Tuning it up for Spring!

Well...that pretty much says it all.  If the Middle Fork of the Salmon River is any indication, boating season is well underway!  Idaho classics like the Lochsa, Middle Fork, Main Salmon and Payette are all at prime levels.  The trouble with spring kayaking, however, is always the transition.  With ski season, there's a good chance that you get a few days on your skis before you head out into the steeps.

With kayaking, however, we typically get in our boats for the first time each year to something like this:

Running "Pair-A-Dice" on the Murtaugh Section of the Snake River.

Fortunately, pool sessions at the YMCA pool give us the opportunity to get a few rolls in before we jump out on the river.  Community School Outdoor Leadership Academy students have been really taking advantage of these roll sessions, along with many members of the rising 9th-grade, who are all super fired up about kayaking the Main Salmon River next year.



Here, Outdoor Leadership Academy student George shows perfect form on the sweep roll.


In addition, these pool sessions provide a great way to introduce new paddlers to the sport, and to pair them with locals who want to teach.

Good coaching equals good rolling!  Schley and Moffat teach rolling.

One of Pierson's first tries.  He's rolling now!

Adam Majors has been running these roll sessions, and plans to continue them throughout the summer.  The cost is $8 for YMCA members, and $15 for non-members.  Check it out: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30-8:00 PM.