Dipping in the first paddle

Monday, May 12, 2014

Two of the Arkansas Canoe Club's co-founders -- Stewart Noland of Little Rock and David Thrasher of Rogers -- also were instrumental in organizing the first School of Whitewater Paddling in 1976.

From the beginning they emphasized responsibility, training program leaders under guidelines used by the Tennessee Rivers Association Canoe School.

The canoe club itself was founded in 1975, and during its early years, the American Red Cross was the only organization with formal instruction for paddlers. Red Cross instructors taught the club's safe boating clinics for two decades. But as the Red Cross moved away from canoe instruction, the club turned to the American Canoe Association and developed its own volunteer instructors.

Over 15 years, the national association has certified more than 100 Arkansas Canoe Club members as canoe, kayak and swift-water rescue instructors.

Through the school's 38 years, interest has shifted away from canoeing and toward kayaking, with 93 of this year's 120 students signing up for kayak classes of various skill levels. Solo and tandem canoe classes drew 22 students. And with just five students, for the first time, the school included stand-up paddleboard (SUP) instruction.

ActiveStyle on 05/12/2014