Creeking is unique style of kayaking. Categorized by lots of rocks, gradient, and tight or technical moves, many see creeking as a style of kayaking so different from river running or playboting that it practically requires it’s own skill set. Calling upon a different set of mental abilities as well, the steepness and elevated consequence of creeking requires the paddler to be confident in her abilities to make moves, catch eddies, and produce a plan B, C, or D instantaneously. Located in one of the world’s creek boating meccas, Girls at Play has recognized the importance of these skills, and the incredible fun and satisfaction that can come with this adrenaline filled, quick, technical style of paddling.

To share our amazing playground of local creeks, and help women everywhere step up their game, we’ve created our very own CREEK WEEK. Five days of creek boating in western North Carolina with the world class instruction that is Girls at Play. The week starts off on class III, as we discuss creeking maneuvers, techniques, and concepts. The theory of creek boating is almost as important as the details of the strokes. After asking how things went the first day, one woman responded with “Before, I’ve always tried to avoid rocks at all costs…Now I’m looking for them so I can hit them!”. In that humorous exclamation, she was referring to learning the boof stroke; a move used when going over a rock or drop to keep the kayaker’s bow up, in an effort to land flat, balanced, and in control. But not all of our time is spent discussing techniques and theories.

Throughout the week we progress to more difficult rivers, and encourage participants to play around with their boof strokes, and micro-eddy catching skills. We discuss river reading techniques through the lens of boat scouting, boofing, and safety, and give participants plenty of opportunities to practice scouting rapids, picking lines, and reading-and-running rapids.

Girls at Play’s first ever Creek Week happened this past month, and was a huge success. Women traveled from across the country (Colorado, Idaho, and Minnesota) and from all over the southeast to partake. We were very fortunate with a spell of rain hitting Asheville during the week, bringing up many of our favorite creeks like the Big Laurel, North Fork of the French Broad, and Wilson Creek. All of these creeks offer different skills to work on, and dynamic features and rapids that leaves everyone feeling challenged in some ways, and successful in countless others.

We also welcomed two highly acclaimed guest instructors to the program, Adriene Levknecht and Andrew Holcombe. Known as two of the best creek boaters in the world, Adriene and Andrew offer insight, experience, and a level of understanding about getting down rapids that is unparalleled by any other.

After our first ever creek week, one woman wrote us saying, “Life seems different now. One of my paddling goals had been to become more aware of different potentials on the river and understand better what I could do with them and how to handle it when plan A and B, (and C), don’t go as I intended. I did learn a ton, and that I have a ton more to learn! And, as so often happens, paddling is an apt metaphor for life in general.”

For more information on future Creek Weeks, check out our website or email info@watergirlsatplay.com. If you want to improve your kayaking before signing up for Creek Week, check out our Advanced clinics, or consider private instruction!

Written for Real Girl Magazine, April 2012 – www.realgirlmag.com

When I was a teenager, I wanted to be a professional soccer player.  I remember watching the 1999 World Cup when the US women’s team beat China, and Brandi Chastain ripped off her shirt and fell to her knees crying out a scream of glory, creating one of the most iconic moments in women’s sports history.  It put chills down my spine, and reminded me that’s what I wanted to do when I grew up.

Social pressures of middle and high school drove me towards this goal as well.  I had to play soccer, not just because I wanted to become a pro, but more so because that’s what all my friends did.  Soccer was just as much a social time as it was training for my wishful future career.

Middle and high school sports can create intense and strong social networks.  Social status is often even categorized by weather you’re a cheerleader or in the band, or on a varsity team versus JV.  But when I got to college, I realized there was much more to who I was than my teenage soccer dreams and social status.

I was always drawn to the outdoors, and when I moved down south to North Carolina for college, it was natural that I became active in the outdoor program.  Every day I walked past a big wooden shed, filled with plastic boats.  I inquired about this mysterious spot on campus, and discovered there was an active group of student kayakers.  After some detective work figuring out who these “kayakers” were, I got to know them, and one day, asked to go out kayaking with them.

From my first day on the river, I knew I was hooked.  I felt like I was a natural, my boat and I were one, like the river and I moved in sync, and let me pass safely that day because this was something I was meant to do.  I began kayaking all the time.  I’d practice in the swimming pool, in the pond, even in my sleep.  My learning curve was steep, and I wanted to get really good at this new endeavor, not only because it was one of the most fun activities I’d ever taken part in, but being on the river gave me a sense of fulfillment I’d never experienced before.  I wished I had discovered this magical sport sooner.

