As seen on Badfish SUP

Hannah Ray J…Surf Iowa!

We first met Hannah Ray J when the engineering firm I work for, Recreation Engineering and Planning, designed and built a park in Charles City, Iowa. Already a talented whitewater kayaker, this Iowa farm girl took to SUP quickly. We noticed her FB posts surfing a Badfish River Surfer and quickly reached out to her about joining our team. Hannah has quickly become the most technical female SUP river surfer out there. She is also a really cool example of what happens when you combine modification of historic low head dams in places like Iowa and river specific SUP designs like the River Surfer…surf Iowa moves from a joke to a reality. Of course, as you’ll see in the video below, from the Werner Paddles Vimeo page…it ain’t all about the board…Hannah’s got skills! Check her out on Instagram at @hannah_rayj and see for yourself. With whitewater parks in Iowa and Ohio coming online in the next year look for more of surf flyover country to start producing talent like Hannah. -Mike Harvey, Salida, CO

Whitewater Kayaking Clinic

“Woohoo!” you exclaim at the bottom of your first rapid loving the feeling of navigating your whitewater kayak through the swift water splashing you from every direction while avoiding the in-stream boulders. Resting in the calm pool below the whitewater feature your instructor throws up a hand for a ‘high five’, just as excited for you as you are. You watch your friends paddle down the rapid splashing and bobbing through the swift water, a huge grin plastered across their faces as they arrive in the pool beside you.

No experience or already have whitewater experience? Clinics are geared for beginners to intermediate+ paddlers. Just let your instructor know your experience level so they can customize the clinic to the students’ skill levels. Clinic instructors will focus on whitewater paddling techniques, river safety, and etiquette. The kayaking clinic will start in a calm area of the river at the Manchester Whitewater Park, then proceed to navigating the whitewater features under the guidance of experienced instructors. You’ll be moving from eddy to eddy, peeling out into the current, practicing your edge control, and more.

Dates/Time: Tuesday, 6-8pm. 6/20, 7/18, 8/1, 8/15

*you may sign up for just one clinic or as many as you like. Each date is a clinic, this is not a series.

Must be 14 yrs+, class size limited to 5 participants.

Please email to reserve your spot and/or for any questions: Hannah at hannah_rayj@yahoo.com.

Location: Manchester Whitewater Park

Requirements: Whitewater kayak and whitewater equipment required. Bring your own or ask Hannah for equipment availability*. Kayak and equipment details will be discussed when you register. Participants are encouraged to bring their own whitewater appropriate equipment if available.

Must be 14 yrs+. Must be able to swim. Wear water appropriate clothing and footwear. Low volume water shoes or water socks work well and fit in most whitewater kayaks. NO strappy sandals or flip flops.

Expectations: Bring a positive attitude and ready to get wet! Participants will be expected to carry a 30-50lb kayak (weight depends on model of kayak) unassisted over varying conditions such as: rocky or sandy areas in the river, over and around large boulders, grass, gravel, and paved trails.

Participants will be swimming in the Maquoketa River in whitewater conditions with moving currents. Expect rocks, swift current, varying weather and water conditions, and unstable surfaces.

*Whitewater kayaking equipment provided by the Manchester Parks and Recreation Department.

If you’re on Facebook, check out the event listed there also:

Whitewater Kayaking Clinic with Hannah Ray J