Ten people died while paddling in Virginia last year, compared to two the year before It’s an alarming spike in deaths for paddle sport enthusiasts, who attribute it to newcomers to the sport Tags: Kayaking and canoeing exploded last year as people looked for new ways to get outside. But participation wasn’t the only number that went up, as ten people died while paddling compared to just two the year prior. At Roanoke Mountain Adventures, they’ll be the first to tell you it was a busy season. Owner Jeff Todd said people flocked to him trying to beat the COVID lockdown.