That first season I spent on the river was nearly 5 years ago, and kayaking has now an important and crucial aspect of my life.  It’s how I spend my free time, why I live where I do, and teaching kayaking is now what I do for a living.  When I look back onto my teenage soccer dreams, I can’t help but think, if only I had been a kayaker back then.  My dreams would have been different, but equally as ambitious.  My friends might have been different, but equally as loving.  My character would have developed differently, but with the same moral outcomes.

Kayaking provides not only adrenaline filled excitement but also that internal rush of pure joy and of feeling alive.  Being in the outdoors offers peace and tranquility, and while kayaking, I’m also able to take in the beautiful scenery and appreciate the natural world around me.  The river is a powerful place, and moving with and through the current and rapids feels like a finely coordinated dance.  Developing the skills to feel this flow in more challenging and technical rapids is what makes kayaking so addictive and challenging.  The sport is always pushing me to improve my skills, my confidence, and my values like perseverance, determination, and attentiveness.

What I’m getting at here, is that it’s easy to stay “in the box” and partake in the traditional activities and sports our schools and towns provide.  Social pressures of fitting in and being in the right crowd sway our decisions to participate in certain activities as well.  But not every girl is meant to stay in those boxes.  Every girl is unique, and there is an activity out there which will call to you the way kayaking has called to me.

Trying new things is how we learn about ourselves best, and how we open new horizons and opportunities.  Something strange and different like kayaking can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be.  To get involved in the sport, look into pool sessions nearby at a local YMCA or community pool.  Search the internet for a local paddling club, or group of people who paddle the river together.  The most important part of kayaking is safety, so always go with someone else, and always wear the proper safety gear.

Girls at Play is a small company based in western North Carolina.  We teach kayaking clinics and provide private instruction specifically designed for women.  While we teach mostly in the southeast US, we also run trips to Costa Rica and Idaho throughout the year.  Becoming involved with Girls at Play is a fabulous way to get introduced to the sport!  No matter your age, experience, or level of athleticism, Girls at Play will teach you everything you need to know to get started, and will provide a safe, fun, and empowering day on the river!

So get out there and try something new!  Experience the joy of kayaking and satisfaction of spending time on a river!  To learn more about Girls at Play, check out our website at www.watergirlsatplay.com and “like” us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/girlsatplay .

Share the experience of being on the water with your Mom or your Daughter on May 12th!  You can choose to whitewater kayak on Section 9 of the French Broad (beginner experience required) or Stand  Up Paddleboard the Biltmore Section of the French Broad (no experience required).  Choose your craft!  And if you don’t have a mother or a daughter to share the experience with you can join us anyway for a girls day out of instruction and fun.

Cost:  $150.00/person

Includes:  Instruction, equipment, lunch.

To book call 828.333.4482 or email us at info (@) watergirlsatplay.com

Each of us is unique and has unique life experiences that have led us to this moment and our sense of confidence or lack of confidence.  My sense of worthiness and confidence has often been derived from how other people respond to me.  Throughout my life I’ve looked for approval from other people as affirmation of my worthiness.  When I feel accepted, appreciated and loved it’s easy for me to feel good and to feel confident.  When I feel that I am being judged or disapproved of my confidence wanes. I struggled with freestyle competition for many years focusing more on how my peers and the crowd perceived me than what I needed to do to paddle well.  When I looked up into the crowd I would see judgmental faces instead of supportive faces.  I would tell myself that people were judging me and my performance would suffer.  When I didn’t perform to my expectations I would feel bad.  That bad feeling was rooted in a belief that if I didn’t kayak well I was unlovable.  Talk about a vicious cycle and downward spiral!

The truth about those faces in the crowd is that they were probably not judging at all.  I was the one feeling insecure, afraid of being unloved and being judgmental of myself.   Those attitudes were reflected back to me in the people around me.  If I had remembered that I am lovable (as we all are) no matter how other people respond to me or how well I perform then the faces in the crowd probably would have appeared supportive.  At that time I didn’t realize that my inner state defines and conditions my outer experience.  Instead of looking to other people for acceptance and support I know now that my worthiness has nothing to do with how other people perceive or respond to me and everything to do with how I feel about myself.  And how I perform on the river does not define my self-worth.  It is only a part of who I am.

