Since kayaking whitewater is a bit hard to do in the time of #socialdistancing, CKS Online is providing some distractions, light reading, and ideas for COVID-19 life.
Take advantage of your free time now so you can spend more time paddling later.
Updated April 1, 2020.
Read these paddling / outdoor publications online
- SUP Mag UK has made its back issues available to read for free
- Paddling the Magazine's annual Buyers Guide is available to read
- Download your free copy of Blue Ridge Outdoors March or Elevation Outdoors March. These outdoor publications will also offer free digital downloads of April's issue, beginning on 4/1
Read these books about rivers in the Southwest
- The Emerald Mile by Kevin Fedarko
- The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey
- Over the Edge: Death in the Grand Canyon by Michael Ghiglieri and Thomas Meyers
- The Exploration of the Colorado River and Its Canyons by John Wesley Powell
- Breaking Into the Current: Boatwomen of the Grand Canyon by Louise Teal
Read these books about other rivers and running them
- Comrades on the Colca by Eugene Buchanen
- Kayak: The Animated Manual of Intermediate and Advanced Whitewater Technique by William Nealy
- Living the Best Day Ever (free on Kindle!) by Hendri Coetzee
- Many Rivers to Run by Dave Manby
- Hell or High Water: Surviving Tibet's Tsango River by Peter Heller
Study up on river knowledge
- Watch and learn some river rescue basics from Down River Equipment and Canyon River Instruction
- Read Franco Ferrero's Whitewater Safety and Rescue. This is the reference bible for pulling kayaks and canoes from rivers, and includes some fancy ropework techniques too
- Check out Colorado Rivers and Creeks for runs that will be available later in the season
- Want to get a little old-skool? Pop in one of these DVDs and take some notes
Perfect that gear list
- Use CKS Online Wishlist to curate all your paddling needs and wants
- Check out CKS Online Reviews at the bottom of each product page to see if a product is right for you
- Read our 5 Things You Didn't Know You Needed on a River Trip blog to make sure you don't miss something that you'll regret
Plan your next paddling destination
- Read up on your dream river, and see if a River Map is available for help finding where to layover camp or side-hike
Stay as active and connected to nature as you can
- Go for a walk in your neighborhood, and take the pick up trash pledge from American Rivers
- Explore National Parks like Canyonlands, Big Bend, Acadia, and Grand Canyon on Google Maps
- Did you know you can go down the Yampa through Dinosaur National Monument using Google Streetview!?
Listen to adventure or river podcasts
Watch
- Over 5 hours worth of Red Bull kayaking videos featuring pros like Dane, Rush, Rafa, Ben and more
- Our favorite kayaking video from way long ago
Maintain / Improve Your Gear
- Restore the water repellency of your drywear with 303 High Tech Fabric Guard
- Fix up your hypalon or urethane gear
- Replace blown or worn gaskets
- Organize your gear
- Label your gear with your name and phone number
Stretch
- Check out Hala's 5 Ways to Fire Up Your Core Blog
- Strengthen your lower back, core, lower body, and hips with this YouTube video.
Create
- Groover art! Decorate your ammo cans.
- Music! Learn some songs to share or sing with others on river trips
Support
- Artists like Izzy Lidsky, who has a number of river-related prints available, including an awesome groover print
- Your local river non-profit. Ours is Friends of the Yampa. If you don't have a local river non-profit, check out American Whitewater
Share
- We are living in a new era of interconnectedness. Share your skills with those in your house or record a video and post it online. Some ideas on skills to share include how to tie basic paddling knots or how to clean your drysuit
- A positive attitude
Did we miss something? Share your favorite outdoor-related indoor activity with us in the comments below.