PADDLER 37
better than nothing ! But … When the rain is perfectly timed , and you know the kayaking will be good , it is handy to know how to ask people to paddle with you . Not just so that they say yes but so that once the paddle is over , they will want to paddle again with you in the future ! So here are my top tips for being the kind of person people want to paddle with .
1 . BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT
Nothing is more frustrating than realising after you have committed to a day out that the people in your group have very different expectations and ideas about what the day will entail . This can lead to , at best , annoyance and , at worst , people putting themselves in compromising situations . It is , therefore , better to be honest about what you want from a paddling trip before any concrete plans are made .
Consider location , grade of river and timings . I ’ ve had days where I was happy to get up super early and be on the water before sunrise and still be on the water at sunset . This is so I could maximise time on the water and make the most of the rain . I ’ ve also had days where I was happy to have a more chilled start , enjoy a few hours on the water and then get off early for coffee and cake . Both days are enjoyable , but be honest in advance about how much paddling you want to get in . How far you are willing to travel for that paddling is also important .
Be very clear about what kind of paddling you want to do . Are you looking for a big day out to push yourself , or are you looking for a more relaxing day paddling something well within your comfort zone ? Once your trip starts , be honest about how you feel with those around you . It is okay to ‘ sit out ’ of a river run if you have considered and accepted that as an option before the start of the day . But it doesn ’ t feel nice if you want to paddle and can ’ t because your group only wants to run rivers that you know are above your skillset .
I now try to be as open and honest as possible before arranging paddling . If all I am feeling up to is a chilled grade 3 day , I make sure to arrange a paddle with people who feel the same . It ’ s okay to tell people what your boundaries and expectations are . It is better to do this than be frustrated on the day .
2 . BE HELPFUL !
Consider what your attendance brings to the group , and ensure you are helping out where possible . Someone who is helpful and whose presence makes a positive difference will be invited back again . There are lots of different ways in which you can do this .
Firstly , are you contributing to the group ’ s safety , and do you have all of your own personal safety gear ? I would be extremely hesitant to paddle with someone who did not bring their own throwline for example . When running rapids , make sure you help set safety if needed and paddle in a way that shows that you are conscious of the entire group ’ s safety .
Team let ’ s not run Backbarrow !
PADDLER 37