Blaise Benoit: Cold and Wet

After months of whitewater simulation in McGill's indoor swimming pool, my instructors, Aleix, Ella, and Chloe offered me a weekend invitation to join them for the real thing in the Valleyfield rapids. Despite my fear of any water moving faster than I can swim, I couldn't refuse.

With dry suits, helmets, life jackets, and boats rented, we were ready. En route in Chloe's truck my mentor's prepared me for what was to come. Keep a paddle in the water at all times, follow the leader, know your river signals, stay way clear of any obstacles in the water, particularly limbs, don't try to stand in the rapid, make the decision to either "attack" or "defend" when swimming, etc. I was a little spooked I can't deny. Something about the powerlessness of being in a rapid, fighting to stay dry, is pretty freaky, particularly in 4 degree celsius water.

Nonetheless I got my dry suit on, of which was immediately clear that I wasn't gonna stay dry in. The gasket was broken, and the back zipper was blown open, so I threw a dry top underneath that, but still my lower body was pretty exposed.

Ripping down the rapid I managed to stay dry and in my boat, to my great suprise as I thought this would be the hardest part. Cruising into the eddy, thinking I had mastered the kayak on my first attempt, I showed little technique and wham bam the change in current made me flip the boat immediately. A couple attempts at rolling proved futile and I pulled my skirt to float down the river.

With my rescuer team en route immediately, Aleix and Chloe worked to grab my boat while Ella checked up on me. Chilly, but stoked to try to eddy back in to the rapid I hopped back in the boat. Aleix gave me a quick pep talk and I gave another go at it. Bam. Flipped pretty much instantly, tried to roll, and swam again. Now I'm getting pretty pretty cold. A lot of water was pooling in my legs, and I'm starting to be a little bummed. Nonetheless I needed to try another time to eddy in. Final time, I was gonna get it. Got a big pep talk from Aleix and could feel his confidence in me despite my doubts. Hopped in the boat and managed to eddy in! But could I eddy out? Things are looking so good, I merely have to cross the rapid and reach the eddy on the other side of the flow. With Chloe and Ella watching me from the eddy I try to eddy out anddddd flip again :/ I desperately try to roll (which is a hell of a lot easier in a pool) but my loose helmet flips under my chin and distracts my focus and I pull the skirt to swim. Now I'm definitely too cold, and climb up onto a cement block to get out of the water. Getting a lil shakey my team brings me my boat and I paddle to the parking lot, satisfied with the attempts I had given, but majorly bummed that I couldn't play around in the rapid before I got too chilly. Redemption is certainly in order.