Paddling with Hoofers: Getting Started and Keeping Going

NOTE: You need not be a current member to attend.  If you're interested in becoming a Hoofer, you are most welcome to attend presentations like this to learn more about what we do as a club. You won't be able to sign up on this page, but that's not necessary.

New to Hoofers? Interested in paddling---in canoes, whitewater kayaks or sea kayaks? Perplexed by apparent code words we use like "R1" or "SKL2?" Then plan on attending an informal presentation and question/answer session on paddling with Hoofers, whether you're interested in just some lazy river float trips or paddling our inland seas (the Great Lakes) or running  10' waterfalls.

We'll have a panel of our paddling leaders introduce you to the different types of paddling we do as a club and show some photos of recent trips. Just this year alone we've had sea kayaking trips on the Great Lakes, a whitewater trip to Colorado and a whitewater canoe clinic in Wisconsin to name a few highlights.

The club does have rules---a water safety code---that governs how we manage our paddling to ensure safe trips. Essentially you'll need to start by taking an introductory lesson, pass a swimming test and then start going on appropriate trips to your abilities and build your skills to be eligible to do more and more advanced, challenging trips. All trips and lessons are offered by other members with the requisite skills and experience. We've got leaders and instructors with extensive training and experience who can teach you all you need to know to do some truly awesome trips.

We'll meet after a shortened regular Hoofer Outing Club meeting (giving some time to grab food and beverages) in the same new meeting space in the Boathouse. We'll demystify Hoofers paddling for you so you'll know what to expect and what steps you need to take to do different types of paddling.

The club has full fleets of canoes, whitewater kayaks and sea kayaks along with all the necessary gear--paddles, PFDs, sprayskirts, helmets, etc. All of this is available to all members with just a very tiny user fee for whitewater boats (they tend to take a lot of abuse).

So if you're at all curious about paddling in general or more specifically, paddling with Hoofers, this is your chance to learn all about it.

Spring paddling season will be here in no time. Come learn about annual paddling trips and what you need to do to participate in them. Hint: GET YOURSELF TO POOL SESSIONS! NOW! You can take the swim test, take a kayak lake lesson (required starting point), and start learning how to roll and do other vital paddling skills.

No need to sign up, but you are welcome to do so to help us know how many people to expect.