I woke up last Wednesday morning with a strange feeling in my gut. We had gotten lots of rain here in the Southeast, and almost every river imaginable was filled with a healthy flow. I got a phone call from a friend going to one of my favorite rivers, an opportunity I would normally drop everything for. As I thought about getting on the river, I wasn’t filled with the same motivation I usually am. My body didn’t rush with adrenaline at the thought of paddling a beautiful class IV/V river. It took me awhile to pinpoint what was going on, and when I finally admitted it to myself, the answer was that I just didn’t want to go kayaking.

Since I started paddling just over four years ago, I had never experienced this emotion. Not wanting to go kayaking…what was wrong with me? Who was I? Did I make the wrong choice setting up my life to paddle everyday, and now I didn’t want to go? I quickly spiraled into an existential identity crisis, but luckily had Anna and Mary Frances to help pull me out.

When I started thinking rationally again, I realized and accepted that it was OK that I didn’t want to get on the river that day. It doesn’t mean I’m not a kayaker, and it certainly doesn’t mean I’m a different person. I just needed a break. I’ve been paddling constantly since last May, and my body and mind were getting tired.

I’ve accepted this break, and come to embrace it as a time for rejuvination. It’s a time to gain perspective on the bigger pictures in my life, and put some much needed time into other personal endeavors I’d been neglecting. I’ve always heard people talking about this, but I’m now a believe that breaks are a crucial part of anyone’s life who is committed to any time consuming activity. Breaks not only let our bodies rest and rebuild, but they re-inspire our minds and remind us why we love what we do.

Everyday of my break so far, I’ve thought about paddling, checked river levels, and watched my usual daily dose of paddling movies online. I’ve resisted indulging in actual boat time however, because I know that everyday I don’t go, my internal motivation jar refills a little more. I know my skills won’t leave my body, and when I get back in my boat, I’ll start up just where I left off.

The time I’ve spent recently nourishing other pieces of myself has also been invaluable. I’ve journaled and meditated more this past week than I have in months. I remind myself daily to explore other activities, other areas, other passions in my life. Soon I will be yearning to get back on the water with more inspiration than ever. Don’t be afraid, especially in the winter months, to take a break!

Do you want to improve your teaching and paddling skills while traveling with some of the country’s best instructors?  Or learn more about the inner workings of a small paddlesport company and help it grow while learning new skills?  Or all of it?!  Check out our 2012 internship opportunities!

Girls at Play Summer Internship Asheville, NC

The Girls at Play Summer Internship based in Asheville, NC is designed to give the intern experience in the following areas:

• Small business marketing and social media marketing,
• Short video clip filming and editing
• Outdoor industry business and marketing
•  Whitewater kayak instruction
• Stand up paddleboard instruction

Benefits: 

• Receive hands-on marketing and social media marketing experience with a local, growing outdoor industry company.
• Learn how to teach kayaking from some of the best instructors in the world
• Receive kayak coaching from some of the best female paddlers in the world.
• Receive discounts on ACA certification and continuing paddling education/experience
• Have fun working outside and in a small, friendly office environment!
• Make connections in the paddlesports industry

Internship Duties

Marketing Duties:

• Social media marketing – using our existing networks and internet marketing to promote the Girls at Play brand and grow our community
• Videography and editing – produce short video clips to post on website and social networking sites
• Write blog posts for website and social media
• Be a friendly, approachable, supportive and compassionate ambassador for the company.

On-water Duties:

• Assist lead Girls at Play instructor in beginner whitewater kayaking clinics.
• Set safety in beginner whitewater clinics
• Assist with the loading and unloading of gear and pre-clinic prep
• Assist lead Girls at Play instructor with SUP workshops and Yoga on SUP workshops
• Be a friendly, approachable, supportive, compassionate and safe instructor/ambassador on the water.

Requirements:   Class II – III whitewater kayak experience.  Own personal whitewater kayaking gear.  Some experience in social media marketing, video and editing.  Strong writing skills.  Approachable, friendly personality.  Be willing to take initiative and work energetically.

This is an unpaid internship.

