Frequently Asked Questions

  • A lap is going down river from point A to point B. We “set shuttle” together, meaning we begin laps at point B and leave as many cars with racks as possible at point B and drive up to point A together with boats and people.

  • Skills laps have specific ratios we need to achieve so we have success for students and instructors. We typically are able to fit in people with gear who want to attend but you must still sign up and we will contact you a little over a week out to let you know if you got a spot. 

  • For weekday upper laps, we alert people a few days out. We do ask for grace, we are all volunteers behind the scenes. For skills clinics, we commit to letting folks know over a week out.

  • A little rain is never a bad thing, we monitor for severe weather and make the call typically day of.

  • Not for our upper laps and it depends on our lower laps. Rolling is important but not the only skill in kayaking—contact us if you are unsure.

  • Coming soon…

  • Some recommendations

    • Buy new

      • Personal Flotation Device (PFD)

      • Helmet

      • A PFD and helmet are essential safety items, so we recommend buying them new to ensure proper fit and reliability.

    • Consider buying used

      • Boat

      • Spray skirt

      • Paddle

      • Float bags

    • You can often find great deals on used gear through Facebook Marketplace, local paddling groups (James River Homosapiens), and online gear swap pages. Join our WhatsApp group and talk to us!

    • Yoga balls, wine bags, and many other materials can be used as float bags. Five-below sells yoga balls for $5 and is a great substitute for a float bag.

  • It depends. You will develop better skills starting in a river runner or half-slice, but starting out in a more stable boat, like a creek boat, can help build confidence. There’s no “one size fits all.”  Talk to our volunteers and instructors and we’ll help you figure out where to start. In the meantime, here is an introduction:

    A Quick Intro to Boat Types

    Understanding the basic categories of whitewater kayaks can help guide your decision when browsing options:

    • Creek Boat
      These boats have high volume in the bow and stern (front and back), which makes them more stable and forgiving. They are excellent for building confidence, though they can mask some edge-control skills because of their stability and volume.

    • River Runner
      River runners generally have a higher-volume bow (front) and a lower-volume stern (back), offering a good balance of stability and agility. These boats allow for more technical maneuvers and edge work than a full creek boat.

    • Half Slice
      A term often used interchangeably with river runners, but not all river runners are half slices. A true half slice has a distinctly lower-volume, slicy stern that allows for stern squirts, pivot turns, and play moves while still being able to run most rivers. These are especially popular on the James River due to the lower summer flows and the maneuverability they offer.

    There are other types but those are the basics you will need for now!