When kayaking through white water isn’t an option, a swimming pool could be a safe alternative.
The University’s Outdoor Program offers kayak sessions in Gerlinger Pool on Wednesday nights. The pool sessions are a way for people to learn or practice their rolls (moving themselves upright after the boat has been tipped) in still water, and during a season when kayaking is not so popular, said Chris Taylor, a University graduate and a former Outdoor Program employee.
Taylor initiated the Gerlinger kayak sessions three years ago, modeling them after kayak sessions offered at Echo Hollow Pool, a community pool at 1655 Echo Hollow Rd. Taylor said the pool became very busy during the winter, so he wanted to offer a similar service for students closer to the University.
The Wednesday sessions are held from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The cost is $5 for general admission and $3 for Outdoor Program members. Every University student is an automatic member of the Outdoor Program, said Tina Johnson, the program’s outreach coordinator, and non-students can join for a $12 fee.
Kayaks can be rented for $3 from the Outdoor Program, but only five are available, said Analee McBee, a program employee who regularly attends the kayak sessions. She said some people choose to bring their own boats, but kayaks can also be rented from places such as Oregon River Sports, which charges $25 to $30 a day.
Most people attend the sessions to perfect their rolls, which can be practiced mst easily in still water, said Brenda Tincher, who attends most of the sessions.
“It’s a great way to get your kayaking skills down before you get to the river,” she said. “You can’t really kayak on a river unless you have certain skills.”
Experience is not necessary in order to take advantage of the pool sessions. The people who attend are of mixed skill levels, Johnson said. While some people are just learning, she said, others are perfecting stunts, such as cartwheels, or various balancing strategies.
Instruction is not provided during the pool sessions, but people who are just starting to learn often bring more experienced kayakers along in order to get appropriate attention, McBee said. Sometimes, she said, people come in pairs simply to share a kayak.
This year’s kayak pool sessions began Oct. 4 and will continue through Nov. 1. For next term, Taylor said, the Outdoor Program is considering kayak polo.