How to always have other paddlers to paddle with

Words: Del Read

Photos: Tom Clare,
Jack Ledwith, David Turnbull & Del Read

Del Read

Del Read
https://delkayaks.co.uk
@del_likes_kayaking

Tom Clare
www.facebook.com/
tomclaremedia
@tomclaremedia

Jack Ledwith
@jled_photo

How to always have other paddlers to paddle with

One of the most common messages I get through my social media accounts is, “Can I come kayaking with you?” I believe that this question is not asked because people want to paddle with me specifically but more because people want to paddle with someone. I post a lot about my kayaking adventures; therefore, people know I am out paddling, and asking if they can come with me might mean they can also get out paddling.

One of the barriers to going whitewater kayaking is that it requires you to have paddling friends to do it with. I paddle solo regularly but only on flat river sections or at a white water centre. I would not paddle a whitewater river solo for safety, social reasons, and shuttles.

I appreciate that people are comfortable paddling whitewater solo, which is their choice. Usually, the people doing so are more than capable of making that decision and carrying it through safely. I am not here to debate that. Instead, I am here to share some tips on making paddling friends so you always have someone to paddle with!

Firstly, I occasionally have days where I want to paddle but can’t find anyone to go with! On those days, I accepted that a flat water paddle on my own was 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.

Do you check on the person behind you whilst paddling and make sure to pass river signals on clearly? If the spot where you are entering/exiting your kayak is tricky, do you offer to hold the next person’s boat to give them stability as they get in/out? Someone who shows they are a safe and considerate paddler will likely be asked to paddle again. You can read more about being a safe paddler: https://delkayaks.co.uk/2020/05/25/why-being-safe-is-the-first-step-to-becoming-an-independent-boater/

Being helpful isn’t just limited to whilst you are on the river. Helping with the shuttle, taking some nice photos/videos of people if you can and generally checking in on people will all make you a desirable paddling buddy! I have a waterproof phone and always try to get photos and videos of others on the water if I can and then send them the high-resolution copies afterwards. I have realised from adventure sports that people appreciate people who can take good photos. If you want tips for getting better paddling photos – read phenomenal photographer Tom Clare’s guest blog https://delkayaks.co.uk/2020/11/20/top-tips-for-better-paddling-photos/

I could say I do freestyle. But once you saw that my loops looked like this – you would know the truth! Photo: Tom Clare

3. Leave your ego at home
In simple words – don’t chat rubbish. Something I have noticed is that the best paddlers I know never boast. Paddlers who can paddle a chunky Upper Dart in a full slice are never the ones who would tell you that. They don’t paddle rivers to tell people they paddle those rivers; they do it because they enjoy it!

My issue is that people who boast often don’t give a representative picture of their paddling ability. I once paddled the Upper Dart as a mock student for part of my friend’s Advanced White Water River Leader. It was at about 0.7 on the online gauge, and I noted that this was the lowest I had ever paddled it, and there were more rocks than I remembered. The (quite lovely, I might add) couple of guys who were also mock students with me exclaimed that this was the highest they had ever run it! This made me laugh a little because the Upper Dart is, for whatever reason, seen as a bit of a test-piece river for UK paddlers. People like to say that they’ve ‘run the Upper Dart’, but I don’t think it counts if there was no water in the river at the time!

If you name-drop rivers or people to make yourself look competent, it tends to backfire once you are on the water and your paddling doesn’t quite match the picture you have already painted with your words.

Frankly, if someone introduces themselves as a ‘class 5 kayaker,’ I struggle to keep a straight face. Anyone competent in class 5 and regularly paddles that level of river probably wouldn’t describe themselves that way. They have enough skill and experience to know that every river day is different, and there will be days when they walk away from the’ class 5 river’ that they happily ran the day before.

I say this with experience. After a year of paddling, I ran my first ‘class 5 river’. It was dog-low and resulted in a black eye for me. At the time, I boasted to friends that I had run a class 5 river. I now look back with embarrassment. I was not, and probably never will be a class 5 boater. Instead, I was a class 2/3 boater with a decent roll, a lot of balls and minimal experience. I am lucky that my black eye wasn’t lost, and I regret ever feeling pride for that ‘achievement’. So yeah, don’t boast!

4. Be friendly, not grumpy!
This one goes well with leaving your ego at home. Being nice to people goes a long way. People will want to paddle with you if you are pleasant to be around and bring positivity and fun.

Nobody cares how good you are at kayaking if you are not pleasant. Making conversation with people and listening to what others have to say are all things you can do to be nice. And most importantly, don’t get grumpy over silly things!

People have gone paddling because they want to have fun. If you have a silly swim, nobody cares. If you then sulk for the rest of the day and put a downer on everybody else’s mood, then yeah, people will care! And you can bet next time the rain comes, you won’t be getting an invite. If you have a silly swim, smile, be humble, and thank whoever collected your gear. Then move on!

Equally, if someone else swims or seems to be having a bad day, just be kind. You never know what demons others are facing; sometimes, that kind word can make all the difference.

5. Bring snacks!
I don’t think this one needs much explanation. People like people who have food. Nothing is better after a long, cold day on the river than someone offering you a cookie. Those people get invited back again!

Paddling a class 5 river does not make you a class 5 boater. Photo: Tom Clare

Capturing other people’s successes. Photo: David Turnbull

Oops, I’m out of my boat! Who cares? Photo: Tom Clare

River Vyrnwy at New Year. Paddling with a lovely bunch that I met on the day! Photo: Tom Clare

6. Ask!
I have paddled with many people I have not met before and have concluded that asking is the best way to find a paddling buddy. Ask broadly – in a group or a paddling chat. Stating the day, location, and grade/river often works best. For example, ‘A friend and I are looking to paddle the river Vyrnwy this Sunday at about 10:00 as it releases. Would anyone be keen to paddle with us?’. If people can consider this option without being put on the spot, you are much more likely to get someone who wants to paddle with you.

This option doesn’t always result in someone saying yes, but it is an excellent way to broaden your paddling group. Some of my now regular paddling buddies I have met in this way.

This option does require you to be online and part of online groups. Facebook is great for access to local, national or even international groups! You might find that there are already established meetups in your local area that you could join.

Equally, the good old joining a club and meeting people in person also works. The bonus is that the people you meet should live relatively near you, making car sharing to the river easier, not to mention the additional benefits of joining a club, like access to gear and the wisdom of other members. If you are new to paddling, this is my recommendation.

I hope you enjoyed this, and happy paddling!