How I learned there is much more skill involved in finding my own lines than following the leader.

My first real “beatering” didn’t happen at Frank Bell’s or some other iconic rapid on French Broad 9. It’s embarrassing to admit, but it was during a long swim just above Ledges Whitewater Park, a Class II section of this river just past downtown Asheville.

Welcome to Whitewater: A Beginner’s Advice for Beginners. I am forever grateful for learning the wet exit during my introduction to kayaking class—and taking my first major swim that same day. Without getting past my fear of being upside down and underwater—and possibly trapped under the spray skirt—I know I would not have been able to relax and focus on learning all of the other skills I needed to progress with a reasonable level of confidence.

Welcome to Whitewater: A Beginner’s Advice for Beginners. When I decided to finally pursue my dream of learning to whitewater kayak at 55, going back to school was the right answer for me. It gave me confidence that I would be able to ask questions—and that no question would be “too dumb.” And it ensured that I learned skills correctly from the outset, so I didn’t start out developing bad habits that were likely to be sticky given my age and lack of any other paddling experience.