Learning to Kayak - Creeking 101

Learning to kayak can be challenging. For a some, the call to experience the most aggressive discipline of whitewater is undeniable. Creeking takes the challenge, the danger, the remoteness and the raw nature of the sport to the next level. Learning to be a creeker takes a special soul. A willingness to send it is mandatory. Realizing that every feature of the river is in play and learning to use the whole river is paramount. Knowing that sometimes the unavoidable line may take us right through the thing we fear the most will require the paddler to have a mastery of every skill, a knowledge of how to handle his or herself in every situation imaginable. There is only one way to gain those skills...
Come along for a kayaker training day as Anthony begins his quest to become a creeker!
#howtokayak #waterfalls
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[@kingtut1431]

Hey Pete, I just want to start off by pointing out how much of an inspiration you are and what a great impact your videos make on everybody who watches them. I recently discovered you a couple months ago and I have to say, you have to be the most profound kayakers I have found here on KZbin. I have found myself getting lost in your videos time and time again and you have taught me so much more than I had previously known. I have been kayaking for a few years now and in the recent months, I have had an extreme urge to get into creeking and intense whitewater kayaking. Watching your instructional videos and scenic montages have made that urge burn 100x more. I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your channel, and I hope one day I have the honor of going creeking with you. You seem to have a world of knowledge, and it would be incredible to meet you in person some day. Please keep doing what you do! I sure do appreciate it and I know tons of other people do as well. We need more people like you around here!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Wow! Thanks for the kind words King Tut! That is what it is all about! I Love to hear how the videos connect with the viewer! It is very encouraging and humbling all at the same time! Where do you live?

[@kingtut1431]

@@RiverKingsKayak Amen to that! But I currently live in Western Pennsylvania, bit a ways away.

[@kwright683]

As someone who has rec paddled for many years with minimal whitewater experience, I always enjoy watching the progressions of others. Watching Jerry, and now Anthony, progress helps teach the little nuances that I need to watch out for when I start taking on something other than the flat Ohio waterways. Great vid as always, Pete!

[@harrymuir835]

What part of Ohio are you in? I'm in the Akron area and we have a couple decent beginner runs on the Cuyahoga River. They aren't long but both have features that allow you to practice skills without major consequences in the event of a swim.

[@kwright683]

@@harrymuir835 I'm in central Ohio, Columbus, area. I'm always in search of new places to paddle in the state.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Right on K! I realized a while back that nothing is quite as powerful of a visual as an actual beginner making mistakes. A pro kayaker trying to demonstrate poor form cant quite replicate it. So being able to show folks making the mistakes that others are dealing with and trying to explain the what/why/how's of it all seem to really connect. Along with that, seeing the progress made when those errors are corrected are really neat!!

[@treyhelms5282]

50 watching, 14 likes, cmon ppl this is good stuff.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks Trey!

[@twinstarbabycarrier]

I really enjoyed how much fun you were having. Learned some too! Nice video.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks C.J Bros!!!

[@darksidecarnival5385]

I've watched this video so many times and each time I get more outta it😊

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks a ton DSC!

[@JesseJoyceKayak]

Putting Anthony in that hole facing river left was prime content 🤣. Camping down that way for WOR in a few weeks might see you on the river!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Right on Jesse!! We will be in a cabin on the Nanty for the week, so yes, I will be around!!

[@loicdallaire1714]

Awesome video and inspiring as always!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks Loïc!

[@boviac]

Took my first Whitewater lesson 2 day crash course last summer and just bought likely 4th hand Liquid Logic Flying Squirrel 85. Getting the rest of the gear: Skirt, helmet, paddle for when I'm up in OR/WA area and meeting up with people to do this! Thanks so much for this!

[@waynefatguyinakayak7408]

Best thing about buying used boats, someone else already felt the pain of putting those first scratches into it lol. Run it hard and enjoy!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Right on Chris! Enjoy the ride!!

[@decker5479]

Great video! Very easy to watch and learn from! Kudos!!! 👏

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks Michael!

[@kevinfraser5179]

I love these videos so much. Just chaulked full of great tips and tricks. It's also making me realize I need to come south and paddle some of these amazing rivers sooner rather than later. Maybe even get a swim Ding.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks Kevin! lets go!

[@opcfoundationtac]

Great vid. What a beautiful river.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thank you John!

[@jwmav528]

I so need to get on that creek!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Oh yeah!!!

[@troybennington3479]

So like an elf run on the Cheoha ! That kinda boney!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

exactly!

[@HanzgohFilms]

I met a guy on the river while we were both paddling. He was paddling a Remix XP9 and he offered for me to try it after I told him that I have been looking at getting a boat better for creeking... I really loved the feel of it.... now on bucket list.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Right on Hans! Look at a Dagger Katana instead! I feel it is a better crossover kayak

[@HanzgohFilms]

Thanks RK Pete- I’ll check it out

[@HanzgohFilms]

Thanks RK Pete- I’ll check it out

[@HanzgohFilms]

Loved "splat rock" with the rebounding....your fans wanted to see both boats on that rock....

[@RiverKingsKayak]

We were so close!

[@HanzgohFilms]

And by fans. I mean me. I wanted to see that lol. Loved the paddle rebound off of the rock.

[@lordofnothing.]

man wilson creek seems like such an awesome learning ground!!! i wish we had anything close to that!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Indeed LoN! It also gets a little rowdy at higher water, so there is always adventure there. The neat thing about Wilson is that it runs even when really low. This way there is a flow to match almost any aspiring paddler's skill...