Hours per week:  10 –20 hours per week May – August

For more information please send your resume and  cover letter to Anna at info@watergirlsatplay.com

Application Deadline:  February 29, 2012

GAP Summer Tour Internship

The GAP Summer Tour Internship sends a female ACA certified instructor on a two and a half -month whitewater kayak and SUP clinic tour across the US.

Benefits:

• Get an expenses paid summer paddling trip across the US
• Improve your kayak instructing skills with some of the most highly trained and skilled instructors in the world.
• Improve your whitewater kayaking skills by traveling to different rivers around the country and paddling in between clinics.
• Positively affect women’s lives through kayaking and SUP
• Learn how to SUP and how to teach SUPing
• Receive free outdoor gear from GAP sponsors

Off-water duties:

• Load and unload gear
• Take care of gear
• Write 2 blog posts per month on the GAP website
• Post to GAP facebook and Twitter accounts once per week
• Socialize at off-water events and be a professional, approachable, friendly ambassador for Girls at Play

On-water duties:

• Assist the Girls at Play lead instructor with on-water kayak instruction up to class III
• Set safety in rapids up to class III
• Be a friendly, supportive, approachable, compassionate instructor

Qualifications:

• Level 4 ACA Certified Instructor (preferably through the Girls at Play/ACA Instructor Course)
• Feel comfortable paddling in class III – IV whitewater
• Be a professional, approachable, friendly, compassionate and fun person/intructor
• Be willing to learn and grow
• Be a team player willing to take initiative and work energetically for the benefit of the whole group

Compensation:  This is an unpaid internship, but your travel expenses are paid.

Time Commitment:  End of May through middle of August

For more information please send your resume and  cover letter to Anna at info@watergirlsatplay.com

Application Deadline:  February 29, 2012

Lifting the head is the most common inhibitor to a good roll.  The head lifts because the paddler is punching out with the left hand, pulling down with the right blade or maintaining a tightness in the left hip (not allowing the left hip to relax so that the right hip can perform a good hip snap).  In addition to these physical causes that lead to the head lifting there is also the underlying emotion of fear that essentially manifests all of these physical reactions.

Considering the fact that humans can’t breathe under water it’s understandable that we feel fearful when we flip over.  However, if we want to learn the roll and develop a bombproof whitewater roll we need to change our reaction to being upside down from one of fear to one of acceptance and maybe even of fun (at least when practicing).  Here’s why:  When we resist flipping over we are sending the message to our bodies that we don’t want to be in this position and that makes our bodies tense which in turn leads to all of the physical reactions previously mentioned that in turn make us miss our roll.  Shedding the resistance and fear will physically manifest as loose hips, light paddle, strong hip snap and head down.

At first glance it may appear that acceptance implies apathy; however, there is a big distinction between the two.  By acceptance I mean accepting that the situation is what it is in this moment without judgement of good or bad.  The judgement is what creates a story in our heads which can, in turn, lead us to believe things that just aren’t true.  For example, when we flip upside down and panic because we don’t want to be there it can seem like we’re under for 30 seconds when really we were only under for 5.  Because it seems like we’re under for 30 seconds we get scared and rush our roll which leads to tight hips, head coming up and missing our roll.

In the same situation if we just accept that we’re upside down without the story of how scary that is we could say to ourselves: “OK, I’m upside down and now I’m going to try my roll.”  The situation is much more relaxed and you are able to set an intention to roll.  In this scenario you’re mental state is relaxed and so is your body.  Feeling relaxed is the first step in accomplishing a roll.  When we accept what is and act from that place of acceptance our actions are more intentional and powerful.  Acceptance actually empowers your actions.  So the next time you flip upside down accept that you’re upside down and then do something productive about it — roll!

This same concept applies to situations off the water as well.  For example:  A few weeks ago the city of Veracruz in Mexico experienced an upsurge in drug-related violence that prompted us to move our winter paddling trips to Costa Rica.  In the beginning I resisted the whole situation because I didn’t want it to be happening.  I love paddling in Mexico and I didn’t want to have to change my plan.  My resistance to the situation caused me suffering and stress.  Once I accepted that the situation is what it is and that I had to take action to ensure safe and fun trips the prospect of new opportunities in Costa Rica became exciting!  I took action and changed our plans and allowed for new experiences to flow in.  Now we have amazing trips planned in Costa Rica!

