If you’ve ever taken a look in the back of your boat, you may have noticed that there’s either a whole bunch of empty space, or two blown up airbags filling up the space behind you in your boat. Airbags are an essential piece of paddling gear, even though it may seem like an extra expense. When in reality, having float bags in the back of your boat does you and your friends a huge favor.
The benefits of upgrading your skirt mean better implosion resistance and a drier boat. Consider the difficulty of whitewater that you’ll be doing as well as how often you’ll be boating to decide whether or not a higher performing skirt may be right for you. Zoar carries Snapdragon Designs skirts to fit every boat and paddler.
Once you’ve made up your mind on the material that best suits your paddling ability and how big of an investment you’d like to make, there’s other considerations when choosing your perfect paddle, and perhaps the biggest debate over paddles in general. Straight shaft or bent shaft? What’s the real difference?
As with any sport, it’s important to protect your personality. A lot of rivers are relatively shallow, and if you find yourself upside-down at any point, you’re exposing your head to rocks. That means wearing a helmet is a must. Even if you think you can breeze down the river without flipping over, there’s plenty of other hazards that pose a risk to an unprotected noggin. Choosing the right helmet is all about fit and comfort. Sweet Protection, Shred Ready, WRSI, and NRS all offer great options for helmets at the Outfitter’s Shop.
If you're curious about whitewater kayaking, this is the best weekend of the summer to give it a try! These playful whitewater kayaks are a blast, and we're ready to give you the foundation of skills in a comfortable and supportive learning environment. Click Here
Every year, for one day, we get to one of Vermont’s hidden gems - the West River. The West River is a perfect mix of adventure and leisure - it has a little bit more adventure than the Zoar Gap and is a little mellower than the Dryway.
