Like cycling, kayaking is a simple but great sport for beginners. In fact, it’s easy to learn, unlike other sports. All you need to do is spend a few hours and you will be good to go. Kayaking is of many types like whitewater kayaking, sea kayaking, and flat water kayaking, to name a few. Before you go kayaking, make sure you learn the basic skills. Given below are the top 6 tips that may help you get started.
1) Get a Lesson
First of all, you should get a kayaking lesson. Although it’s not rocket science, you may not be able to do it properly the first time. In fact, you will waste a good deal of time learning how to paddle.
These lessons won’t cost you an arm and a leg. You can search online to find a good training center around you. The starter sessions are designed for beginners and won’t cost more than a few bucks per person.
2) Get the Right Clothing
On a hot sunny day, you may be tempted to opt for shorts. However, you need to keep in mind that the temperature of the water can be very low. The water may be ice cold. Therefore, you might want to put on clothes that can keep you warm in the cold water.
3) Opt for the Right Boat
Kayaks are of many different types, such as small freestyle play boats and narrow racing boats. What you need to do is learn in a basic, recreational kayak based on the type of water you are going to paddle on. For instance, if you are going to paddle on a lake, it’s better to get a flat water boat. For beginners, sit-on-top kayaks are an ideal choice for ease of use.
4) Go for a Buoyancy Aid
You need a buoyancy aid as well. This is an important thing whether you are an experienced paddler or just a beginner. In other words, you need life jackets that can allow you to move your neck and arms more easily. Even if you are an experienced swimmer, experts suggest that you use a buoyancy aid. You don’t want to get into trouble.
5) Learn to Sit the Right way
Before you start paddling, make sure you learn how to sit in the kayak the right way. Although kayaks feature comfortable backrests, you don’t want to slouch. What you need to do is sit up straight. Your butts and lower back should be at 90 degrees.
On either side of your kayak, you can see foot pegs that you can rest your feet on. Make sure your toes are pointing outwards while the heels towards the center.
6) Learn to hold the Paddle
Many people don’t know how to hold the paddle the right way. The right way is to hold it with both hands. The distance between your hands should be equal to the distance between your shoulders. The concave area of the kayak blade should be facing you. Your knuckles should be in line with the kayak blade.
So, make sure you follow these tips before you go kayaking.