The next time you feel that life throws you a curve ball by flipping you over in a rapid or introducing change accept what is happening and then take action that will bring you in the direction you want to go — usually up!

If you’re interested in more kayak instruction and helpful kayaking tips check out our instruction programs!  And if you’re interested in an awesome paddling vacation in Costa Rica CLICK HERE!

Girls at Play will be hosting Ladies on the Ledges this October! We will meet at the Ledges Park on the French Broad River Tuesday evenings after work (5:30-6:00) and paddle ’til dark. Bring your boats and attain up the rapids for killer cardio work out, technique tips & tricks and stroke refinement. And if ladies are up for it, we’ll grab dinner at Earth Fare after.

Meet other paddling ladies, get a great work out and learn some new skills!!

Are you looking to hone in on your skills and technique so you can get out there and attain even better? Join us for one of our Weekend Whitewater Clinics in Asheville.

Tip #1:  Remember that you have a lot of room to maneuver in big water.  One of the reasons why I feel so comfortable in big water is because to me it’s like paddling a big highway.  Most of the time the ‘V’s at the entrance of rapids are bigger so  you have more room to set up for your moves. This is especially true in class III and IV big water.  There is less margin for error in Class V big water as with all class V.  Having said that…

Tip #2:  The water may be more powerful than it looks so you need to commit to your moves and paddle aggressively.  This is especially true if you have to make a lateral move from left to right or right to left to punch through a reactionary wave or avoid a hole.  Since you do have a highway to start you can give yourself even more room to get that lateral momentum going.  Paddle harder than you think you need to when first starting to paddle big water and make your moves earlier.

Tip #3:  When you paddle big water you’re going to have to punch through big waves and wave holes so be aggressive about it.  Make sure that you’re paddling strong and not freezing up in the middle of wave trains.  Waves are less likely to flip you over if you’re padding and maintaining a speed that is as fast or faster than the current.  Stay focused on your paddling not on your nerves.

Tips #4:  Paddle through boils with speed.  Boils can be the most disconcerting part of paddling big water because they even bubble up in flatwater!  The best way to deal with boils is to get speed and paddle through them.  As you get more comfortable with boils you’ll be able to use your edges to stabilize better as you paddle through and you’ll be able to slow down and even use the boils to play!

Tip #5:  Take paddle strokes as you’re moving up a wave.  This will give you momentum up and over the peak.  Then be ready to do it again in the next wave.  Not only is this good technique, it’s also a lot of fun!  As you get more comfortable in wave trains you’ll be able to relax more, keep your hips looser and take fewer strokes when needed.  The tops of waves are also great places to take a look downstream to see what’s coming.  It’s your highest point so practice looking around from the top.

Tiip #6:  If you swim in big water be as self sufficient and aggressive as you can.  If you paddle whitewater you know about the ‘feet up/safe swimmer position.’  The safe swimmer position on your back with your feet pointed downstream in front of you is important for shallow, rocky rivers.  In big water you want to be more pro-active, especially if you know where to swim.  Keep a hold of your boat and paddle if possible because they can get swept away quickly in the powerful water — especially the paddle.  When you have the opportunity to swim into an eddy or toward a friend who can help swim aggressively.  The eddy lines are bigger and swirlier so they are going to take more energy to get across.

Tip #7:  The water is deep so take your time setting up for your roll and try as many combat rolls as you can before bailing.  One of the big advantages of learning to paddle in big water is that you can hang out upside down much longer without running into rocks.  And if you do swim you’re not bouncing off of rocks which makes it easier to swim aggressively.  On our Main Salmon trip I witnessed some big shifts in paddlers from not wanting to hang upside at all to getting impressive combat rolls.  Everyone likes that!!

I hope these tips are helpful on your journey to paddling bigger water.  Enjoy and see you on the river!

These are my tips for learning to kayak in big water.

If you enjoyed this article you might also be interested in our Idaho Main Salmon trip, September 5-10 2012. Or if you are in the mood for a tropical escape, check out our Mexico adventures!

By Em Shanblatt

Every woman who paddled with the Girls at Play summer tour, whether the adventure took place out east with Anna or out west with Mary Frances and I, had her name entered into a raffle to win some sweet gear!  REMEMBER?!

