Surviving The Rapids Instructional Course Stresses The Importance Of Kayaking Safety

The kayaker was without his boat, about 20 feet from shore, shouting repeatedly for help and floundering in the icy and swift Spokane River.

His comrades on shore quickly tossed a bag full of rope to him. The man grabbed it, tucked it under his arm and turned so that his back was toward his rescuers, who pulled him safely to shore.

“OK, go ahead!” the rescuers shouted to the next person up. She dived into the water and swam toward a set of rapids. The rescue was repeated.

Sunday, at least, all the numerous “rescues” on the Spokane River in Post Falls’ Corbin Park were orchestrated and part of a kayaking safety course.

It’s not always like that, though.

Jason Wing has made real rescues on kayaking trips. At those times, he has used skills honed through classes like this one.

“Usually, it’s just one of those spring-into-action-type scenarios where it just kind of happens,” he said. “You don’t really think about it at the time.”

He and his wife, Kira Susnis Wing, own Otter River and Mountain Sports in Coeur d’Alene, which sponsored the class. They’ve been kayaking for years, as have most of the 11 kayakers on hand Sunday. A couple were beginners, though, which is when people should be taking their first kayaking safety courses, Jason Wing said.

“You should have that knowledge before you get out on the river,” he said.

During the two-day class, instructor Mick Hopkinson taught students how to rescue their boats, their paddles and one another, and he taught them what kind of equipment to carry before they go out on a river. Hopkinson, who lives in Wyoming and New Zealand, has been kayaking since 1963.

Kayakers are limited in what they can carry because they have so little room inside their boats, Susnis Wing said. A few of the bare necessities include a throw bag, which is full of rope for towing people to shore; a rescue vest with a device that allows the wearer to clip himself or herself to things; a clip called a carabiner; and a pulley, to give added leverage when pulling someone or something to shore, she said.

Everyone in the group should know proper water safety, Susnis Wing said.

“It doesn’t do me any good if I’m the only one on the river who knows how to rescue people and I’m the one who needs rescuing,” she pointed out.

Otter River and Mountain Sports offers the $125 safety class only once a year but also has other kayaking classes available.

Despite cool weather and overcast skies, the kayakers weren’t too cold, said Kevin Kok of Post Falls, who was taking the class.

“Gear is everything,” she said.

She was wearing a layer of a material that wicks moisture from the skin, fleece pants, shirt, vest and socks, a special hat to keep her head warm, a helmet, a dry suit, special shoes and gloves, a nose plug and her personal flotation device.

“The only things that are wet are my hands, feet and head,” she said.

The nose plug is particularly important in chilly water, she said. “If that cold water goes up your nose, it’s like a shot of ice directly to your brain!”

This sidebar appeared with the story: DETAILS Classes For more information on kayaking classes, contact Otter River and Mountain Sports at (208) 769-7275.