Outdoor lovers have a new option to beat those winter blues.
Marshall's Whitewater Club meets Thursdays from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the pool of the Cam Henderson Center.
The group formed last semester, but started its pool sessions this semester. The pool serves as a place for the group to learn basic techniques in a controlled environment.
Heath Damron, president and founder of Whitewater Club, helps beginning and experienced kayakers develop their skills.
"I think the main reason [to start the organization] was to network people together and give people that are interested in it a chance to learn and a group to learn with," he said. "This isn't a sport where you can just go buy the gear and take off because there's certain things you need to learn."
Damron said Marshall students should take advantage of this opportunity while they can, regardless of their experience level.
"I think this is a really good opportunity for Marshall students, faculty and such to get their interest in this sport to come and try it out, and with that I have a disclaimor." he said. "It's not for everyone. I can see someone get in the pool and can tell if they're gonna be nervous in a boat or not. Some people are real calm, some people aren't, so it's not for everyone, but I think anyone that gets out and gets comfortable with it will find a level of the sport they enjoy."
Damron has been kayaking since 2003.
"The New River was the first place I ever boated," he said. "I bought a cheap boat. There's a West Virginia Wildwater association out of Charleston. I went on a lot of beginning trips with them until I hooked up with the people I paddle with now, a bunch of guys from all over the state who call each other up every Friday night and decide where we're going."
Damron said he likes the thrill of kayaking.
"It's never scary unless I get in a bad situation," he said. "I've been lucky to not be in any bad situations. I've never been in anything real bad, I mean you always get anxious and nervous when you're running harder rapids. Anytime you run like a river that's harder than anything you've done before, it's definitely a rush even just when your boat hits the water to start off. That's the thing I like about it, no matter how long you've been boating, there's always more rivers to be run and not every time you run a river is the same, sometimes it has more water, less water, sometimes it's snowing. So it's never the same."
Deanna D. Miller, a senior from Charleston, said she had never tried boating before joining the organization.
"I just thought it'd be fun," she said. "I'd always thought that might be something I would enjoy but, you know, I never gave it that much thought about how to try to learn or anything."
Despite her beginner skills, Miller does not regret trying it out.
"I love it," Miller said. "I can't do very much, but I really like it."
Dr. Jim Denvir, the organization's faculty adviser, did not have much experience with boating before taking the adviser position.
"I went out once last summer just to get a taste of it, and then I went to the pool sessions," he said.
West Virginia has a natural terrain for outdoor water activities such as kayaking.
"The area we're in is perfect for kayaking and it's just so much resources it's just something that's worth getting into," Denvir said. "I kayaked also flat water when I was a kid and a teenager so it's kind of something I had to take advantage of. It's a good chance to learn basic safety techniques and basic paddling techniques before we get out on the river. It's a good chance to get some practice in during the winter."
Damron said he plans on taking a beginner's trip to the Tygart River in Philipi in April.
"Our beginner trip, we're planning on camping out for the weekend on the river, and that way, if we have too many people and not enough boats and not enough gear, I can paddle all day long," he said. " I don't care, I will just take them boating all day,"
Miller said she wants to go on the beginner trip.
"I'm hoping to be ready to go on the first trip, to have enough skills down so that I can function," she said. "It's not as easy as it looks."
Damron said he encourages students to go get in a boat and try it out. The group has access to a few boats, but students are encouraged to bring their own if possible.
"We're hoping as we build more student members that we'll be able to draw more funding to purchase more gear because it is a pricey sport to be in with all the gear required," he said. "A lot of retailers have given us discounts by having a club so we've been able to help our members out. It's definitely making it easier for poor college students."
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