Now that the Girls at Play team is finally reunited after a long summer of adventure and travel, we’ve drawn the winners!  Here they are!

[DRUMROLL]

 Kimberly Riggle!!!

by Mary Frances Hansford

We had an incredible six day, five night journey down the Main Salmon River just last month. Eight vibrant women joined us for the trip, bouncing down the water in kayaks, duckies, rafts and an open boat. This trip is like no other with its full days of whitewater, camping under the stars and remote venue. It is a challenge to share in words all of the wonder that this trip entails so I’m just going to hit on a few of the highlights. You’ll have to come for yourself to really know what it is like to spend a week on the Main Salmon.

THE RIVER- The Main Salmon River, also known as “The River of No Return”  is magnificent. It is big and gentle water which makes for a fun and bouncy wave train adventure. It is also the second deepest canyon in North America, just after Hell’s Canyon on the Snake River (Nope, its deeper than the Grand Canyon) which makes for deep sloping walls of rocky ridges and historic rock formations. It is rich in history and beauty.

One of the most interesting and unique experiences about doing a multiday river trip is that you never leave the river. We are on it and in it, each day. And once we have reached our campsite, just on the shore, we sit and sleep by it, listening and watching as it continues its path, carving through the canyon. The sound and vision of the river are completely soothing. The river is like the breath in yoga, it calms and clears the head of that mindless chatter. It is almost impossible to not find yourself lost in the moment, and forgetting the little worries you had back home. Each curve reveals a new stretch of river, a new experience for you to embrace.

PEOPLE & FRIENDSHIPS- We had a incredible group of women on the trip- eight completely unique and enthusiastic women. The women ranged in age 30 to 55 and were mostly from the Southeast, with one exception, Karen from Oregon. We floated the river in mostly kayaks, but also a couple of duckies, one solid open boat and of course the three rafts. We cheered for each other during every rapid and helped eachother with rolls, surfing, yoyoing, hula hooping, hand rolling, yogaing, laughing and listening. Each woman had a special reason for being on the trip that ranged from fun to self-discovery to stress relief. We all left with a new breath, a new bright light inside that came from our new experience and our new friendships bonded by the river.

CANYONS RIVER GUIDES- Our four river guides were superb! Lisa Whisnant (Whizzy), Laura Bechdel, Tessa Greer, and Erica Laidlaw all worked together to make the trip seamless and fun. They prepared each and every meal with care, paddled those big ore rigs with all of our gear and picked the finest campsites for each night. Besides working hard to take care of every detail, they also provided us with laughter and fascinating stories about the river and its history. Whizzy has been guiding on the Main Salmon for nearly 30 years and describes rafting it as “coming home”, so needless to say, her love and respect for the river is contagious. Laura, Erica and Tessa have all grown up on the river, taking trips with their families with Canyons since they were little fish. So, each of them shares the passion and connection with the river in a special way. They all added a unique personality to the adventure. I could go on forever….

FOOD- The food the guides prepare is exceptional! Each meal is prepared with care with the finest ingredients available. Canyons makes a point to use local and organic foods whenever possible, so that means fresh Salmon, homemade jams and locally roasted coffee. The recipes are all family recipes passed down from the Canyons family over the years. Some of the menu included- grilled Salmon, crab cakes (Mom’s recipe flown in from Maryland), homemade lasagna, fresh salads, steak, mashed potatoes, cheesy corn bread, pancakes, eggs to order (every morning!), sausage, biscuits, brownies, and sooooo much more. I could go on forever here too ….

YOGA- Each morning Anna woke up the guests with a gentle dinging of the Tingsha Bells for yoga. Once everyone made it to the yoga space and laid down on the mat in that breathtaking setting, Anna would start the class with gentle breathing and stretches to open the hips and shoulders: all those muscles that tighten when we sit in our boats for a long time. By the end of yoga, the sun would be peaking over the ridges and warming our bodies. My favorite morning of yoga, we did sun salutations to each direction, and Anna shared all of the meanings and animals of the directions, which made it so fun.

