Intro into Whitewater 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

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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 Long (12-14 foot/3.6-4.2 metre) kayaks with round curving hulls have been superseded by short (six to eight foot/ 1.8-2.4 metre) kayaks with flat bottoms, square edges and squashed bows and sterns.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

layers, it can be used in spring and fall conditions. For cold water/cold weather paddling a dry top is essential for safe and enjoyable paddling. Helmets: Plastic with foam padding, a skid lid or brain bucket is a great idea when you might be upside down in the water and are likely to encounter the rocky bottom with your head. Buy and wear a helmet. Throwbags: A throwbag is a bag of rope you can keep close at hand for emergencies. To rescue a paddler in need of help, throw the bag of rope, holding onto your end of the rope, and assist them to shore. You will have to learn how to properly use a throw bag so that you don’t end up in the water as well, so practice the technique before you paddle rapids. Odds and Ends: A small dry box or dry bag is a great idea for carrying extra clothes and a first aid kit. Think like a boy scout; be prepared. It’s better to bring water than to risk drinking the river water, so think about a water bottle. Learn the Basics

This section is just going to scratch the surface of introductory kayaking, to explain what to expect when you first get into the sport. Please take lessons, buy an instructional book and/or video and paddle with experienced kayakers for more complete instruction and guidance. Never paddle whitewater alone, especially if you are a beginner! Winter is the season for pool sessions to learn the basics and work on your roll. With the warm weather here, get out on the rivers and lakes to learn. Entry and Exit: Brace one end of your paddle across your kayak deck just behind the cockpit. The other end of the paddle may be braced on the shoreline, a rock, a dock, the poolside or another kayak. Sit on the rear rim of the cockpit and deck,

facing forwards and slide your feet into the bow of the cockpit. Your body will drop into the seat. Seal your skirt starting at the back and working up each side, finally slipping the front section over the cockpit rim. Ensure the pull-tab is protruding for easy grabbing and is not wrapped under the skirt inside the cockpit. Reverse the procedure to exit. Wet Exit: When, not if, you go upside down you will have to wet exit. Relax. Relax. Relax. It is easy to get out of a kayak. Pull the tab of your spray skirt off the cockpit rim at the front. You do not need to peel if off all the way around. Lean forward and push off the cockpit rim so that your body moves forward over the front of the kayak and your legs follow out. Do not push backwards or straight up as you may jam in the cockpit. Even at this early stage try to hold onto your paddle at all times. It is a very important habit to develop. Brace: Use the paddle like an outrigger or a pontoon to improve your balance. Extend it out to one side with the flat surface on the water and apply a little pressure, just enough to stabilize yourself. Forward Stroke: Hold the paddle so that your hands are the width of your shoulders and upper arms apart, and your elbows form right angles. Reach forward, close to the side of the kayak to about the spot where your feet are located, and slide the blade into the water, pulling it down the side of the kayak to about even with your hips. The other blade will now be in position to slide into the water beside your other foot. Repeat. At first, do not concern yourself with travelling in a straight line. Worry about directional control later. Execute uniform, gentle strokes. Applying too much power will complicate your learning. Remember, it is technique that really determines how well you paddle.

Kayak paddle blades are offset and you will have one hand, the control hand, which maintains a firm grip on the paddle shaft. The other hand allows the paddle to rotate during a stroke on the control hand side, and grips firmly when applying power for a stroke on the other side. It’s a good idea to practice the forward stroke on dry land to develop your paddle rotation skill. If you mess up your paddle rotation and slice into the water, please see the above instructions for a wet exit. Back Stroke: Reach behind you with one paddle blade, slide it into the water close to the kayak hull and pull it towards the front of the boat. Take the blade out of the water when it reaches the spot beside your feet. Forward Sweep: Reach far forward near your toes, keeping the paddle parallel to the kayak. You want to push the bow of the kayak away from the paddle, sweep the paddle out in a circular motion and bring it out of the water when it comes level with your hips. This stroke is used for dramatic turns or course direction changes. Back Sweep: The paddle enters the water behind your hips close to the hull. Sweep out and around in a circle and take the paddle out around the area of your knees.

In all these paddling strokes think about using your body’s torso and back muscles as well as your arms. Wind your body up like a spring when setting up for a stroke and use the powerful large body muscles in addition to your arms and shoulders. Think about trunk rotation as your primary source of paddling power.

There are many other strokes, and entire books written on the subject. Many of these books are great investments and often have accompanying videos. They are powerful learning tools to help with basic, intermediate and advanced paddling. The T-rescue and roll are important to learn, but this John Hastings cutting the waves at the Pumphouse at the Lebreton Campgrounds. article is not intended to replace a complete instructional course.

The new school of kayaking and the rapid growth of freestyle or rodeo paddling have generated many new strokes and manoeuvres that greatly expand the fun, thrill and challenge of paddling. There are competitions for all levels of ability that offer just one more way to enjoy the sport. Once you become a kayaker, you will be hooked for life, and you will never stop learning and improving. See you on the river!

About the author: James Roddick is a long time paddler and instructor, international rodeo competitor and graduate of Lakehead University Outdoor Recreation program. During the summers you will find him on the Ottawa River, where he is Director of Ottawa Kayak School at Wilderness Tours. At other times of the year he is paddling or skiing someplace! E-mail him at: james_roddick@yahoo.com.

Paddling Sites in Eastern Ontario and West Quebec

Ottawa, ON

Ottawa River

Beachberg, ON

Petawawa River

Valleyfield, QC

Petawawa, ON

Madawaska River

Bonnechere River

Griffith, ON Barrys Bay, ON Eganville, ON Galetta , ON

Renfrew, ON

Petite Nation Papineauville, QC St. Lawrence Montreal, QC Chambly, QC Rivière du Nord St. Saveur, QC Paddling Instruction

Ottawa Kayak School Liquid Skills Madawaska Kanu Centre (MKC) River Run

Down to Earth Kayak

Ottawa Valley Kayak

(800) 267-9166 (613) 582-3340

(800) 267-9166

(819) 827-5905 (613) 282-2224 (877) WE-KAYAK Champlain Bridge (park on the island) Pumphouse at LeBreton Flats Rocher Fendu Section (off Grant Settlement Rd.)

Upstream of Hwy 17 bridge and all the way to the Ottawa River Upstream of Hwy 41 bridge Chalet Rapids Below the dam, right in the village Below the dam in the village Beside the wing dam, and below the main dam in the centre of town Off Hwy 148 Rouge Lachine Rapids

www.ottawakayak.com www.liquidskills.com

www.owl-mkc.ca/mkc

www.cyberus.ca/~orrpaddler www.wearedowntoearth.com www.ottawavalleykayak.com www.h2oadventures.com