Hey Everyone,

First and foremost, sorry if there is a stickied thread somewhere I should be reading, but I didn't notice one, and if there is one please direct me to it. Otherwise, I am new to kayaking and have taken a few flat-water/light current trips this summer. I'm looking to pick up my own gear (on a bit of a budget, currently in med school) and learn to do this right. I am an avid alpine skier, and having spent time in the back country, I understand there are risks associated with running rivers that can be mitigated by proper instruction/local knowledge/etc. and all of that is a bit down the line, but this is something I'm seriously looking to get into (the right way). I'm looking to pick up proper gear for running rivers in general (flat water through whitewater, eventually; not looking for a playboat), and an idea of how/where I can go to pick up the necessary skills to keep myself afloat. I'm in SE Michigan, but I'm not afraid to road trip a bit to get my kicks. So if anyone has any info and could help me out, I'd greatly appreciate it.