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The Draw Stroke

The draw stroke is an effective method of pulling your kayak to the side without turning. Once you’ve learned how to paddle forward and in reverse, you may want to learn the draw stroke. This stroke is also called “pulling” the kayak, and will help you to move from side to side in the kayak. … Read more The Draw Stroke

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is easily treatable but can be very dangerous. If you are ever going to be out in the wilderness overnight, especially if you are going to be around the water, you should make sure that you have a good understanding of what hypothermia is. It has been said that hypothermia is always treatable – … Read more Hypothermia

Weil’s Disease

Weil’s disease can be contracted from contaminated water and may be fatal. Weil’s disease is a problem if you are going to be out in the wilderness and looking for water at all. This disease is spread through rat urine, so the main way in which you can contract the disease is by consuming contaminated … Read more Weil’s Disease

The Wet Exit

The wet exit (getting out of the kayak in the water) is not very difficult, but it is still important to have some experience with it. If you’re going to go kayaking, you should realize that there is a very good chance that you will capsize your kayak once or twice. This does not necessarily … Read more The Wet Exit

Trunk Rotation

Trunk rotation is the most important part of being able to paddle a kayak. One thing that most people may not realize about kayaking is that most of the power for kayaking will not actually come from your arms. The reason for this is that when you think about it, even if you are only … Read more Trunk Rotation

The Screw Roll

The screw roll is easier than the eskimo roll, but it still requires that you know the hip flick. If you’re looking for an easier sort of roll to learn, then you might want to look into learning the screw roll. This type of roll is generally recommended for beginner kayakers, and might be better … Read more The Screw Roll

Reverse Paddling

Reverse paddling is an important kayaking technique. While forward paddling is probably one of the most commonly used paddling strokes, reverse paddling is just as important. In fact, before you go kayaking, you should definitely practice both forward and reverse paddling to make sure that you have the necessary skills so that you do not … Read more Reverse Paddling

The Sculling Draw

The sculling draw is another effective sideways kayaking move. After you have learned the draw stroke, you may want to also learn the sculling draw. The primary uses for this kayak stroke are so that you can move the kayak sideways for more than just one short stroke. In fact, the sculling draw is the … Read more The Sculling Draw

Forward Paddling

Forward paddling seems easy, but there is room for improvement. Forward paddling is probably the most under-appreciated and under-practiced kayaking move. However, as you might imagine, this is the most important move that you can learn. Depending on where you’re going to be kayaking, and how long of a kayak tour you intend to go … Read more Forward Paddling

The Stern Rudder

The stern rudder is an easy to learn form of steering your kayak. The stern rudder is a quick way to turn your kayak. However, like all of the turning moves that require you to place your paddle in the water, it can have a dragging effect, and may slow you down considerably if you … Read more The Stern Rudder

The Bow Rudder

The bow rudder is related to the bow/draw rudder, but it is slightly easier to perform. If you have learned the bow/draw rudder, you may want to look into learning the bow rudder as well. This stroke is used for turning while you are moving in your kayak, just like the bow/draw. However, this stroke … Read more The Bow Rudder

The Bow/Draw Rudder

The bow/draw rudder is one of the hardest, but most efficient, kayaking strokes. While the stern rudder will turn your boat by using your paddle as a rudder near the back of the kayak, you can also perform the bow/draw rudder instead. This is essentially the same move, however, it is performed in front of … Read more The Bow/Draw Rudder

The Low Brace Turn

The low brace turn is one of the best ways to turn the kayak while in motion. One of the things you may find difficult when you’re first learning how to kayak is turning the kayak. There are basically two things that you can always try when you’re first learning how to kayak. First, some … Read more The Low Brace Turn

Currents Explained

Another thing that you need to watch out for if you’re going kayaking are ocean currents. Depending on where you are, they can either be a slight or a relatively important factor. You should always try to make sure that your trips will allow you to paddle with the current instead of against it, or … Read more Currents Explained

Helping a Swimmer

Learning how to help swimmers is an important part of kayaking responsibly. While it’s not necessarily required in order for you to go kayaking to begin with, it is probably a good idea to have some experience helping out swimmers as a kayaker. This is due to the fact that when you’re out at sea, … Read more Helping a Swimmer

The T-Rescue

The T-Rescue is a two-person method of righting a capsized kayak. One of the reasons that you should never go kayaking alone is that if you are with somebody else, then there are a lot of other techniques that you can use in case something goes wrong while you’re kayaking. For instance, you’ll have somebody … Read more The T-Rescue

The HI-Rescue

The HI-rescue is a useful rescue technique if you have two kayaks to help.One of the things that you should do before you go kayak touring is to make sure that you know all of the necessary methods for helping yourself and other people who may be in the water. While it’s always useful to … Read more The HI-Rescue

What is Kayaking?

If you’re looking for an activity that combines cardio and strength conditioning with the beautiful and peaceful serenity of the outdoors, kayaking just might be the activity for you. A sport that is rapidly gaining in popularity throughout the country, kayaking is a fun, healthy and relatively safe pursuit that affords hours of water-based enjoyment. … Read more What is Kayaking?

The X-Rescue

The X-rescue is one of the easiest kayak rescue techniques. If you are going to go kayaking and you’re worried about capsizing the kayak, don’t be too worried. There are several different easy to learn techniques that you can learn in order to make sure that your boat is righted as soon as possible. You … Read more The X-Rescue

What to Wear Kayaking? a Guide to Paddling in All Weather Conditions

Does wearing the right clothing when kayaking make that much of a difference? Should I be dressing to suit the weather conditions? Yes, it does make a real difference, and yes, you absolutely you should. Dressing appropriately can make or break your kayaking experience, either allowing you to have a great time out on your … Read more What to Wear Kayaking? a Guide to Paddling in All Weather Conditions

What Should You Do If Approaching a Low-Head Dam in a Kayak?

Low-head dams are often referred to as “drowning machines”, a nickname they have very much earned. Easily the most dangerous type of dam, the low-head is a significant hazard to nearly any water-going craft, but is especially perilous to kayakers. Between 1960 and 2016, there were 377 fatal accidents on low-head dams in the US, … Read more What Should You Do If Approaching a Low-Head Dam in a Kayak?

Red Tides are Sweeping the Southern Coast, and Northern Lakes are ravaged by Algal Blooms. How Does this Affect Kayakers?

From southern Florida to the Great Lakes, from the long, thin Finger Lakes to the rugged Utah landscape, there’s something dangerous lurking in the water. It’s not piranhas, sharks, or alligators, but rather something far more insidious. Harmful algal blooms (HABs)—different in origin but similar in risk—are wrecking paddle sports, ruining summer vacations, and spoiling fishing season. For … Read more Red Tides are Sweeping the Southern Coast, and Northern Lakes are ravaged by Algal Blooms. How Does this Affect Kayakers?

Is Kayaking Dangerous? – A Guide to the Dangers of Kayaking and How to Avoid Them

People have a lot of misconceptions about kayaking when it comes to issues of safety. Some people put no thought into the risks involved in paddlesports, while others freak out about perceived dangers that aren’t real threats. Is kayaking dangerous? To answer that, there are a lot of things we need to consider. But first, … Read more Is Kayaking Dangerous? – A Guide to the Dangers of Kayaking and How to Avoid Them

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