Poker Paddle attracts young and young at heart
“Wave your arms if you need help,” Kelly Thompson of Lake County Search & Rescue instructed a small boy on a neon-green kayak. That was just one of the safety tips she offered before nudging him away from shore at Boettcher Park to join the rest of his family in the Flathead Lakers Poker Paddle.
Next up was his sister, who was securely cuffed to her Standup Paddle Board and fitted with her life vest before joining her brother.
According to Amber Stanfield, a development associate with the Lakers, Thompson gave safety talks before each launch. The card dealers at the seven Poker Paddle stops were each equipped with walkie-talkies to help them keep a close eye on the event’s 143 participants as they navigated the lake’s choppy waters Saturday morning. As an additional precaution, photos were taken of each paddler before they launched.