Jackson Free Press

David Moore is a hard guy to miss. Driving up in his red SUV, the two kayaks on top draw your eyes automatically. Even more striking is Moore himself, who, at 48, is built like a 20-year-old. Moore is a New Jersey transplant who is discovering Mississippi's kayaking and canoeing world. He stands out even more on the water being one of the few black competitors in a nearly all-white sport.

His love affair with the water began at an early age. His mother introduced him to canoeing when he was growing up in New Brunswick, N.J., on the Delaware River.

Moore bought his first canoe in 1979 with $500 worth of quarters and still has it today. But even though Moore got his first taste of canoeing early, it took some time before he jumped to the sport full force.

Moore spent 28 years in the Navy and is still on active status. He waited until 1998 to buy his first kayak. He met kayakers who introduced him to the sport in his travels around the country while in the Navy and then in civilian life. Today, he works as a supply chain manager for Siemens Energy.

His first race was in Houston, Texas, in 1996. Moore has raced competitively all over the country including in Georgia, Louisiana and Connecticut.

One of his favorite races that he competes in nearly every year is the Blackburn Challenge in Gloucester, Mass. The race is named for Howard Blackburn, who lost several fingers and toes due to frostbite when he became separated from a fishing schooner during in a winter storm in 1883.

Today, the 20-plus-mile race commemorates Blackburn's incredible will to live over a five-day period. Moore points out this race "separates the men from the boys" racing against the "big ocean waves."

Anthropologists believe the Inuit people in arctic regions were first to use kayaks, built with wooden frames and covered sealskins.

Today you can buy all types of kayaks made from plastic, fiberglass or Kevlar, to name a few of the materials used. As you can imagine, the prices of these kayaks range from as little as $300 to as much as $4,000 each. In Moore's opinion, the best boat out there is the Surfski.

One of Moore's favorite boats (he has nine) is named Pudding. He built it from a kit with modifications. Pudding got her name from Moore's wife Jennifer Brown, who thought the paint he was using looked like pudding. Moore's daughter, Amira, uses Pudding when they are on the water together.

Moore has a few tips for those looking to buy a kayak on a budget. First, go to an outfitter to find out what type of kayak is best for you. Next, search the classifieds and Craigslist for a used kayak or canoe.

Finding the right boat is important. Moore says that longer boats are faster, and the width of the boat determines both speed and stability. The narrower the boat, the faster it is, but it loses stability. This is the same for the bottom of the boat: Boats with rounder bottoms are faster, but also unstable.

Moore also stresses the importance of wearing a personal flotation device while out on the water, and it's important, he says, for newbies to the sport to understand water conditions. Using the Mississippi River as an example, he explained that the river is deceptively fast with numerous eddies and currents. Before going out on any river, Moore says, it is best to know the sections you'll paddle in, your skill level and the river conditions.

Moore is a strong competitor on the water, placing first in his class at the recent Battle on the Bayou March 12, which consisted of roughly 9.5 miles over black-water bayou through estuarine marsh and maritime forest. While canoeing and kayaking are physically demanding in race settings, Moore also enjoys the opportunities to see wildlife and nature he might miss in a motorized boat.

Since coming to Mississippi, Moore has founded an informal canoeing and kayaking club of three men and three women, but hopes to see the sport grow. Moore can be found practicing his craft on the reservoir with fellow club members.

For information on the yet-to-be-named club, contact Moore at [e-mail missing] or Kelly McGinnis at [e-mail missing], or phone 601-238-4655.

Paddling Races
Check out these nearby events:
• 30th Annual Outdoors Canoe and Kayak Race May 7 in Memphis, Tenn., on the Mississippi River. Visit http://tinyurl.com/3vt2sba.
• Phatwater Challenge 42.5-mile event Oct. 8 in Natchez on the Mississippi River. Visit http://www.kayakmississippi.com.

Local Resources
• Buffalo Peak Outfitters (Highland Village, 1300 E. Northside Drive, 601-366-2557, http://www.buffalopeak.net).
• RideSouth (105 Avalon Court, Brandon, 601-992-2490, http://www.ridesouth.com).
• Visit http://www.visitmississippi.org for information on outdoor adventures.