KAYAKING
Introduction to White Water Kayaking By James Roddick
THERE ARE LOTS of reasons you should take up whitewater kayaking. Here are just a few: • The Ottawa area is one of the best regions in the world for whitewater kayaking. Choices range from urban paddling in the shadow of Parliament Hill or at Champlain Bridge, to wilderness paddling on the fringe of Algonquin Park. Our rivers warm up by mid-June— a luxury enjoyed in very few other paddling regions. • Kayaking can be a four-season sport, though three seasons is enough for most of us. Advances in technical clothing help to keep you warm and dry despite freezing temperatures. Even if you avoid winter paddling you still have a good nine-month season from April to December. • It’s a lot of fun! • You meet great people! • The rivers are free! Getting Started—Go Back to School Kayaking does involve very intimate interaction with powerful, dynamic whitewater. There are risks inherent in paddling whitewater and in venturing into remote wilderness settings. Learn about
SEND A PHOTO—WIN A SIMON RIVERS KAYAK PADDLE! Email us your best kayaking photo. If your photo is selected, you win the Kicker! The Kicker is designed with a gentle scoop for an efficient forward stroke. E-mail your photo to: Kicker@OttawaOutdoors.ca
whitewater and the essential paddling and river safety skills from professionals. Luckily, there are many opportunities for instruction in and around Ottawa. Will I be able to do it? Am I strong enough? These are the most frequently asked questions by women who are thinking about learning to kayak. Proper technique and finesse are much more important than strength. The strongest person in the world will not roll their kayak upright after tipping without applying the proper technique. Gearing Up—What to Buy The best place to learn about what gear to purchase is at a paddling school or from a whitewater kayak dealer. During instruction you will have a great opportunity to try different equipment before you buy. Your instructors will be a good source of advice about gear selection based on your weight, body type, the type of paddling you plan to do and where you plan to paddle. Good paddling stores have paddlers on staff and many retailers have regular demo sessions where you can try out different boats. There is a lot of good used equipment available as well. Kayaks: A few years ago kayak design was truly revolutionized. Long (12-14 foot/3.6-4.2 metre) kayaks with round curving hulls have been superseded by short (six to eight foot/ 1.8-2.4 metre) kayaks with flat bottoms, square edges and squashed bows and sterns. Essentially, designers gave kayaks many of the features of surfboards for planing or surfing on standing waves. The shorter length allows kayakers to have much more fun in large and small
river features as they can surf, spin, submerge the ends and do all sorts of neat tricks. The new boat designs are also easier to paddle and make learning easier. Construction is almost exclusively roto-molded plastic that is very strong and durable. With proper care and storage, kayaks will last for decades. Paddles: Very few kayak paddles are made from wood these days. More durable and low maintenance materials have become the norm. Aluminum/fibreglass combinations are in the lower price bracket. Paddles made of combinations of carbon fibre and/or graphite, and sometimes plastic, fill the lightweight, higher performance bracket. Spray Skirt: A neoprene cockpit cover that you wear around your waist, it wraps around your kayak cockpit to keep water out. These skirts release easily when you want to exit your kayak. Personal Flotation Device (PFD): If you do end up out of your kayak you want to be able to swim to safety, and the PFD helps you get there. It should have pockets for a few essentials: a whistle, sunscreen and a snack bar. A paddling PFD should have large armholes to permit a complete range of motion for your arms and shoulders. Remember, you will be sitting in a cockpit, and a traditional water ski vest or motor boating PFD will likely be too long to fit properly. It is best to buy a PFD designed specifically for paddling. Paddle Jacket: This basic item of paddling clothing is great on cool or windy days or when the water is cool. It has seals at the wrist, neck and waist to reduce water infiltration. With some added insulating 37