Hello everyone! I recently got a kayak and all the gear and am looking to get on the water! I took the Fall Line Mastery course with RVA Paddlesports last month, so have about 4 runs of the upper and lower James under my belt. I have a 2-2 combat roll record so far, so a lot to learn but am a pretty solid newbie.
If you have a free spot in your crew, please reach out!
Looking for people to paddle with
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paddlin_bill
- Coastals Member
- Posts: 471
- Joined: Sun Sep 30, 2012 9:37 pm
- Location: Lynchburg, VA
- Contact:
Re: Looking for people to paddle with
Welcome Dan!
The way trips usually work, we have one bigger gathering per quarter, and most weekends at least one other trip posted, either Official Club Trip (O.C.T.) or ad-hoc.
We are a pretty friendly and inclusive club. If you see something posted either on the calendar, the forum, or facebook, reach out to the coordinator and identify yourself as a newbie. Be honest about your abilities and your previous paddles and the coordinator will let you know if the particular trip is a good fit for you. Many times it will be a good fit, but sometimes it won't be, and the coordinator will help you figure that out. It might be something that is a stretch, and the coordinator might not feel that he or she has enough safety boater support based on the size of the group. If that happens occasionally, do not be discouraged - the coordinator is trying to make sure there is a fun, safe trip.
The more you paddle with people, the more people get familiar with your skills and risk decisions, and the more trips open up.
Please don't just show up at a put-in without having talked with the coordinator first - there may be considerations you are not aware of, like parking availability, number of safety boaters available, etc.
I hope we will See You On The River (SYOTR) soon!
The way trips usually work, we have one bigger gathering per quarter, and most weekends at least one other trip posted, either Official Club Trip (O.C.T.) or ad-hoc.
We are a pretty friendly and inclusive club. If you see something posted either on the calendar, the forum, or facebook, reach out to the coordinator and identify yourself as a newbie. Be honest about your abilities and your previous paddles and the coordinator will let you know if the particular trip is a good fit for you. Many times it will be a good fit, but sometimes it won't be, and the coordinator will help you figure that out. It might be something that is a stretch, and the coordinator might not feel that he or she has enough safety boater support based on the size of the group. If that happens occasionally, do not be discouraged - the coordinator is trying to make sure there is a fun, safe trip.
The more you paddle with people, the more people get familiar with your skills and risk decisions, and the more trips open up.
Please don't just show up at a put-in without having talked with the coordinator first - there may be considerations you are not aware of, like parking availability, number of safety boaters available, etc.
I hope we will See You On The River (SYOTR) soon!
-Bill Swarm
To borrow from naturalist John Muir, The river is calling and I must go.
To borrow from naturalist John Muir, The river is calling and I must go.
Re: Looking for people to paddle with
Bill, thanks for your reply. I will definitely try to make it on a trip sometime soon. However, I just got my boat and am looking to run the James locally here a couple times before heading out of town on a trip to get a feel for my boat, equipment setup and my current skill set. I was hoping to find some people who run the James regularly and would let me join in. Is this the appropriate forum for that?
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open boater
- Class IV
- Posts: 948
- Joined: Sat Oct 02, 2004 5:13 pm
Re: Looking for people to paddle with
check out James River Homosapiens on Facebook
Re: Looking for people to paddle with
Yes, James River Homo Sapiens on FB is your best bet for pick up trips on the James. Also, if you send me your contact info, I'd be glad to have you join us when we go out. (I also usually post on Coastals' FB page if I'm doing the upper.)
Re: Looking for people to paddle with
Yes, I am a member of James River Homo Sapiens, but haven’t had luck yet with finding people yet. Just wanted to try all the resources at my disposal.
My name’s Dan Henkelman and I’m in the club roster. If you can’t find me let me know. It would be great if you invited me on a lap sometime, I would appreciate that!
My name’s Dan Henkelman and I’m in the club roster. If you can’t find me let me know. It would be great if you invited me on a lap sometime, I would appreciate that!