Outdoor Education…Character development through the outdoors

KAYAKING Skills

Kayaking Checklist

Before you start kayaking there are a few things that must be checked:

Helmet - Are you wearing it correctly? Is the chin strap clipped?
Buoyancy Aid - Are all the straps and buckles done up? Can you lift it above your ears?
Bung - Is the screw plug at the back of your boat done up?
Spray skirt - Is the tag out the front of your kayak?

"Buckle - Buckle - Bung - Tag"

Kayaking Skills

We will start with the kayaking basics and progress to learn the most essential paddling and safety skills.

Dry pool entry

Place your boat parallel to the edge of the pool and your paddle perpendicular across your kayak. With one hand, grab ahold of the cockpit rim in the middle of the back of the cockpit and the paddle shaft (this hand stabilizes the kayak). With your other hand hold the paddle (on the pool side) while standing bow side of the paddle. While keeping your hands on the paddle shaft, sit on your first hand, place your feet inside the kayak and lower your bottom into the seat.

Dry pool exit

Like the dry entry but in reverse… Place the paddle behind you. With one hand grab the paddle and the cockpit rim, and with the second hand, hold the paddle shaft out over the pool edge. Shift your feet and bottom to the pool edge.

How to Get Into and Out Of a Kayak Smoothly.mp4

Wet exit

How To Do a Wet Exit from a Kayak.mp4

1. Stay Calm and Tuck: When you capsize, resist the urge to panic. Lean forward as far as possible, as if you are "kissing the deck". This protects your face from underwater obstacles and places your hands within easy reach of the spray skirt.

2. Locate the Grab Loop: Reach forward along the cockpit rim until you find the spray skirt's grab loop. Do not rely on your eyes; find it by feel.

3. Release the Skirt: Grasp the loop firmly and pull it forward and then up to pop the skirt off the cockpit rim.

Pro Tip: If you cannot find the loop, you can often release the skirt by grabbing the material at the side of the cockpit rim near your hips where tension is lowest.

4. Push and Roll Out: Place your hands on the sides of the cockpit rim next to your hips. Bring your knees together to disengage them from any thigh braces, then push the kayak forward and away from you as if you were "sliding off a big pair of pants". You will naturally perform a forward roll out of the boat.

5. Surface and Secure Gear: Allow your Personal Flotation Device (PFD) to float you to the surface. Immediately grab hold of your kayak and paddle so they do not drift away in the wind or current.

How to hold a paddle

Place the paddle key in your right hand and to find the best hand position, place the middle of your paddle shaft on your head and shuffle your hands until your elbows make 90º.

Kayaking & Canoeing for Beginners - How to Hold a Kayak Paddle.mp4

Forward Paddle Stroke

Begin by placing the paddle blade in the water at the bow (toes) of the boat. Push with your top hand to generate power. As you do this, pull the paddle along the side of the boat, the closer to the boat the better. As your paddle exits the water, by your hips, begin to repeat the same process with the opposite blade.

Back Paddling

Place your blade in the water at your hips (rotate your torso to reach further back). Push with your lower hand and pull with your upper hand to generate power. Remember to look over one shoulder when performing the back paddle as it will allow you to travel backward in a straighter line. (Do not turn your paddle around when back paddling, hold it as you would for all other strokes)

Kayak Technique - The Forward and Reverse Stroke.mp4

Sweep Stroke

Place the paddle in at the bow (toes) of your boat. Creating a rainbow like formation, create an arch away from your boat that starts at your bow and ends at your stern.

Kayak Sweep Strokes - How to Paddle Series.mp4

Edging and Leaning

Balancing edging and leaning - Sample chapter from Kayak Essentials..mp4

Low Brace

Keeping your elbows above your wrists, slap the water with the bottom of your paddle. As you do this, push your paddle forwards so it scoops out of the water.

The Low Brace for Whitewater Kayakers.mp4

T-Rescue

How To- Do a Kayak T-Rescue.mp4

Sweep Roll

How To- Do a Sweep Kayak Roll.mp4

C to C Roll

The C to C Kayak Roll for Whitewater Kayakers.mp4

How to learn to roll

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