Considering that I know all of this and that I have a lot of river experience under my belt I would think that I would be immune to insecurity about what other people think or about how I perform.  Unfortunately it’s not that simple.  I also know that our old habit and belief patterns don’t usually disappear with one, two or even multiple realizations.  It’s all about the practice over and over again, and life has a way of testing us over and over again just to make sure that we’re paying attention!

This winter I was invited on a classic Class IV-V self-support river trip in Costa Rica on the Chirripo Atlantico.  I was nervous about paddling a class IV-V river that I’m not familiar with and paddling with people that I don’t usually paddle with.  The type of beta I was getting ranged from classic class V to (insert exclamatory kayak dude voice) 30 class V + rapids taking 8 to 12 hours of solid paddling on the second day!  Awesome.  I wavered back and forth about going for an entire day.  I finally decided that it was too good of an opportunity to miss and that my experience would help me out with my mental game.

The group was made up of an Argentinian, a Canadian, three Americans and three Costa Ricans.  It was sweet that we were getting to paddle with local boaters who had lots of experience and had run the river several times.  Even though they were all good boaters,  I hadn’t spent a lot of time with them on the water.  When I paddle the Green Narrows at home I know the river really well and I paddle with good friends who I know love and support me.  Even though it’s Class IV-V, it’s within my comfort zone where I feel good and confident.  On the Chirripo trip I found myself out of my comfort zone, my confidence was being tested and all of those old habit patterns of seeking affirmation from others, being afraid of not paddling well and therefore not being accepted started bubbling up.

Add to this the fact that I put pressure on myself to perform at a certain level because of my experience in the industry, it’s my first self-support where I have to carry weight in my boat and I’m using an older boat that is not my first choice for challenging creeking.  Yikes!  Can you feel the downward spiral already?  Even with all of this stuff going on in my head I’m able to feel that desire inside to challenge myself and a knowing, although veiled, that I’m o.k.

We drove through the mountains to the river on narrow, super steep, twisty Class V roads.  The first day was short and sweet starting out in Class II and getting into some nice Class IV.  I was able to relax, some.  We camped at the mouth of the canyon in a beautiful, remote spot surrounded by lush jungle.  It’s always lovely to sleep by the river, watching the stars until I can’t keep my eyes open any longer.  On the morning of the second day we entered the Class V section, guarded by two waterfalls cascading down either side of  of the canyon walls.  It was an epic 6 hour section of classic Class IV-V rapids, some sweet and some manky. All of it awesome!

I struggled with my old habit patterns and beliefs throughout the day experiencing a wide range of emotions, sometimes feeling confident and other times feeling shaky and insecure. At times I was frustrated with my inability to control my mind, my desire for the others on the trip to tell me that I was good enough and how all of that negatively affected my paddling.  At least I was able to remind myself that there is no magical remedy for the mind game. The key is to keep doing self-inquiry to discover the root of the insecurity, to recognize when the negativity starts creeping in and to practice ways to override those reactions.

What I did on this trip was take lots of deep breaths, trust my intuition and tell myself you’re here and you’ve got to get down the river so keep doing your best no matter what happens.  When I was hard on myself I would look around and be grateful for the amazing opportunity that I had to be on that river with such awesome paddlers.  I almost bailed on the trip because of my nerves and insecurities and looking back I realized that would have only strengthened the old habit patterns.  Instead I chose to step up and was given the opportunity to remember that I am a good paddler, that I am graced with loving, supportive relationships and that paddling out of my comfort zone is good for me!

My friend Julian made an awesome video of the trip that I hope you’ll enjoy.  I’m the one in the green colored boat.

Like many women, I struggled with my body image through my teens and my 20s. I often felt like if I just lost weight everything would be better. I ran, worked out at the gym and dieted a lot. I often found myself obsessing over calories, and would let my eating habits determine the tone of my day. If I’d eaten too much, my day was ruined. If I ate a little, I felt thin but that lead to eating too much later. The whole body obsession in today’s society can really lead to an unhappy mindset, and an endless search for satisfaction and control.

I had dabbled in yoga since I was about 21, and always enjoyed it. At age 28, I picked it up again, really falling for it, practicing weekly. Yoga was not only fun for me because you get to act like a kid and get into funny shapes, falling over while trying a headstand, but it also helped to calm my mind. Instead of racking my brain for the number of calories I had burned on the treadmill, I could get in touch with how I actually felt physically. I could tell I was getting stronger, more open and learning more about myself. Yoga helps you to listen to your body by quieting your mind, opening the blood and oxygen flow to new parts of your body and making you feel strong and energetic.

