Like many other sports, kayaking looks a lot easier than it really is. Beneficial as it is to your health, kayaking needs muscle strength, especially the strength of the back, arms, shoulders, and chest for paddling. You also need torso and leg strength because the rotation of the torso and pressure from the legs helps power the kayak.
Even if you are in relatively good shape, you still need to be strong enough to maneuver a kayak. Strength will increase with time, but for a start, here are three steps you can take so you don’t wind up just going around in circles in your kayak.
1. Time, Place, and Weather
Generally, you will want to keep an eye on warmer weather when going kayaking. Spring, summer, and fall are perfect times for a comfortable ride. Even though it is an all-season sport, winter kayaking can be hazardous. Icy waters and cold temperatures can prevent you from kayaking. There are two times you wouldn’t want to kayak in; after dark and during icy conditions. So always make sure you have enough daylight to go to your destination and get back. Mind you, when kayaking, your clothes should be appropriate for water temperature, not the air temperature. So you need a life jacket and water-resistant attire.
Any type of water will do; oceans, lakes, rivers, and more. But the oceans are rough as the water can be very choppy, so it’s not recommended for beginners. Newbies should stick to lakes and closed inlets where waters are calm.
Before you hop into or onto a kayak, monitor the wind because it can be deceiving and make it difficult for you to paddle. Monitor both the wind speed and direction, if you can have it behind you, it can give you a bit of a boost while paddling. But keep in mind that too much wind can knock you off course. Usually, any wind below 10 knots (about 11.5 mph) provides for suitable kayaking regardless of wind direction. Eyeball the water to give you an idea if you should embark or not.
2. Kayaks and Paddles
Any kayak can float, but its performance will depend on things such as the type of water it is used in or the type of activity you are using it for, such as leisure kayaking rather than professional racing. There is the hard-shell type of kayak, which weighs around 55 pounds and isn’t practical to move around with. Gaining more popularity recently are inflatable kayaks that are lighter and less expensive. Inflatable ones are by no means weak and made with new technology that makes them safe and sturdy even in rough waters.
The rule of thumb is the longer and narrower the kayak, the fastest it will go. You can choose between a sit-in or sit-on-top kayak. Both have pros and cons. If it’s the speed you’re looking for, a top kayak is usually faster because they are built much narrower. Sit-in ones are much lighter, and you can paddle more efficiently, especially if you’re new to kayaking.
As for the paddle, using a shorter paddle will allow you better control, but you’ll need longer ones if you choose a sit-on-top kayak. Go with a paddle length of 210 cm to 220 cm, unless your kayak is over 25 inches in width.
3. Steering and Paddling
For the most efficient strokes, you have to hold the paddle the right way. There are four main strokes to learn: Forward, reverse, sweep, as well as draw strokes.
The forward stroke is used most often to move forward. Make sure your elbows are close to your body for an efficient stroke. Reverse stroke is nearly the same as the forward one but in reverse. Keep your blades immersed in the water at the level of your hips. The sweep stroke is when you want to direct the kayak in a particular direction and the blade enters the water near your feet. The draw stroke moves the kayak side to side where only the tip of the blade touches the water. Each stroke has techniques to learn and can improve your performance.
The correct posture is key to good paddling. Some common mistakes people make are not working on how to control rotating their torsos. On the other hand, they sometimes end a forward stroke too late or behind the hip. They may also push the upper hand too forward, or bend the wrists in a way that causes them to strain.
Kayak is a great sport for those who love being on the water rather than in it. It is all about controlling the boat. You need to choose the right location, the right time, and the right kayak that suits your abilities and the type of kayaking you want to do. Start enjoying your new hobby on a bright and sunny day but don’t overdo it and exhaust yourself. That is why it’s always better, safer, and more fun to kayak with a partner.