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Río Usumacinta – A River Trip of a Lifetime

Río Usumacinta – A River Trip of a Lifetime Words and Photos by Levente Gal General Information: The Río Usumacinta, nicknamed the “Sacred Monkey River” after the Howler monkeys present on the banks, is a beautiful jungle river flowing on the border between Mexico and Guatemala in the heart of the Mayan jungle. There are…

Greg Hawkins Outdoor Leadership Award

Deadline: March 1st In memory of a dedicated outdoor leader and professional in the outdoor industry RVA Paddlesports will award a $500 scholarship to a deserving Virginia Commonwealth University Outdoor Adventure Program student. Each eligible applicant will submit a short essay (no more than 500 words) describing their current engagement with the community outside of…

Dining after your James River Adventure

Dining after your James River Adventure LAUREN RASNICK Goatocado Location: 1823 W Main St, Richmond, VA 23220 Distance From Stone: 4.4 miles Price Range: $6-$13/person Patio and Indoor Seating Goatocado isn’t just our super friendly neighbor. They’re also the lifeblood that keeps raft guides healthy and properly fueled for lap after lap on the ol’ Jimmy. For the health-conscious, they’ve got quinoa and greens as a base for their many delicious themed bowls like the California or the Mediterranean. All of their menu items are chock full of veggies and totally customizable whether you’re vegan, omnivore, or red-blooded meat-eater. If you’re feeling something heartier, you can change out the quinoa for some delicious, three cheese mac n’ cheese. If you’re after something warm and a little spicy, the Thai Ramen is out of this world – coconut milk broth, ramen…

Dragon Run – Mattaponi, VA

Whether you’re an experienced paddler, a beginner, or a naturalist prepared to try something a little off the beaten path, you’ll certainly enjoy Dragon Run. This surprising gem sneaks up on you through a guardrail gap off 17N just past the 33W intersection. Parking is sparse – to say the least – but the put…

Spicing Up Your River Routine

Kayaking is a dynamic sport utilizing many different physical and mental skills. This is one of the reasons why paddling is so rewarding, and more often than not leads to a lifetime pursuit. Paddling, be it flat water, sea, or whitewater has the unique ability to captivate, challenge, and inspire us. You can look at…

Reflections on Norway

When I started kayaking, I never dreamed that I would be traveling internationally to explore places only reachable by boat. I recently traveled to Norway with RVA Paddlesports for an incredible vacation. We started our adventure at Full On. Full On is an adventure tourism company in Geilo, where we rented Zet kayaks, went canyoning and stayed a few nights in…

Whitewater Kayaking Gear Beginner Purchasing Guide

Words: Matthew Ellenberg In order to go kayaking you need the five essentials: kayak, paddle, helmet, PFD, and sprayskirt. When it gets cooler, you’ll also need insulating layers and a few other things. Choosing which one to buy can be overwhelming for a new paddler with all of the options out there. There are many…

Traveling with a Kayak

Destination: Dagali Norway. Enter. Ticket purchased, travel dates are set, time to link home to airport and airport to destination. There’s a caveat: I will be traveling with a 36 kg (80 lbs) kayak. Below, I will explain the steps involved when traveling with a behemoth of a boat and some of the emotions involved…