Stuck underwater and upsidedown in a submerged kayak can be a beginner’s worst fear. Sophomore Megan Beardsley may never have found herself in this situation if it hadn’t been for DU’s kayak club.

During her first year of kayaking, Megan became stuck in what kayakers refer to as a “hole.” A hole is a spot where water tumbles over an obstacle and continually reverses the flow of the water, trapping the kayak from traveling downstream. Trapped under water and upsidedown in her kayak, Megan was forced to free herself from her kayak and swim to safety. But that was a unique situation.

“It’s a misconception. A lot of people think that kayaking is really extreme or really dangerous,” said former president Chris Ruff, certified instructor for the American Canoe Association (ACA). “A very small portion of kayaking is really dangerous.”

Ruff also assures anyone looking to join the club team that, “there are a lot of safe and enjoyable types of kayaking, whitewater kayaking is very safe.”

The DU kayak club meets at the El Pomar Natatorium every Wednesday from 8:30 to 10:00 p.m., to go over upcoming trips and prepare for real situations one would encounter while kayaking. The kayak club recently held their Platte River clean up event,where they help to clean up the community by floating down the river and removing trash.

According to the club’s current President, Kevin Thompson, the club intends on making more trips available in coming years.