the free clinics also act as a prerequisite to join local trips for whitewater kayaking. The next trip is scheduled for March 2014.

"I've been on rivers before, but having practice in the pool to develop skills gives me confidence for later on," said Nicolas Brodu, a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Physics. "The mere fact you have instructors who show you that you can do it makes you much more comfortable."