Where have all the whitewater canoes gone?

[eckilson]

This post started with a trip on the Sugar River in NH that I did last year as the only canoe with 20 kayakers. Well, I did the trip again yesterday, and this time I was the only canoe with 6 kayakers. On the positive side, of the 6 kayakers 5 were relative youngsters - at least compared to me. On the negative side, I've looked around and there are no "intro to solo whitewater canoe" classes around. I got my start with an intro class with the AMC. None offered that I could see this year.

Anyway, few pictures from yesterday's trip here:

Sugar - April 5, 2025

Explore this photo album by Erik Eckilson on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

 

[Paddlinhal]

 

[eckilson]

That's the last guy who took a canoe class...

 

[Steve in Idaho]

There's an Esquif L'edge for sale in Moscow, an Outrage in Missoula, and another Outrage in Kalispell. Just sayin'.

 

[eckilson]

There's an Esquif L'edge for sale in Moscow, an Outrage in Missoula, and another Outrage in Kalispell. Just sayin'.

I'd go for one of the Outrages.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

I'd go for one of the Outrages.

It's tempting.

 

[ABT]

On the negative side, I've looked around and there are no "intro to solo whitewater canoe" classes around. I got my start with an intro class with the AMC. None offered that I could see this year.

My regular paddling partner just got laid up with an emergency surgery (doing well, all good) but it has changed my spring paddling plans a bit. Our Buffalo trip is now cancelled leaving an open weekend at the end of the month. Turns out there is a beginner whitewater clinic that has canoe specific classes all weekend. I went and watched the annual whitewater races on the same stretch of river a few weeks ago and it looked like a blast. Thinking really hard about signing up. May have a line on an Outrage X as well but not a lot of time to pick it up and get it outfitted before the clinic. Unfortunately they don’t seem to offer any other classes for beginners except for this one so if not now I may have to wait until next year’s unless I want to travel for one.

 

[Gamma1214]

Might be worth contacting them and see if anyone has a loaner boat. Worst they can say is "did you (already) hit your freakin' head?" (or something similar)

 

[ABT]

Might be worth contacting them and see if anyone has a loaner boat. Worst they can say is "did you (already) hit your freakin' head?" (or something similar)

I reached out to them earlier today and mentioned I was looking for a boat to buy and they very graciously offered to loan me a boat! Said they would bring a few extra and all I need to do is show up to the campground the night before and they’ll see what will be the best fit for me. Sounded like a heck of a deal so I went ahead and signed up. I’m pretty excited about it, sounds like it will be a great time and I’m sure I’ll learn a ton. That was pretty good advice, thanks!

 

[eckilson]

I reached out to them earlier today and mentioned I was looking for a boat to buy and they very graciously offered to loan me a boat! That was pretty good advice, thanks!

I did my first WW training in a loaner boat - a Mohawk XL-13. This was me in the rental boat in 2005.

https://flic.kr/p/dVx9nv