Kayaking: the Dos and Don'ts

Health and sports enthusiasts who want to pick up a new sporting activity should consider kayaking. What makes kayaking so attractive to beginners is the simplicity with which you can learn some basic kayaking skills. In this respect, it is quite akin to cycling. However, you wouldn't necessarily merrily paddle along the waters. There are, in fact, several forms of the sport like sea kayaking, flatwater kayaking, and whitewater kayaking, and some forms involve significant danger.

Kayaking is indeed adventurous and thrilling. However, before you set off on such a journey at any kayaking spot across the globe, you need to ensure that you have grasped at least the necessary skills involved. Besides the variety of guides and instructor-led training that you can use for kayaking, the following dos and don'ts are also sure to prove to be helpful.

Do Ensure That You Choose the Appropriate Boat

You are spoilt for choices regarding the kayak boat type you want to use for your kayaking adventure. These may range from relatively long and narrow boats meant for kayak racing to freestyle playboats characterized by tiny squats. 

Assuming you are a beginner, you want to choose a kayak meant for recreational purposes that suit the Water you will be paddling the boat in. Once you select a particular type of kayak, you need to keep in mind storing your kayak correctly. This resource on how to store your kayak should help you in that. Flatwater boats are especially suited for lakes. But the boast that will fit a newbie best is, in most circumstances, sit-on-top kayaks. You can paddle such ships with ease, and the stability they offer is particularly suitable for beginners.

Don't Dress for the Weather But the Water

It is not uncommon for newbie kayaking aficionados to wear shorts and tees to their kayaking adventure on a hot and sunny day. But the Water might often turn out to be ice-like cold. Keeping this in mind, you need to wear clothes meant for the water temperature and not that of the air. People fall off their kayaks all the time. When they do, wearing a wetsuit along with a waterproof cagoule and kayaking gloves will prove to be of immense use under such circumstances. Clothes are not the sole essential kayaking equipment, and this article mentions a couple of more. Ensure the equipment you choose is reliable as your life might depend on it.

Do Get Kayaking Lessons From Experts

The very first "do" on this list is to sign up for kayaking lessons. While it is indeed tempting that you would do fine without them, for your safety, don't buy into that viewpoint. Though paddling is not nearly as complicated as rocket science, without training, all you will likely manage to do is to paddle around the Water circularly. Besides merely wasting your time, exercise will help you learn to take care of your safety. Kayaks are known for their propensity to capsize. 

Coaching gives you all the information and training you need to come out of such situations, safe and sound. The best thing about getting kayaking training is that they are surprisingly affordable. Several online resources let you locate kayaking centers nearest to where you are at the moment. Kayaking lessons can cost as low as $7 to the hour.

Don't Go on Your Kayaking Adventure All on Your Own

One essential don't that should be a part of all don't make lists of kayaking is going on the adventure all on your own. Irrespective of whether you are a daredevil newbie or a seasoned kayaker noted for his skills, don't go on kayaking alone. Instead, try to form a team of kayakers consisting of at least another participant. It will help you to a great extent, should misfortune strike.

Do Remember to Put on a Buoyancy Aid Always

If you are going on a kayaking experience, you must remember to put on your buoyancy aids, always without exception. This advice holds ground for both novices and experts alike. While this particular piece of advice might not be uncommon, that doesn't rob it of its effectiveness. 

If you wonder what a buoyancy aid is, then the best thing to compare it with will be life jackets. Only the former gives you more fabulous room for movement, especially in the neck and arms region, which proves to be especially helpful while kayaking. You need to choose your buoyancy aid carefully. It is essential for your safety. Even accomplished swimmers need to ensure that they are wearing such buoyancy aids as you never know when trouble looms on the horizon.

To sign off on this article, you should be reminded that human life is the most valuable thing. During emergencies arising from kayaking adventures gone wrong, people often forget the value of human life in favor of losing their paddles or even their kayak boats. But perhaps it is needless to say that you need to avoid that line of thinking during emergencies. Here's to an exciting and adventurous time!

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