We did our first whitewater trip down the Ottawa River with our daughter Chelsea when she was 6 months old. Ready for a day of fun in the Dynamic Duo.
For the first few years, we stuck to taking our raft down the river, as it allowed for a bit more flexibility with a toddler in tow.
Eventually, Chelsea was big enough to ride in the front of my Jackson Kayak Dynamic Duo – a two-person whitewater kayak. Although I had complete control over the kayak on those trips, it wasn’t long before she started helping me out, without even knowing she was doing it. She would lean into the eddy turns without me asking her. She would lean her body the right way to help us carve when we were surfing waves.
It quickly became clear to me that even though I was doing most of the work those days, Chelsea was subconsciously learning how it should feel to paddle through whitewater. I knew this was going to be a huge asset when it came time for her to paddle her own whitewater kayak.
Chelsea surfing her kayak on the Middle Channel of the Ottawa River.Well, that time came this summer. Chelsea and a bunch of her girlfriends took a kids whitewater kayaking course with the great folks at Liquid Skills Kayak School. Next thing I know, Chelsea can roll her kayak, and she’s paddled the river in her own kayak. Although I was sad that I wasn’t there to see it first hand, I couldn’t have been more excited to head out on our first paddling trip down the Ottawa River, with each of us in our own whitewater kayak.
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Paddle Tales follows World Champion kayaker, Ken Whiting, around North America as he explores the continent by sea kayak, whitewater kayak, canoe, and stand up paddleboard, while telling the stories of the unique people and places that he encounters.
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