MOON- The moon played a pretty significant role in our trip down the Main this year. We put on the river Friday and Saturday night it was full. So, needless to say it was like a bright spotlight beaming on us each night. When you are that far removed from artificial light, the moon is nearly as bright as the sun. Saturday night a few of us couldn’t resist, and went for a moonlit skinny dip! I think we started with just the few of us who hadn’t yet trickled off to bed but we were so loud with our laughing that within a few moments most of the other women come out to join us for a frolick!

THE RAPIDS We had a few wild rides and dynamic swims in the canyon! However, after each rapid, everyone emerged smiling and laughing! To name a few- Elk Horn, Black Creek, Vinegar, Chittam and Bailey.

THE STORIES & STOPS Just about everyday we would learn about a new person, Indian tribe or historical event that happened on the river. We stopped at several homesteads along the river where people still live and farm. We also stopped at a warm Hot Spring called Barth Hot Springs where we bathed in clear blue naturally heated pools. We viewed pictographs along the way as well, drawings Native Americans left on the walls long ago. It was amazing to see how clear they remain, exposed to the elements like that. They allude to the fact that many people for many years have inhabited the canyon. The river has nurtured many people through the years. Fortunately in 1980 the Salmon was designated as a wild and scenic river, preserving it under law.

The trip is definitely an experience like no other. I’m so grateful I could be a part of it and experience such an amazing trip with so many amazing women! Hope you can join us next year! Dates are set, so get ready September 5-10 2012!

Check out our line of instructional DVDs, if you are looking for a tool to progress your paddling during the winter months. Or join us for a tropical whitewater paradise getaway in Mexico!

Em was pumped up and I could tell she was up for the competition. During our previous two weeks, I had gotten to know her, and knew she couldn’t hold back her competitive nature. We geared up, filling our pfds with luna bars, lara bars, snickers. I packed tons of water in my boat and even a red bull, just because that what Em was doing. I don’t even like Red Bull but I thought who knows, I might need it to get through. Ok, I took the Red Bull out. What was I thinking.

Em finally made it clear that she was in it to win, and wasn’t really up for hanging back and just having fun. This didn’t surprise me one bit. Oh, man my nerves began to jump even more and my head continued to spin in a mess. My confidence was low and I had a 26 mile stretch of river completely new to me. Only a few minutes before, I learned that there would be class III and IV rapids on down the river. Hmmm, I had been doing great reading and running this level, but with this huge Colorado water I still never knew what to expect.

So, I kept moving through the motions, carrying my boat now to the starting eddy, that was filling up quickly with other racers in all sizes and shapes of crafts, looking pumped and ready to go. What had I gotten myself into.

We all started, shoving out of the eddy in Salida and down the Arkansas River to Cotapaxi 26 miles away. My head was still down, “Why did I do this, I’m not ready for this, these people are all so much better than me and know what they are doing…” I started to make excuses and tell myself it would be ok to get out early and hitch a ride, “whatever it would be ok if I didn’t finish.” The pack thinned out and Em was out of my sight within a few minutes. I paddled hard, remembering to take good strokes. So far so good, but my head was still filling with negative thoughts. The negative thought patterns continued for probably the first ten miles, until I recognized what I was doing to myself. Why was I beating myself up so much? I was on an incredible river in Colorado, at FIBArk, competing in a very special race that very few people can say they have participated. I was paddling hard, doing an awesome job on the rapids. Then I started to remember something I had heard before “That thinking positive thoughts, and repeating positive affirmations while you’re exercising, is great for your mental game and the exercising really reinforces their positive nature. So, that’s when I started telling myself I’m awesome. I’m doing awesome. It was a simple saying but it was better than what I had been thinking to myself. I kept saying it to myself, and talking to myself about how great my run was going, and how beautiful this place was.

Things started to change, I knew I could do it. I then found out from another woman racer that there was a tougher drop approaching. I could see ahead a horizon line and then the river taking a turn to the right. Alright, if I could handle this, I would be golden! I approached the top of the rapid and could see below the water making a V into a gigantic wave train. Awesome! just power through it, throw your wait into those waves! I did it, and once I started around the corner, shouted out a cheer, expressing the joy and satisfaction I felt! Behind me, I heard a man, make it through the rapid with a shout of accomplishment as well. I looked at him and cheered, sharing the adrenaline rush.

