Whitewater Kayaking Group: Houston
Rice Outdoors Club kayakers organized a one-day kayaking
trip on Oct. 19 to a small lake a few miles south of Houston, where they
practiced rolling and the basic kayaking strokes. They also played games
designed to increase their skill in controlling the kayak. This was the first
meeting of a whitewater kayaking group being formed by members of the ROC.
Molly Cumming, the kayak advisor and a program administrator with the Rice Design Alliance, borrowed kayaks and equipment from friends to outfit the nine ROC members who participated.
Cumming is a experienced kayaker who has paddled on many large whitewater rivers.
The beach was covered with neoprene skirts, helmets, spray jackets, paddles, lifejackets and decked boats as paddlers picked through the equipment trying to find gear that fit.
Greg Jensen, president of the Bayou City Whitewater Club, and Cumming provided instruction in basic skills and then gave individual rolling instructions.
Throughout the afternoon, a running game of keep-away provided an excellent test of skills. The object of the game was to keep a green tennis ball in the possession of one team. Paddlers could use their hands to catch and throw the ball to teammates, but they could only have possesion for five seconds.
Players quickly learned to pivot their boats, back paddle and use paddles to slap passes out of air.
Anyone interested in joining the group should contact Phillip Montgomery at the Rice News Office. 831-4792.
-- Phillip Montgomery
Rice News Office
This item appeared in the Features section of the November 1, 1996 issue.
Copyright © 1996 The Rice Thresher. All Rights
Reserved.
This document may be distributed
electronically, provided that it is distributed in its
entirety and includes this notice. However, it cannot be reprinted
without the express written permission of:
The Rice Thresher, Rice University, 6100 Main, Houston, TX 77005-1892, USA.
The Thresher Online Project -- ethresh@listserv.rice.edu