Have you ever thought about the funny-sounding lingo that kayakers use, such as: loops, phonics, monkeys, felixes, eddies and McNasties? By joining
the Kayaking Club here at ETSU, you’ll be able to learn what these words mean, as well as attend their weekly roll sessions
and monthly trips.
The club takes many trips throughout the year to practice
in moving water and to see how expert kayakers make it look so easy.
Some of the trips offered are to Bridge Day, Northern Alabama Whitewater Festival, Gauley Festival, Green River Race and trips to rivers such as the Russel Fork and the Rio Grande.
Bridge Day, in Fayetteville, W. Va., at New River Gorge, includes base jumping off of an 876 foot bridge, which is also the world’s second longest single
arch bridge.
“We’re going to kayak the four-mile stretch on the river, and then hang out at the bridge and watch the base jumping from below,” said Jeremy Bailey, president of the Kayaking Club and a sophomore majoring in Recreation Management.
The Green River Race in North Carolina “is the most predominant kayaking ‘river race’ in the world, with a class five creek,” said Bailey. “Some of the best boaters from around the world come out.”
One of the clubs’ favorite
trips is the Gauley Festival
in Summersville, W. Va. “We took a van and a gas card up to the festival,” said Bailey. “The day after, we rafted the Gauley with a couple of kayakers.”
Bailey mentions that “a lot of kayakers tend to be adrenaline
junkies. Any time it rains at the festival, and anywhere else, kayakers have big smiles on their faces.”
“Jeremy is very proactive in getting out to some of the larger whitewater events in the Southeast,” said William Hill, a senior majoring in geology and a club member. “Jeremy actually helps the younger boaters here and takes them out on big trips to good places to learn. They get a little culture that way. Of course, when you sleep in a van for a couple of days, it makes the group a little tighter.”
The club has around 30 members and has a fee of $10 per person per year.
“More than anything else, it’s a networking of people who wanna paddle,” said Bailey. “It’s about going on unplanned trips. If someone wants to go out they can call on other club members.”
The club offers free roll sessions
for anyone who wants to learn a kayaking roll, which involves how to either get out of the boat if you flip in moving
water or how to roll yourself
back over. Roll sessions are three nights a week:Monday, Wednesday
and Thursday,
from 7-9 p.m. at the CPA pool.
To get in touch with the club and for more information on upcoming trips, visit the club’s Facebook group, “Blazing Paddles,”
or e-mail Jeremy Bailey at chicago7890@hotmail.com.

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