The 2018 race course includes significant paddling sections. Expect 50-70 miles of canoe and kayak paddling. Approximately half the paddling will be in canoes, the other half in kayaks.

Competitors are expected to have a baseline of experience consistent with the ACA "Level 3" skills. This includes proficiency with the following:

• Reading water, wind, waves
• Launching, landing, wet exits
• Paddling in current, standard strokes, braces
• Navigating hazards, portaging
• Rescue priorities and principles, self-rescues, boat-rescues, shore-rescues

For racers looking for a refresh on this ACA “Level 3” material, there will be paddling clinics on Sun and Mon July 22nd and 23rd in Durham, New Hampshire. You may find your own training closer to home, if you prefer, but we strongly suggest inexperienced paddlers complete an ACA “Level 3” class. Visit http://www.UntamedNE.com/Paddling.aspx for more info on the July 22nd and 23rd clinics.

Remember: Untamed New England is a chance to use expertise that you already have – not to learn new skills or try things you’ve never practiced. We expect you to arrive at the race starting line with the skills necessary to complete the expedition. In this case, we’re providing an opportunity before the race to complete an ACA “Level 3” paddling review with a professional instructor and we encourage anyone who needs help to take advantage.

As part of the race check-in on Tues July 24th, there will be a paddle safety evaluation and teams who don’t pass may be required to bypass paddling sections.

For more information on the ACA "Level 3" curriculum and expectations, review www.americancanoe.org/page/Courses_Kayak or cdn.ymaws.com/www.americancanoe.org/resource/resmgr/SEI-Courses/L3_RK_Skills.pdf

Register for paddling "refresher" clinics

• Online registration for the paddling clinics is available at https://runsignup.com/Race/Store/NH/Durham/UntamedNewEngland.

The canoes will be Discovery 169 style. Teams of 4 racers will get two canoes; teams of 3 will get one canoe; teams of 2 will get one canoe.

The kayaks will be a variety of models, with tandems of this or this style (just as examples), and solo kayaks of this or this style (just as examples). Teams of 4 racers will get a tandem and two solo kayaks; teams of 3 will get either a tandem and a solo, or 3 solos (depends on availability; teams of 2 will get two solo kayaks.