THE OUTSIDE LINE

• MIX, MATCH: Odd as it may seem, one of the best ways to become a good surfer around Washington is to get into a kayak on challenging whitewater, of which the Potomac River has plenty.

At first glance, surfing and kayaking seem dissimilar -- you stand on a board in the former and sit in a boat and hold a paddle in the latter -- but the pursuits have much in common. Both demand excellent balance, timing, quick reflexes, flexibility and the ability to anticipate how churning water will affect your board or boat.

All of these things, learned after much practice, will help you avoid being thrown and smashed by waves, whether in the ocean or on a river. This kind of cross-training is not a new idea. Kayaker Rebecca Giddens, who won the silver medal in whitewater slalom in Athens, often surfed near her home in San Diego in the years leading up to the Games.

You can do a lot of surfing when in a kayak on the Potomac. Places such as Maryland Chute, Virginia Chute and Center Chute, each a short paddle above the parking lot at Old Angler's Inn, as well as Rocky Island in the Mather Gorge and the Observation Deck waves just below Great Falls, are all excellent spots to hone your skills in fast-moving whitewater. Better yet, waves and hydraulics can be found on the Potomac every single day, which is not the case with good surf.

An excellent Web site to learn more about the best surfing spots on the Potomac, and to get a sense of what the paddling community around here is like (there are hundreds of photos posted), is www.potomacpaddlers.com.

When the ocean surf conditions improve (the best way to keep up to date is at www.surfline.com) and you can find the time to drive to Ocean City, Md., or Assateague or other breaks, the skills you built on the water near Washington will be a big help when you paddle your board into the froth. Your kayak will work well out there, too.

• STUFF, SACK: REI will host a Backpacking 101 clinic on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at its Baileys Crossroads store. Topics will include the pros and cons of external and internal frame packs and the right clothing and boots for your trip. If you're more of a biker than a hiker, the store will host Bike Maintenance 101 on March 30 at 7:30 p.m. Both events are free. For more information, visit www.rei.com.

-- John Mullen

mullenj@washpost.com