Back to the great indoors

The start of the Chicago Whitewater Association pool sessions is bittersweet. It's great to see our river-running friends again, but it's a sure sign that winter is coming.

John Karsh offers some bank-based coaching.

This is the 30th year of the CWA's pool sessions here in Oak Park. We offer two 10-week sessions, during which we cover strokes, rolling, river-reading and safety. In the spring, students will be able to join us for a series of incrementally more challenging river trips. 

  

Who says paddling in a pool can't be fun?

For us, the CWA pool classes are an example of giving back to the sport that's done so much for us. This is where we first learned to paddle and roll. Now we can help other people gain both skill and a love of the sport.

And who can argue with 78-degree water in the middle of winter?

Hannah doesn't seem unhappy.