Padding in kayaks in Canada is complex, and only a select few can master it. Some would say: ‘This is just a myth’.
You may not know the answer to the question, “What is the difference between canoeing and kayaking?” but all you have to do is take a few hours and listen to the advice of professionals to start paddling with great fun the same day.
You don’t have to spend a lot of time studying what kayaking is or mastering another theoretical knowledge to learn how to paddle a kayak. But, like any other business practice, it comes to the fore.
But to practice as effectively and safely as possible, you must listen to the advice of professionals who know everything about kayaking and even more. These tips will save you from wasting time, help you choose your paddles efficiently, and learn the proper paddling technique.
We will give you seven tips that every beginner who wants to kayak at the professional level should follow.
These tips include:
Don’t neglect the lessons.
The people who perform best in any endeavor “do their homework” well. Of course, you don’t need to go back to school, but you shouldn’t think that you can figure out all the complexities of kayaking with practice.
Do not rely on chance; take lessons from a professional. Such addresses are affordable for everyone, but they will allow you to reach your goal faster.
Choose clothing according to the temperature of the water, not the air.
It may be hot outside, and you will be tempted to wear your favorite shorts. Make no such mistake. You will probably fall into the water at your first paddling attempt, which is a perfectly normal learning process. However, if the water is icy, you will regret not wearing a wetsuit.
Pay special attention to the choice of boat and paddles.
If you set out to look at all the types of kayaks available today, you will lose count. You can choose between narrow and relatively long racing boats and small kayaks designed for freestyle. For beginners, sit-on kayaks are the best choice, as they offer an increased level of stability and are easy to handle. Flatwater kayaks are best if you plan to go kayaking on the lake. And, of course, pay special attention to the paddles.
Sit correctly in the kayak and hold the paddles.
How properly you sit in your kayak determines more than 50% of the success of your entire paddling. Don’t slouch even if your kayak has a comfortable backrest. Instead, try to sit up straight and make sure your buttocks and lower back are 90 degrees apart.
Place your feet on the special foot pegs on each side of the kayak. Bend your knees outward and upward to ensure tight contact with your hip braces.
As for the paddles, they should be held a little more than shoulder-width apart with both hands to ensure smooth paddling. Above all, make sure that the concave part of the paddle is facing you. The moment you plunge the paddle blades into the water, the open position should go through the water.
Don’t forget a change of clothes.
Of course, you can rely on chance and think there is very little chance of getting wet. But unfortunately, this is not the case; if you forget a change of clothes, you may have additional problems. Even experienced professionals never forget to take a change of clothes, and for beginners, it is a must.
Pay special attention to safety.
If your kayak tips over while paddling, which happens quite often, you need to know how to behave. In such cases, you should always stay in the boat and listen to the detailed safety briefing. Remember that if the water is calm and even today and nothing happened to you, tomorrow could be a completely different situation.
Going kayaking alone is not a good idea.
Whether you are a beginner or already have some experience with kayaking, you’d better be off teaming up with another kayaker. After all, the possibility that you could get into trouble always remains. In such situations, it’s best to have someone around who can help you.
Follow these rules and your first kayaking experience is most likely to be a success.