Kayaking 101
There are a few things to keep in mind to maximize your enjoyment, but nothing difficult - no experience necessary!
- Comfortably securing your feet will help generate leverage when stroking the paddle through the resistance of the water.
- When holding your paddle, be sure that the concave side is facing you and the longer portion of the paddle is closest to the water
- For better control, slow your kayak down when preparing to navigate around obstacles. This can be done by dragging one of your paddles and/or paddling backwards to better steer your kayak.
- It is common to get tired when paddling. Feel free to sit back and let the current carry you downstream while you steer its direction.
- In the event you should turn your kayak over, most areas of the river are shallow enough that you can stand up or swim to a shallower area or shore and pull your kayak to the shore to get back into it.
- Always wear your life jacket.
- Be aware of your surroundings so that you do not hit someone else with your paddle.
- Pay close attention to your paddle position while navigating through fallen trees or other forest debris.
- Paddles catch fallen trees and branches and can abruptly contribute to tipping your kayak.
- Be mindful of sudden shifts of your body weight which may lead to you tipping your kayak.
- When removing yourself from the kayak, be mindful of your fatigued legs from the period of time sitting in your kayak. Be cautious when getting in and out of your kayak due to “sea legs”.