I started kayaking just about a year after I reunited with yoga. I was looking for a new hobby, never knowing that it would become such a large part of my life. Already feeling physically and mentally healthier from the yoga, kayaking really lit a fire for me. I loved that I could spend an entire weekend on the water, in nature, with new friends and get exercise all at the same time. I also loved how everyone put on their gear and was instantly in the moment. It didn’t matter what you looked like, where you worked or what kind of car you drove, it was all about being in the moment and enjoying the day.

Nearly every weekend now, I was kayaking, so needless to say, it began to seep into every part of my life. I realized that the yoga and exercise I did during the week, increased my performance on the river on the weekends. So, instead of going to the gym to burn calories to fit into some old jeans, I was working out to feel good on the water and progress my kayaking. I started to enjoy the food I was eating more and even like my reflection in the mirror. I felt like I was being myself and smiling a truly authentic Mary France smile. I saw photos of myself kayaking or just hanging out by the river and didn’t judge my image but saw a happy person, that I liked.

One of the reasons yoga and kayaking helped me feel better was because my goals had changed. Instead of working out to lose weight, I started working out to feel great paddling and to make it farther into the yoga poses. Finding an activity that you love doing and that you want to get stronger and faster for- kayaking, dancing, biking, – makes life more fun and makes you forget to look in the mirror and criticize yourself. I like kayaking because of the social aspect. I can spend a day on the river with friends and feel so fulfilled when the day is over because I’ve exercised, talked, laughed, focused and breathed fresh air.

Now that my lifestyle has changed and I teach kayaking. My exercise habits have changed. I continue to love yoga, but I’ve found that well, after guiding in Costa Rica for three weeks in a row, I need to be strong. The strength increases my confidence while improving my strokes, my rescue skills and my boat lifting (I’ve got to lift a lot of boats, and it’s a TON easier when your muscles do the work). So, now I’m focusing on core strength and upper body strength on top of doing yoga and cardio.

These days, I’m a much more confident person. I feel like all of that searching that I did in my 20s, has lead me to feel so much more comfortable in my own skin. I don’t know how much I weigh, or how many calories I’ve burned today, but I do know that I feel strong and if I want to eat chocolate chip cookies, I do it. I’ve learned to listen to my body and to give it what it needs. I’m sure that with time, I will continue to learn how to love my body and take care of it, but I’m happy to be where I am today with it. I struggled something fierce, and it wasn’t fun for a long time. So, if you feel this too, find something active that makes you happy and enjoy it. Enjoy life!!

If you’d like to give whitewater kayaking a shot check out our awesome clinics this summer. Or if you’re looking for a way to get fit in your own home, check out Anna’s Yoga for Kayaking DVD.

Returning from Costa Rica after nearly two months of work and play, I found myself wanting to relive all the joy I experienced in the tropics.  I wanted to eat mangoes everyday, kayak in a shorty, and put Lizano sauce on everything I ate.  Sadly, these things proved to be unique my time in Costa Rica, and as I eventually admitted to myself, should not be recreated (especially paddling in a shorty in North Carolina in February…)

Costa Rica is a magical place, and anyone who joined us this winter to paddle knows what I’m talking about.  The rivers are fun and beautiful, the wildlife and scenery are insurmountable, and after warm days of nothing but sunshine, you can’t help but go to bed with a smile.

Photo by Shanna Hoge Gachen

Girls at Play held four trips this winter, including a Co-Ed trip (with special instructor Andrew Holcombe), a women’s Novice trip, and two Intermediate women’s trips.  Each trip proved to be uniquely different, as the various personalities of each group emerged and evolved throughout the week.  Each group offered plenty  of laughs, many learning opportunities on the river, and crazy antics off the river.

Photo: Sarah McEneany

Photo: Sarah McEneany

From morning yoga sessions, to rope swings, to salsa dancing at night, each day reminded me how special of a place I was in, and how amazing kayaking is.  It’s a sport that takes us across the world, and to places that no others can access besides fellow paddlers.  I feel grateful everyday knowing that kayaking has given me such an unforgettable winter in Costa Rica, and has introduced me to the countless amazing people I met down there.  From local guides, to world class bus and van drivers, to the amazing folks who came on our trips, I know some of the friendships I made in Costa Rica will last for years to come.

