I did some class1 and 2 stuff years ago as well as a couple of miles out in the Gulf paddling years ago. I wore a good paddle vest then. It does teach you to respect water and the forces it can exert. The tail waters of the damns we have up here certainly get my attention. Took the wife up last year avout this time after some storms. They had the water ripping through the hydros and the spill gates. You could point into the current and run the motor at 10 mph while sitting still. No way to swim that kind of water.