From Ripples to Rapids

WEST GLACIER – Years ago, when Paul Moffatt first learned to kayak, there wasn’t a class available where he could learn the basics. He just went down to the river with a borrowed boat and leaned on the advice of an encouraging friend.

Moffatt recalls spending more time in the river than in the boat that first day, but a love for the sport began to grow, and he’s never looked back. Now, Moffatt and a group of locals are hoping to spread their love of kayaking to the next generation.

Last year, Moffat, Chris Evans, Mike Dezzani and Steve Spanogle created the nonprofit Montana Kayak Academy, which offers free boating classes to kids.

“My friends and I all started paddling later in life, but we all agreed that it would have been great to learn at a young age,” he said, standing alongside the Middle Fork Flathead River on a sunny Wednesday afternoon.

This summer, the academy hosted nearly 40 kids during two weekend sessions in July and August. The sessions are split into a morning class and an afternoon class, and between lessons the academy offers participants a free lunch, usually catered by a local restaurant. The instructors are all volunteers and are certified by the American Canoe Association. Most of them are local guides.

“These guys are here out of the goodness of their heart because they know there is a need for this in the community,” Moffatt said.

During the first two days of the course (the classes are held on back-to-back weekends), the students practice on the lake before heading to the South Fork Flathead River. Moffatt said that the lake and South Fork are ideal places for beginners to learn. While the academy is open to all young people, most of the students are between the ages 8 and 13.

“We’re taking them down ripples to begin with, but to a kid who’s never been on a water, it feels like rapids,” Moffatt said. “We’re not really trying to create Olympic kayakers here – what we want is to create good river stewards.”

The kayak academy also held a weekend course for women who wanted to learn more about kayaking and river safety as a way to raise money for its kids programs. Moffatt believes it’s critical to keep the courses free to children because that will help get more people interested in the sport.

“This is meant to give kids a chance to try out the sport without having to have their parents buy or rent a lot of expensive gear,” Moffatt said.

Kristin Blattenbergen said the academy was an incredible experience for her two sons. She checked out the academy for herself on Aug. 17 when the school held a free river safety course at West Glacier. The event drew a small crowd of people interested in learning about things such as shallow river crossing and how to properly toss a throw bag. Montana Kayak Academy and Great Northern Raft and Resort sponsored the event.

“I don’t know if I could have given my kids this experience myself,” she said. “But now I want to go out and buy all the equipment so we can do this as a family.”

Right now, the Montana Kayak Academy is relying on borrowed and used equipment, but Moffatt said he is hopeful that within a year the school will have its own gear for upwards of 30 students. The third annual Dedication Festival in Columbia Falls on Aug. 27 is hoping to raise money for the academy to purchase its own gear. The music festival will feature five bands, including Fruition, Cure for the Common, Gipsy Moon, The Watters and Brad Parsons. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 the day of the show.

Moffatt said if the academy can get the gear it needs, there’s nothing that could stop it, just like a kid in a brand new kayak.

“Some of these kids don’t even want to get wet on the first day, but soon enough they’re flying down the rapids all on their own,” Moffatt said.

For more information visit www.montanakayakacademy.com.