Hope you see you down there next year!

“Pura Vida” is a staple to every Costa Rican’s lexicon.  Literally translating to “pure life,” it’s a phrase unique to their country and is proudly owned by all the locals and natives.  They use the phrase ubiquitously in situations where westerners would say “that was awesome!” as well as “so it goes, shit happens.”

It describes this country well though.  Pure life.  My first impressions of Costa Rica happened on the 2 hour drive in from San Jose to Turrialba.  Along the trecherous and windy roads (on which I later got car sick a puked up all my lunch) the surroudning mountains, valleys, and nearby roadside are covered in green life.  Foliage and floura like nothing I’ve seen before; probably because I’ve never been to a tropical jungle.

The leaves on many of the trees are enormous.  The radiating sun and and instant humidity remind me that if I was a leaf and had an endless supply of water and ATP producing energy, I too would make my leaves gigantic.

Every flower seems to display either a saturated or iridescent color from all across the spectrum.

A human’s life in Costa Rica feels pure as well.  The simplicity of our little bodega, and open air feel reminds me that there is no need to seperate ourselves from the fresh warm air outside.  The seemingly infinite supply of Vitamin D and oxygen draw me outside on a nearly uncontrolable level.

The first few days of kayaking here left me searching for adaquete words to explain what I was seeing.  Canopies of vines dangling overhead, lush green bangs flowing into mountains in the background, a few gorges with towering vertical granite walls, countless waterfalls rushing into the rivers from every height imaginable, crystal blue water is if it had been trapped in glaciers for millions of years free of contamination or even human touch.

The big water here gives me that sense of focus and flow, while the pools between rapids give me a release from any concern I’ve ever felt impeded by.

Even the colors of buildings and houses in the town of Turrialba constantly distract me from where I’m walking, as I try to quiet the sensory overload I’m always battling.  It’s an enjoyable distraction though, if I remember to slow down and observe.

They say here too that a town is defined by a church, a school, and a soccer field.  I’ve watched lots of boys play around on the fields in anything from barefeet to cleats, in dirt or crabgrass, with nets or just a metal frame.  I even saw a few guys kicking the ball around in the rain, each holding an umbrella overhead.

As we paddle down rivers, we’re always seeing families and children playing on the shore.  For me, that image of a child swimming epitomizes freedom, relaxation, and simplicity.  I hold on to that visual when old patterns of hurriedness, momentary stress, or frustration arise, and remind myself that this place, and my life here are truly amazing and a real gift.  PURA VIDA!

59 years old (and proud of it!). Grew up in Massachusetts in a small town on coast about twenty miles south of Boston. Middle of three children = older sister, Anne; younger brother, Rob. Growing up, horses and riding were my main sports activity though also did a lot of sailing and swimming. After high school it took me three colleges, 12 years and a life altering event to finish college at New York University. During one of the ‘between college periods’ I spent enough time working with horses at a combined training facility to realize I wasn’t good enough to make a decent living doing it.

In 1976 I became disabled with an incomplete spinal cord injury. Was in New York at the time and ended up moving back with my parents for a while before moving into my own apartment, finishing my undergraduate degree and getting a job. From the time of my injury I became very involved in the civil rights movement for the disabled. This was decades before the Americans with Disabilities Act, accessibility was horrible and discrimination rampant. It also helped me work through a lot of anger in a positive way as well as see some great role models for my revised life.

Also while still in NY I began playing and competing in wheelchair tennis. That was the first time I’d been able to really feel like I was back participating in any sort of athletics. It was a relatively new sport that grew explosively with the development of new wheelchair designs specifically for sports. BTW the first new radically designed chair that became a success was the brainchild of a woman (Marilyn Hamilton) and two friends with engineering & bike technology backgrounds. She built up a company that later was sold to Sunrise Medical. Anyway for me to practice, get coaching and compete it was necessary to drive outside of the city since I couldn’t afford to pay Manhattan prices for court time, etc.

In 1987 I made the decision to leave NY and started looking for somewhere to move. I was working for a large public accounting firm that had offices all over the country. Long story short I ended up moving to Richmond in the fall of 1987 and have been here ever since. I’m working as an internal auditor for Dominion Resources which is a large energy company which owns the local electric utility and generation plants as well as natural gas storage & pipelines. My job is great – I’m always working on new things and there’s constant learning as well as being paid to be nosy!

