UKC

Getting into kayaking

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 Radioactiveman 31 Dec 2012
Currently lying on the sofa in a puddle of pity. Xmas was wiped out by norovirus and now got biblical manflu.Not left the house in 10 days . Anyway whining over.

While lying here I fancied doing some research into kayaking. The faster river type stuff. Appreciate I will have to start on easy flat lakes and slow stuff to start with.I wondered if anyone could recommend a forum or some other internet based resource to read up about it.

I have kayaked a few time when younger but nothing much. And I need to learn to swim to a better level than I can now. HAd a forum search but it came up with climbs named "kayak"

In kendal btw

Cheers
 Joe G 31 Dec 2012
In reply to Radioactiveman:

You could start here: http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/

Finding a local club would be a good bet, probably more so with kayaking than climbing. Not only will clubs provide people with experience but also might be able to loan all the kit, and maybe have indoor pool sessions this time of year.
 Phil1919 31 Dec 2012
In reply to Radioactiveman: Sedbergh have a canoe club with a stock of boats on Killington that you can use for free on the lake and elsewhere. You'll need to loin of course.
 Phil1919 31 Dec 2012
In reply to Phil1919: ....or rather, join of course.
 KellyKettle 31 Dec 2012
In reply to Radioactiveman: UK Rivers Guidebook is very much like UKC but for all things paddlesport... the first piece of advice will be to join a club but after that you're likely to get a lot of conflicting advice over how's best to progress.

General rule of thumb is that the greater your water confidence, the easier you'll be able to learn to roll a kayak, the easier it will be to develop all the other skills once you can right youself unaided...
 cuppatea 31 Dec 2012
In reply to Radioactiveman:

Steer yourself towards the Song of the paddle forum
 Mal Grey 31 Dec 2012
In reply to Radioactiveman:

Basically, what they^^^^^ say.

UKRGB is indeed the place for kayaking: http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=29


Song of the Paddle is more about open canoes. http://www.songofthepaddle.co.uk/forum/forum.php


The club advice is very good. Whilst paddling on an easy canal or river is easy to pick up, you need other folk to teach you the skills & safety techniques for whitewater. And clubs own kayaks/canoes so you don't have to buy one immediately.



 KellyKettle 31 Dec 2012
In reply to Mal Grey:
> (In reply to Radioactiveman)
>
> Basically, what they^^^^^ say.
>
> UKRGB is indeed the place for kayaking: http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=29
>
>
> Song of the Paddle is more about open canoes. http://www.songofthepaddle.co.uk/forum/forum.php

If for whatever reason you should develop the urge to take open canoes on white-water then http://www.cboats.net/cforum is another useful (if niche) resource.
 marsbar 31 Dec 2012
In reply to Radioactiveman: I would recommend pyb courses, you can progress so fast by doing all day for a 5 day block. Maybe learn the flat water stuff first and then do intro to ww with them?
needvert 31 Dec 2012
Canoe polo is a fun, fast sport that will improve your skills much more than normal flat water paddling, and most importantly teach you to brace or roll up when you capsize unexpectedly and often have to roll up while up against something or somethings*. It's rumoured to have been invented by white water paddlers trapped in a land without gradient.

* Sometimes the somethings may be holding you down, tempting you to commit the ultimate sin, to swim.


Don't feel the need to start on lakes, you could be paddling grade 2 by the end of your first day.

As others say, you need someone to teach you, and drag your boat out while you're coughing up water on the shore.
In reply to Radioactiveman:

Thanks everyone for the suggestions , the best bit about ukc the collective knowledge Should give me something to have a look at.
 woolsack 31 Dec 2012
In reply to Radioactiveman: Just get yerself a copy of 'Canoes and Coanoeing' by Percy Blandford


I took my 9 year old for his first paddle in his own boat yesterday

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