I kept paddling. My watch had been stolen a couple of weeks before so I didn’t have a clue how long I’d been on the river and therefore had no clue how long to go- hours or minutes?

There were only a few other paddlers around, two men in front of me and the other woman behind. In another half hour or so I noticed the men in front of me start to discuss a game plan for the upcoming section. Uh-oh, what would this be? I was feeling good, a little fatigued but powering through and enjoying it more and more. The last rapid had given me a confidence boost.

I paddled a little faster to try and catch the men ahead and ask them if there was a rapid ahead and what it was like. They gave me the beta, it was the biggest class IV on the river and they were punching the three laterals coming at you from the right. So paddle hard, with a right angle. Ok, so here I go, sounds good. Once I got to the horizon line, I saw them, enormous waves! The biggest I thought I had ever seen. I started right but then got pushed center. I saw the biggest of the waves starting to crash towards me. And as I approached it I hear the folks on the bank watching, cheer. The wave flipped me, I was now upside down feeling my boat move down the wave and then up the next one. “Just roll up, is what I thought, roll up… and I did!” I shouted with joy for myself. The safety boater was on the wave with me, there just in case I had decided to bail out of my boat. Wooohoo! I shouted at him. He wasn’t quite as excited as me, but that didn’t phase me. Wow, if I can roll in that, I can roll in anything! I saw the two men ahead of me cheering too. We told our stories of how it all went and gave each other high fives. We had to finish the race now. They said the rest was read and run, we weren’t too far from the finish.

I made it across the finish line in 3rd place, one second behind the 2nd place woman. Emily met me there, thrilled. We both congratulated each other and talked about the things going through our heads and how our 26 miles on the river had been.

I felt great that I had accomplished this and finished this race in less than 3 hours. I had overcome a lot of challenges along the way. I had read and run several new class III and IV rapids on my own, using my skills to make it through. I felt my greatest challenge to overcome was the mental game. If I hadn’t switched from the negative outlook, to positive, there is no way I could have made it, and made it with a smile, happy for myself and happy for the others. So, now I know for sure that if I change my thought process to positive, instead of dragging myself down with the negative thought processes, I could make it. So, if you find yourself in a situation where your bring yourself down, start to think positive messages. They can be very simple phrases. And when your mind goes back to the negative, recognize it, and try again. Things will change, I just know it!

If  you’re interested in paddling with us when we’re not travelling out west, check out our clinics in North Carolina!  Or if you’re intrigued by our love for kayaking AND travel, check out our paddling getaways in Mexico!

10 Rivers:  Green(upper and lower), Potomac(Little Falls, Mather Gorge and Great Falls), Woodhull Creek, Middle Moose, The Rouge, Ottawa(Middle and Main Channel), Madawaska, Lehigh, Yough(Middle and the Loop), New River Gorge.
24 days total on the road
19 of those we had paddle in hand.
3 full days spent driving  start to finish
3404.2 miles driveway to driveway including all wrong turns which mostly occurred in DC…
16 States/Provinces/Districts
Days of rain on the river  0
Craziest shuttle:  Woodhull Creek
3  days good for wearing my Eddie Bauer First Ascent Puffy Vest (I love my puffy vest) my favorite piece of gear
11 Days of Clinics taught with 70 women.
16 nights spent with family and friends
3 nights we paid for stays
Best sleep:  Lean-to in Vermont
Prettiest River:  Ottawa
Favorite River Run:  The Rouge River in Quebec
2 swims (not Anna)
1 lost paddle (not Anna)
1 Bear sighting
1 flat tire
1 Class V waterfall run(not Cindy)

Best Party:  Canada Day at the Jamieson/Darrahs

Best yoga class:  Therapeutics with Desiree Rumbaugh

As I recount all these facts and figures my mouth turns up slightly into a grin of happiness and gratitude for the opportunities that abound in life and the beautiful people I meet along the way.  I also giggle a little to myself because there is always a nervousness and apprehension for me going into a big travel or paddle into the unknown. And on this side, I can see the universe always lines up in my best interests with exactly the right experiences to make me stronger and wiser.
So go on, get out there do what you love, stretch your boundaries and bask in the goodness of it all!!