How did you get into kayaking?  I went to an adaptive paddling demo for canoeing. Canoeing didn’t have much appeal because of the issues with stability and general awkwardness but I began talking with the two instructors – Karen Abse & Jay Lewis. They asked if I’d be interested in trying kayaking because they’d like to help teach me if I was and I jumped at the chance.

How long have you been kayaking?  I began in 1994 or 1995 not sure which – a long time ago…

What is your favorite thing about it?  My favorite thing about kayaking is how empowering it is. I can go wherever and do whatever that’s within the bounds of my abilities. I can get out in the middle of natural areas and see things that are impossible (or at least very difficult) for me to get to from land.

What are your biggest challenges? Usually the biggest issues to overcome are getting between the parking lot and the riverbank.  Sometimes it takes some innovative thinking and cooperative acrobatics to get me and my boat together on the river. There have been other issues – without a hip snap it took me over a year to find a roll I could do. I also can’t do much scouting so I’ve had to learn to listen closely to descriptions and follow someone I trust.

What advice can you give to other women boaters about the sport?  Realize that women and men have differences in the way they think, learn and paddle. Paddling doesn’t have to be a ‘power’ sport – just learn to use the water and your body movements to take advantage.

What paddling programs/clubs are you involved in right now? Tell us more about getting stairs and a ramp on the James river. I’m a member of Coastal Canoeists which a Virginia paddling organization. It’s a great way to meet up and just about each week they have trips at all different levels. I’m also very involved in the James River Outdoor Coalition (JROC) – actually on the BOD and Treasurer. JROC’s mission is to provide improvements and support for the James River Park System (JRPS). The JRPS is a multi-area natural park and is part of the Richmond City Dept. of Parks & Rec. There are several river access points in the park as well as bike/walking trails, etc.  JROC has done everything from trail building, constructing a new put-in downtown at 14^th St., building changing rooms and kiosks, building steps at a climbing wall, general clean up & clearing, paying for gravel & port a potties some times when the budget was tight.  As for “The Project” – it has blossomed from just putting in a ramp to rebuilding the access have a ramp and steps wide enough to accommodate carrying a raft. Right before I left on the Idaho trip one of the people from Corporate Affairs asked if I knew of any projects in the parks or river area that might be good for a volunteer project. She knew I was involved with JROC. Just so happened I’d been having discussions on how nice it would be to put in an accessible ramp at the Reedy Creek access. Anyway Dominion took it on as an Environmental Day project which meant we could get three days of volunteers and use of an excavator. I volunteered to coordinate. The Dominion Foundation (charitable giving arm of the company) gave $5000, JROC matched the $5000 and the Parks Dept. allowed us use of Parks personnel to coordinate & help with the construction. We enlisted the assistance of the Storefront for Community Design (a non-profit group of architects, engineers & designers that assist local non-profits). They did the design for us and off we went. Construction started & we ran into all sorts of problems – huge amounts of rock that needed moving and some were the size of small houses (okay they just seemed that big). We had to do reengineering, went over budget, got another $2000 from Coastal and are currently waiting for the river to go down to finish pouring concrete for the ramp. Stairs have been put in and are already in use.  Got some great press – here are a couple of links  http://www.nbc12.com/story/15952136/one-of-a-kind-boat-ramp-gets-installed  http://www2.timesdispatch.com/sports/sport/2011/nov/04/disabled-paddlers-get-ramp-on-the-james-ar-1434063/  Sorry for going on so…

Do you have a favorite memory from one of your GAP trips?  Probably one of my favorite memories is from the Mexico trip. We were on the Actopan and I’d had two marvelous runs down the waterfall. I hadn’t believed I could do it until I was actually on my way down! The lagoon was so beautiful, the water an unbelievable blue, the vegetation and water running down the sides, such energy from everyone on the trip -  We were all feeling so positive and accomplished and energetic. Then to make it even more perfect I scattered some of Karen Abse’s ashes where the spring comes into the lagoon. I felt like Karen, as my dear friend who taught me to kayak, was able to share a new pinnacle of boating with me. Karen died in a kayaking accident almost six years ago here on the James. According to her wishes friends scattered her ashes on mountains & in rivers all over. That’s my emotional best memory.

What inspires you to keep getting out there? Every time I go out on a river (or lake or pond…) it’s almost spiritual. I’m out in Nature (with a capital N) and feel the beauty, majesty and power. It helps keep me in perspective and in awe. The feelings of freedom also help.

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