If you want to get into whitewater kayaking, the best advice I can offer is: Don't buy a kayakBuying a boat too soon is probably the most common mistake new paddlers make. Even if it seems like a good deal, wait until you know how to paddle before buying a kayak. You will improve the most in your first season so people who buy too early usually end up regretting or replacing their first boat purchase. Also, it typically takes a season to figure out what kind of kayaking most appeals to you - slalom, river running, playboating, creekboating, surf kayaking, or squirtboating - and each requires a different kind of boat. Lastly, whitewater kayaking is not for everyone so it's best to wait until you're sure you like the sport before making a big investment in equipment.
If you feel the urge to buy something, then purchase personal equipment first like a helmet, PFD, sprayskirt, or cold water gear (wetsuit, river booties, mitts/gloves). There are some good deals in the used boat market but understand that boat designs evolved significantly in the 1990s. If you insist on getting a kayak then at least get something made in this century, preferably within the last 5 years.
So what do you paddle during your first year? Most kayak clubs have a rental fleet and are usually the cheapest option for gear rental (some even have an annual rental pass). You can also rent or demo a boat from a kayak shop - often the money spent on rentals can be applied toward a purchase from the same store. Typically, you rent either just the boat or an entire package (i.e. kayak, paddle, sprayskirt, helmet, and PFD). Clubs commonly rent the entire package and have lots of selection and sizes. Stores tend to have a limited selection of rental helmets, paddles, skirts, and PFDs but the gear is typically newer and in better repair.
Take a courseKayaking isn't like other sports - the school of hard knocks is definitely not the way to go (trust me on this)! Unlike tennis or golf where a mistake will cost a swing or a serve, the consequences of blissfully blundering your way down a river can be severe. If you want to make meaningful progress in your first season then take a pool course with a certified instructor right at the start. Formal instruction is the fastest way to get up to speed quickly and prevents the development of bad habits or sloppy technique. It's best to take an introductory course before the start of the season (i.e. in winter or early spring at the latest) so you can use what you've learned on the river as soon and for as long as possible. Most kayak clubs offer introductory kayaking courses in the winter. Most paddling stores offer lessons in the spring and summer. Pools are perfect for learning the basic strokes and are the ideal place to learn how to roll since clean, clear, warm water beats a frigid lake any day for student and instructor alike. Contrary to popular belief, the eskimo roll is not the epitome of whitewater paddling - it's actually the most basic self-rescue technique and one of the first and most fundamental skills you'll learn. It's also a misconception that expert paddlers rarely roll - in fact the opposite is usually true since the more you challenge yourself the more rolls you do, regardless of skill level. Rolling on the river is no different than rolling in a pool - there's just more distractions to deal with.
You need to follow up any pool course with a moving water clinic so you can learn the fundamentals of handling a kayak in fast water. Entering, exiting, and crossing a current are your bread-and-butter moves for getting down a river. Mastering these three maneuvers is essential - everything else is extra.
If you like the sport then be a responsible paddler and take a swift water resuce course and a First Aid course sometime during your first or second season. Paddling skill is not a prerequisite for either course, so there's no excuse to not have these certifications.
Join a clubJoining a local kayak club addresses the three other points mentioned on this page. All clubs offer introductory kayak lessons, have equipment suited for beginners available for rent, and have plenty of experienced members to paddle with.
In the off season, most clubs have drop-in pool sessions for members to practise rolls, strokes, and other flatwater skills. Because western rivers are so cold, be sure to use pool sessions wisely - focus on developing a bomb-proof roll on both sides. In Alberta, most kayak clubs spice up flatwater pool sessions by renting the wave pool at the West Edmonton Mall at least once a winter.
Many clubs operate a recreational kayak polo league. This is ideal for beginners because it helps improve boat control and is also a lot of fun.
Most clubs have a library of books, videos, and DVDs that you can rent or borrow. Focus on the educational ones, not the carnage videos. Anything by Ken Whiting is ideal, especially his 'Whitewater Kayaking' and 'Playboating' videos. Many public libraries have a few instructional books and kayaking videos as well.
The best reason to join a club is because of the trips. Most clubs publish a schedule each spring listing the various river trips planned for the season. Club paddlers are typically quite invested in safety and have a lot of practice and patience in rescuing beginners. Club trips are the best way to meet other paddlers and explore the rivers in your area. Experienced trip leaders will happily share local knowledge of the river, optimal water levels, put-in and take-out locations, when and where to scout rapids, which to portage, etc. This saves you having to rely exclusively on outdated guidebooks.
Kayak clubs are great for car pooling, socializing, networking, and learning about secret, exotic, or remote paddling destinations. Most clubs are also active in hosting and attending river festivals and promoting river access and environmental issues.
Paddle with people who are better than youPaddling with other beginners is fun but you won't improve very fast and rescues frequently turn into fiascos. If only for safety sake, paddle with people who are better than you for at least your first few seasons. This allows you to learn from good example and benefit from free informal instruction on the river. Most paddlers are happy to offer constructive criticism if you simply ask for help with something specific. Again, this is yet another advantage to paddling with a club.
There's no secret to becoming a good kayaker other than time in your boat. You will make plenty of progress in your first couple seasons so long as you get on the river a couple weekends each month. Basically, paddle as much as you can and when you feel you've reached a plateau in your paddling skill then take a course or a clinic. You can also step things up by trying new lines on familiar rapids or exploring rivers you haven't yet run. Just be sure not to overstep your comfort and skill level! |