– Cindy

To paddle with us next summer, check back in with our Summer Tour info!  Or if you can’t wait that long to paddle with us, check out our clinics in North Carolina, wilderness adventures in Idaho and tropical getaways in Mexico!

Up until Anna’s first ACA instructor course she had never taken any formal kayak instruction.  She had learned from friends and had achieved a certain level of success paddling the New and the Gauley Rivers.  In fact, she thought that she was a bad-ass because she could run big stuff and do some cool tricks.  She wanted to take the course to earn extra money teaching kayaking at the rafting company she was working for.  When her ACA instructor told the group that they were going to be spending the first two and a half days on flatwater she thought that was really lame.  Why so much flatwater when they were accomplished boaters?

Her tune changed after the first flatwater session when she realized that she had so much to learn about stroke technique that would make her a much better paddler.  And when they moved to the moving water section of the course and she was challenged to make precise eddy turns, peel outs and ferries she realized that maybe she wasn’t as much of a bad ass as she thought she was.  The technique that Anna learned in her ACA instructor course changed her paddling and helped her to become one of the best female paddlers and instructors in the world.  In her own words:  “The Girls at Play/ACA Instructor Course will improve your skills and deepen your knowledge whether you want to teach kayaking or not.  Instructor courses are the best way for intermediate boaters to improve their skills.  It worked for me and it will work for you too.”

Girls at Play’s teaching philosophy is unique and that also makes this course unique.  In addition to the important teaching and paddling skills required by the ACA, you’ll also learn specific techniques for teaching women developed by Anna.  And you’ll be able to tap into Anna’s knowledge as a yoga teacher for stretching and warm-up strategies to keep yourself and your students paddling for many years to come.

Men are welcome to join!  In fact, Anna encourages men who want better insight on how to teach women to sign up.  The first course being offered will be co-taught with Robin Pope, an experienced and skilled male ACA ITE.

The class will be separated into two weekend clinics a month apart.  The time between courses gives the students a chance to process and practice what they are learning thus improving pass rates.  The first weekend will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday and end around 4 p.m. on Sunday.  The second weekend will start Friday morning and run until Sunday around 4 p.m.  You must complete both weekends to receive ACA and Girls at Play certifications.

If you already have an up-to-date ACA Certification and are interested in learning techniques for teaching women there will be a  separate weekend instructor workshop to become certified in GAP philosophy and techniques for teaching women.  Dates TBA.

Dates & Location for Girls at Play/ACA Instructor Course:

Weekend 1: September 23 – 25, 2011:  Sylva, NC

Weekend 2: October 28 – 30, 2011: Asheville, NC

Cost: $650.00 for both weekends.  Includes instruction and certification.  Does not include any meals, lodging, transportation, required reading, ACA Membership or registration with the SEI Committee.

Requirements: You must be a member of ACA to take this course.  You will only receive certification if you demonstrate proficiency in the skills required and pass the course.   Then you must register with the ACA SEI Committee.  More information about this can be found at this link: http://www.americancanoe.org/?page=Courses_Kayaking

You must have your own gear and be a proficient paddler on class II-III.  This course will have the ability to certify Levels 1 through 4.  If you are traveling for the course and need to rent gear Girls at Play does have boats and gear for rent.  Contact us to find out more.

To book your spot call 916.580.9352 or Contact Us. We need a minimum of 4 students to run the course and will cap it at a maximum of 10.

Required Reading List:

ACA Instructor Manual — can be purchased at the ACA website www.americancanoe.org

Girls at Play Instructor Manual — can be purchased in the Girls at Play webstore

Cancellation Policy:  A 50% deposit is required to book your spot.  The balance is due 30 days prior to the course start date.  15% of the deposit is non-refundable.  Once paid in full you can cancel between 29 and 14 days before the trip and receive a 50% refund.  If you cancel within 13 – 0 days before the course the payment is non-refundable.  At that time credit for a future or different program may be offered.

If you’re interested in becoming an ACA instructor but are a little about your skills, check out our Whitewater Instructional DVD with Anna Levesque, or look into a clinic or day of personal instruction in North Carolina!