Kayaking Creates Life Lessons At French Regional Park

Do you know the W's of kayaking?

If you want to learn them, Recreation Specialist Ann Schinas of Eden Prairie with Three Rivers Park District can help you out.

At a women's beginner kayaking class at Clifton E. French Regional Park in Plymouth the weather was perfect and the weather is one of the most important W's of kayaking.

"Pay attention to the horizon, to the sky when you're going out on the water," Schinas said. "You don't want to be out there, in your kayak when it starts raining or the wind picks up."

Schinas has kayaked most of her life unlike the small group of women gathered around her on the beach of Medicine Lake Aug. 11. She tells them other important W's of kayaking include knowing where you are and knowing the water where you are.

"It's always important to know where you are and where you want to go as well as what type of location you will be in and if there are other people around with motorized boats or not," Schinas said. "If there is a current like in a river know if it's strong and how deep of water you will be and if there are hazards of any kind."

Also remember to dress for the temperature of the water, she said.

Besides the learning the W's of kayaking, participants were able to find out more about themselves mainly from why they wanted to attend the class in the first place.

"I want to be able to be independent on the water and feel more comfortable on my own on the water," said Nora Collins of Anoka.

Sisters Ann and Christine Otto, of Minnetonka and Elk River, had kayaked before, but both struggled in different ways with it.

“I couldn’t go straight when I paddled,” Ann Otto said.  Otto helped the class by demonstrating in the water what you do if you tip over. “I’m not afraid of tipping over anymore,” she said.

Her sister Christine had trouble getting in and out of her kayak without falling into the water, but from the class learned how to get in properly by leaning on the land side of the kayak and using the paddle laid across the kayak to keep balanced.

Park volunteer Mary Chase of Eagan remembers starting out and learning the basics, but she soon caught on enough to help instruct beginners.

“When I started out I needed a lot of help too,” Chase said. “Much of it you just learn by being on the water and doing it.”

The women at the beginner's class could now go to the next class in the series called "Kayaking 200: Beyond the Basics."