How would you describe kayaking to someone who has never done it before? There are a number of different disciplines within the realm of kayaking, but kayaking is basically self-propulsion in a boat on a body of water.
There are a number of different disciplines within the realm of kayaking, but kayaking is basically self-propulsion in a boat on a body of water. It's really the closest thing I have ever found to swimming. It's very similar to taking a stroke in the water when you're swimming. Kayaking is a sport that allows you to feel a real connection with the water.
It can be serene or it can be thrill-seeking depending on whether you are kayaking on flat water like a lake or in white-water rapids. You can also fish by kayak or go out into the sea or ocean. My business is a white water kayaking store. This area is a kind of a white water kayaking mecca. We have one of the top ten rivers here for kayaking.
So you have your adventuresome kayaking and then a lot of people like to go out for sunset or sunrise paddles, just enjoying the serenity of nature. We sell boats and teach people how to boat. One of the main differences in the different types of kayaking is the boat itself. A sea kayak is two to three times longer than a river kayak and allows you to carry a lot more gear.
Kayaking is still a relatively new sport. It's only 25-30 years old here in the states. Over the years the equipment has improved and teaching techniques have improved, so we are getting people on much more difficult water, much quicker.
You can definitely learn how to kayak on your own through trial and error, but it makes sense to take advantage of someone else's knowledge, like an instructor, so that you can get out there quicker and you may save yourself a few bruises and broken boats too.
Another thing an instructor can help you with is overcoming mental fear that may inhibit your technique. Say, you are paddling down the river and there is a rock coming up. It actually is better to lean into the rock rather than away from it. However, if you have something coming at you, your natural inclination is to rear back from it, but if you do that it actually puts you in a worse situation.
Balance plays a very important role in kayaking. It's a counterintuitive thing. Some people get it right away, they have great sense of balance. I actually find that women have a much lower center of gravity because they tend to be hippier than men, and that lower center of gravity gives you a better center of balance.
Guys also tend to be a little more bullheaded than women and so they will go upside down more times than the women will. You have to learn how to "ride into the wall" and they just keep banging away at it. A lot of women will actually get skills down better in a two day class and than the men will. We have some extraordinary women paddlers who have paddled some incredibly difficult stuff.