[@lordofnothing.]

@@RiverKingsKayak but even as a strong paddler it seems there is enough to do to keep it entertaining at these low flows. i think i'm jealous! 😅

[@RiverKingsKayak]

@@lordofnothing. yes! For sure!

[@fullmetaljacket3018]

Awesome stuff. October is coming around fast. Planning my trip to US. Keen on a day paddling with you and crew. What is the best way to get in contact?

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Right on! [e-mail]

[@KZ-yu4jz]

Great video. What is edge guard on the paddles? Certain type of car door trim guard?

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Just the door edge guard from auto zone...

[@ADVENTUREKM]

The water and video looks so nice. How did you add music and we can't see in description who sang it etc? Looking for some nice music for my drone video.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks Akm! I use epidemic sound...they have a lot of good stuff on there.

[@ADVENTUREKM]

@@RiverKingsKayak thank you. I have heard of them..cheers!

[@Pete_R63]

I've never quite understood what defines or it means to be a 'creeker' as opposed to say, someone who is a whitewater kayaker. Off topic, rafting a lot as a customer, when I would ask about whitewater kayaks, so many times from different people and at different outfitters I heard the same thing, essentially, "Nobody buys a new boat." I thought, "How is that possible?" Anyhow, I got a great condition, used Antix 1.0 as my first actual whitewater boat and I can't wait to try it out. I've paddled on relatively gentle ponds, lakes, rivers, and creeks since around '86 or '87 and started out with a friend's fiberglass kayak. Hopefully, this will be the year I get to use the Antix and really learn it.

[@BladePressure]

Creeking has more rocks, drops, tighter moves. More common in east coast. Check out Grand Canyon or hells canyon. Those would be big water, and opposite of creeking.

[@Pete_R63]

@@BladePressure Cheers, thanks, would the Gauley during 'Gauley season' be considered the opposite of creeking? I've rafted that a few times and absolutely love it. Thanks again for the info!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Go for it Pete R! Creeking (or more definitively, Steep Creeking) involves really tight, technical, boulder strewn and cascading river beds. This usually produces a gradient that you almost need to see to understand. These runs are full of vertical ledges and waterfalls etc...much different than river running. Creeking is very committal and requires a mastery of skills to do safely. It is the top of the food chain in all of kayaking.

[@rivertrashmedia]

There's a great splat at higher levels on the bottom right side of the pool below spin rock. When you gonna have a full slice day on Wilson? It's so fun

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Oh yeah! Just today I got my session all officially outfitted! slice time!

[@rivertrashmedia]

@@RiverKingsKayak nice. Let me know when and I'll come out as long as I'm not guiding that day.

[@rivertrashmedia]

I guide on the Toe now

[@davezetec]

Mr river king did you add some kind of protection to the edge of your paddle blades?

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Door edge guard from auto zone

[@jamesburke5709]

Pete I'm curious how you do the edging of your kayak and I mean what are you doing with your legs on the inside of the yak to make it do it too I'd like to see a video of you dimastrating on how and what you are doing on it sometime if you don't care to show it to us

[@RobBrown2288]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/haO5eoKLmNqHjMU

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Hey James! kzbin.info/www/bejne/haO5eoKLmNqHjMU Above is my video on intro to edge control...I think it may help answer some of the questions. Basically you are using a combonation of your hips and knees and even your abdominal core to pull one side of the kayak upward...

[@underthatch]

Pete, you are an awesome river guide and I love watching your videos - this river is awesome - but that swim kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWHIl6aBm5J3q9k was definitely your fault. Do you have a special sticker for Dunker?

[@RiverKingsKayak]

LOL!! I totally disagree!! He was the one who fell into the third hole sideways and then didnt roll!! LOL!! I told him I would be right on his tail through there...he got stuck on that left wall above the second drop and then never recovered his boat control....I had to keep going right to avoid him...he was a goner without me! he he he! I was just there to "document" the fun!

[@anadventureoutdoors]

hey river kings,,, If you could give a 220lb athletic build guy some advice what whitewater kayak would you recommend for him? granted he has 5 other kayaks that are not whitewater kayaks. so a good one for the first one i buy would be great. thank you. Love the vids

[@RiverKingsKayak]

I would suggest a full size Creeker. Jackson Z3 Large, Pyranha Machno Large, Dagger Code Large, Liquid Logic Stomper 90, Flying Squirrel 95, etc.

[@ByTheSlice]

River Rooster is the best!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Love the RR!

[@canajian]

👋😎👍

[@mikemiller5052]

That's a bony level.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

for sure!

[@jazbo1607]

What do you use to protect your paddle edge?

[@RiverKingsKayak]

door edge guard from auto zone...

[@troybennington3479]

What’s the lowest level Wilson is runnable, looks like it’s bottoming out? Get me down, I’ll buy the blt’s.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Lol! It always goes!! I know it's been run at -13"...just bony

[@james.kayaks]

What was the level this day?

[@RiverKingsKayak]

-8.75"

[@tysonsmudfossiladventures3468]

That's not kayaking! that's Rock climbing. Hahahahahahaha

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thats about right Tyson!

[@tysonsmudfossiladventures3468]

@@RiverKingsKayak Put some training wheels on for the rocky places and roll over them, new kayak design for real low water. hahahahaha