JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — They fly through whitewater rapids at breakneck speed, sometimes even going against the current in a race up to more than half a mile long. And that assumes the competitors even stay upright the whole time.
Kayaking is one of the more intense sports in the Summer Olympics, but we're On Your Side with ways that you can participate in an Olympic sport, but in a leisurely way and close to your own backyard.
Far from medal stands, there's a chance for a leisurely paddle.
"It's something to do to get you out in nature, it's relaxing," said Lauren Boyd, the general manager of North Guana Outpost. Boyd and her family have owned North Guana Outpost in Ponte Vedra Beach for 10 years and said it's a place where families can enjoy kayaking at their own pace.
"There's so many waterways, especially in Jacksonville," said Boyd, "Guana is really amazing, it's really beautiful, a lot of people here haven't even explored it yet, there's about 12 miles of waterway on the northside of the Guana dam that you can explore."
Kayak explorations aren't restricted to tiny creeks and streams.
In an edition of Lewis & Clark, First Coast News anchors Lew Turner and Jessica Clark took a kayaking excursion in the middle of downtown Jacksonville on the St Johns River. They even took a secret route under the former Times-Union Building to McCoys Creek; from urban to nature in a matter of seconds.
Back on the Guana River in Ponte Vedra, kayakers have the opportunity to see a side of nature only visible on the water, and at night, bioluminescence.
"With warmer weather the mangroves are starting to grow further north, which means we'll start seeing more of it," said Boyd, "in Guana, we get a lot of the comb jellies, so if you go out at night and paddle you can see those."
Yes, an Olympic sport, but also an activity for the whole family.
"If the weather is good and the tides are right and the current's not too strong, a beginner can do it really easily," said Boyd, "it's not too strenuous."
More information about North Guana Outpost and outdoor opportunities that they provide from rentals, lessons, tours and camps can be found on their website.
North Guana Outpost is located at 4415 Mickler Rd. Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida and they can be reached by phone at (904) 373-0306.