Taking to the Water in SW France

What better way to leave stress behind and enjoy exercise than with these exhilarating water sports?

Fun for all the family

The one thing we are not short of in this part of France is water, with an abundance of rivers, lakes and, for some, the open sea. Canoeing, kayaking and paddle boarding have grown rapidly in recent years as equipment has become more affordable and a greater focus has been placed on leisure and fitness. Whether you choose to compete or simply relax, you can find clubs, venues, training courses and equipment for hire everywhere.

All you need is the energy, the time and a love of water!

KAYAKING

Created thousands of years ago by the Greenlandic Inuit, kayaks were originally formed from driftwood or a whale’s skeleton, with the hide of an animal or seal to provide a water-tight craft. Easy to manoeuvre, they enabled hunters to propel themselves through icy waters, approaching their prey in virtual silence.

Europe began its love affair with kayaks in around 1931 when Adolf Anderle became the first person to whitewater kayak down the Salzachöfen Gorge. More lightweight, fibreglass versions followed in the 1950s, with polyethylene plastic kayaks entering the water in the 1980s. Today, the Olympics boasts more than 10 whitewater kayaking events, and there are hundreds of whitewater courses as well as flat water venues to enjoy this fast-moving water sport throughout France.

SO WHICH KAYAK IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

Well, that depends on the water. For flat water, the “sit on top” version prevents rolling (as the paddler simply falls off) and is where the paddler sits in an open, shallow deck above the water level.

For whitewater kayaking, users sit inside “cockpit” styles, legs forward on a low seat, covered by a water-tight spray deck or skirt. This position brings more control by allowing them to push against the sides to tip and manoeuvre the boat through the rapids.

A short version, with a flat rather than pointed front, is known as a “playboat” and is designed for tricks and fast manoeuvres. Sometimes referred to as “Duckies” and usually more unstable, inflatables (or hybrids) combine sit on and cockpit variations, are open and the paddler sits below the deck level.

Then, for those who love to share their sport, there are the Tandems for two or three paddlers. There are specific paddles too. Off-set, they have a blade at both ends, each being tilted to reduce wind resistance whilst out of the water.

Different lengths and shapes are offered to suit the paddler’s height, experience and type of hobby, and every kayak should also have a flotation device to prevent them from sinking, even when filled with water.

Never kayaked? Check out the golden rules in this video https://bit.ly/2JjLOiE

CANOEING

Established as a modern recreational sport in the late 19th-century, canoeing joined the Olympic Games in 1936 with the canoe sprint. Nowadays, they are also used in canoe polo, slaloms, whitewater challenges, canoe marathons, sprint races and playboating on lakes, rivers, oceans, ponds and streams. Although canoes are often referred to as kayaks in many parts of Europe, there’s a significant difference in that the paddler kneels or sits facing forward, on a raised seat, using a singlebladed paddle, in an open or closed deck.

Depending on their use, canoes can be fitted with outriggers, typical of the stabilisers found on traditional Hawaiian canoes and can be up to 40m long, making them ideal for fishing and leisurely outings with friends. Just in case, they can also have sails or electric or gas motors.

For five tips to make you a better canoeist take a look at https://bit.ly/39oA350

PADDLE BOARDING AND STANDUP

If you are lying on a paddle or surf board and using your arms in a swimming motion you are paddle boarding. If you manage to move onto your knees, stand up and propel yourself forward using a paddle or pole, congratulations, you’ve mastered the art of stand-up paddle boarding (SUP).

A good balance helps

Early records of SUP date back to 1,000 BC but Hawaiian surfers made it popular in the 1900s with their skills in controlling surf boards of up to 5m in length with a paddle. Around the same time, lifeguards in Tel Aviv were standing on wide boards, keeping an eye out for swimmers in distress and rushing to their rescue with a paddle at their side. The modern-day sport exploded when it hit California in the early 2000s. Five years later it had diversified into racing, yoga, fishing and recreational activities on lakes, in rivers and in the ocean.

With internal buoyancy chambers and a displacement hull that allows the paddler to glide and track, today’s competitive boards are cleverly engineered and aren’t nearly as straightforward as they seem. The good news is that for water sports enthusiasts we now have inflatable boards that fit into a backpack, ready to catch waves, enjoy flat water or simply paddle down a river.

Fancy giving it a go? Watch this “how to” video at https://bit.ly/3ao8ava

Useful links:

Canoë Kayak et Sports de Pagaie (La Fédération Française de canoë-kayak) www.ffck.org La Fédération Française Surf www.surfingfrance.com

Also, check out our sports listings, lakes and other water venues in our business directory at www.thelocalbuzzmag.com

BE SAFE

* Always wear a life jacket

* Carry a whistle

* Don a helmet and water shoes in a kayak or canoe and carry a knife in case of entanglement

* Wear a dry or wetsuit to keep you warm in cold water

* Make sure people know where you are and where you are heading

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