In last month’s newsletter (sign up on our home page) we asked recipients to tell us about their favorite paddling partner and why, to enter into our monthly gear raffle. The 5 raffle winners won two Vapur water bottles and 10 packets of the wonderful Emergen-C Vitamin Supplements. The entrants all spoke of supportive, fun,…Read more »
Tips and Tricks to Getting on the Spray Skirt!
I love my Immersion Research Spray Skirt because it keeps me dry and it is easy to put on my boat. I’ve always used the IR J-Lo skirt, which is super comfortable, with a shorter tunnel and is easy stretch over hips and my cockpit. So, when I received my new IR Kling-Onskirt with the…Read more »
Keeping Afloat and Having Fun with Girls at Play
by Karissa Stewart When you’re upside down in the rapids, of a swiftly moving river, with your head above the rocks and your lungs bursting for fresh air this may sound like a time to panic, but it’s actually the best place to start. To escape, you must lean in, tuck your chest forward and…Read more »
Silver Surfers a.k.a. Advanced Kayaking Clinic
by Mary Frances Hansford On Monday morning when our Advanced Kayaking clinic met at 8:30 am for the first time, we all noticed that most of the six women who had signed up were older than your average kayaker. During introductions, as everyone shared their experience on the water and goals for the 4-day clinic,…Read more »
Meet Anna, the GAP Summer Intern!
Hey so I’m the new intern for Girls at Play. I just graduated from the University of Cincinnati with my degree in French and International Business, and I’m passionate about marketing and discovering ways to market to cultures other than my own. I have always had a love for water. I discovered my obsession for…Read more »
What Kayaking Means to Me
Thanks so much to all of the women sent in paragraphs sharing what kayaking means to them. There is a common thread of confidence, adventure, freedom and friendship. I think we can all agree that kayaking is a very powerful and transformative sport. We were only going to share a few of the entries but we…Read more »
How Kayaking Helped Me Improve My Body Image
by Mary Frances Hansford Like many women, I struggled with my body image through my teens and my 20s. I often felt like if I just lost weight everything would be better. I ran, worked out at the gym and dieted a lot. I often found myself obsessing over calories, and would let my eating…Read more »
Sally Wetzler: Finding Beauty, Awe and Freedom on the River
Sally plays tennis, kayaks, rafts, skis and has paddled in Mexico, Idaho and NC with Girls at Play. An awesome paddler and great company on the river, Sally let’s nothing get in her way of living large, including the fact that she uses a wheelchair to get around- most of the time. Her attitude and…Read more »
Ladies on the Lower G 2011 /// Recap
by Mary Frances Hansford Photos by Scott Martin Images Friday September 16th, 12 women ranging from age 15 to 55, from CO to PA, to West VA, descended the Lower Gauley together to raise money for American Whitewater. The morning was chilly and wet, the perfect setting for a day on the river. We were…Read more »
Ladies on the Ledges: Tuesday evenings in October
Girls at Play will be hosting Ladies on the Ledges this October! We will meet at the Ledges Park on the French Broad River Tuesday evenings after work (5:30-6:00) and paddle ’til dark. Bring your boats and attain up the rapids for killer cardio work out, technique tips & tricks and stroke refinement. And if…Read more »
