Splash!

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Anthony M. Ward
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE N.M. --  HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. - Editor's Note: This is part two of a three part series that highlights some of Holloman's Outdoor Recreation Center's programs which support the Air Force's Single Airman Initiative. Part three will highlight the Single Airman Initiative's impact to Holloman as a whole.

In support of the Air Force-wide Single Airman Initiative, the HAFB Outdoor Recreation Center sponsored a whitewater kayaking trip to the Olympic Outdoor Center in San Marcos, Texas, Feb. 16 to Feb. 20.

The SAI, an Air Force-wide initiative designed to provide programs to meet the needs and interests of the Airmen community, boosts morale and improves the quality of life for Holloman's single Airmen, according to Ted Brinegar, Outdoor Recreation director.

"Each year, the Air Force creates a focus on targeting some extra attention to a segment of the Air Force population," said Brinegar. "A few years ago, there was the 'Year of the Air Force Family,' which provided programs for married Airmen. This year, they're focusing on all of the single Airmen."

Outdoor Rec. received approximately $15,000 to support the new program, Brinegar said. The money was allocated into various areas based on what the majority of Holloman's Airmen wanted.

"What we found was that most Airmen wanted more wireless internet hot-spots throughout Holloman's force support facilities, better equipment for currently existing programs, more classes for various subjects, as well as just more fun trips to take," said Brinegar.

Combining two of the main requests, Outdoor Recreation planned a five-day trip to the Olympic Outdoor Center in San Marcos, where members of Team Holloman partook in a long weekend of camping while learning to whitewater kayak from Ben Kvanli, an American Canoe Association whitewater instructor. Kvanli is a world-class, expert whitewater kayaker and the Olympic Outdoor Center founder, who participated in the 1996 Olympics. He is now also a U.S. Paralympics coach.

The Outdoor Olympic Center is located on the spring-fed San Marcos River, which flows at a temperature of 72 degrees year-round and is usually crystal clear, according to Kvanli.
"It's really quite amazing that, even in February, we can go whitewater kayaking in what would normally be the middle of winter," said Brinegar.

Despite the river water being reasonably warm, trip participants were still required to wear wet suits and other layered kayaking apparel to resist the elements of wind and rain.

Once fitted into their gear, Kvanli began demonstrating the proper techniques for upturning a kayak that has rolled up-side down without exiting the vessel.

"I was very nervous at first," said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Justin Boyce, 49th Civil Engineer Squadron heating, ventilation, and air conditioning specialist. "It wasn't too bad until he began teaching us how to roll, which was very nerve-wracking being up-side down and completely submerged underwater. That feeling went away as I got used to it, and it became really fun."

After learning the basics of kayaking maneuvers, the kayakers began putting them to the test, paddling the San Marcos River, venturing down its many waterfalls and through its currents.

"The first thought that crossed my mind as I went down that first waterfall was, 'I'm seriously doing this?,'" said Boyce. "After I landed at the bottom, I couldn't believe how much fun it was, and I went down several more waterfalls during the trip, including one that was 15 feet high."

Overall, the trip seemed to be successful in getting its participants off base to a unique location where they could learn and experience something new and exciting, Brinegar said.

"At Outdoor Recreation, our goal is to provide people constructive outlets and hopefully, teach them the skills they'll need to enjoy the outdoors for a lifetime," said Brinegar. "On this trip, there were people who had never even been in a boat before ran some whitewater and even jumped off of a 15-foot waterfall in what is really just an ideal location and a lot of fun."

For more information on the Single Airman Initiative or the Holloman Outdoor Recreation Center, "like" Holloman Outdoor Recreation on Facebook, Holloman Outdoor Wingman on Facebook, or call the Outdoor Recreation Center at 572-5369.