| Ahh, the sport of kayaking.......Where any body of water can give such a satisfying amount of pleasure. The ability to go pretty much wherever you want to go. Be it a four day excursion in a sea kayak. Or a raging, Class IV section of your favorite river. The possibilties are endless, depending on your skill level, of course. The first thing anyone should do, before diving in, is find a reputable school to learn the basics ( Eskimo Roll, CPR, River Strategy and Safety) Once that's out of the way, head to your first body of water (river,pond,lake, or ocean),Just remember to leave your "EGO" on shore. The water can give you a happy, or humbling experience, depending on your attitude. Remember, you must crawl before you can walk. Take your time, learn on safe water, there will be plenty of harder water later on. If you get in over your head, you'll be so busy trying to stay upright, you'll miss every wave, shoot past the eddies, and be terrified of what's around the bend. The key word here is RELAX ! The idea is for YOU to control the boat, not letting the water control you ! Watch more advanced boaters. See how easy they slide right in the "Sweet Spot"? They let the current do the hard work. They are totally RELAXED ! Everything you do has a purpose. When you make a move, you must be ready to make a counter-move, always staying ahead in the game. I'm a Class II / III type of guy, with a few Class IV's under my belt. If it weren't for alot of help and guidance from some of my boatin buds, I would still be standing on shore. These guys are what Kayaking is all about. And to find such a group is a treasure indeed. Enough talking already ! Let it rain, let the ice break up, and pray for warmer weather. Clean your gear, cuz the seasons' near. |
