#discoverwi

What happens if my kayak capsizes

It eventually happens to all paddlers; you will fall into the water – either purposely or unintentionally. What happens to you and your gear during this process can range from just another day on the water to a major incident. This posting will cover what normally happens, and what one can do to minimize the ordeal. Let’s explore what the action of falling into the water is commonly called in the…

10 ways to make your kayaking easier.

Over the years of instructing, or just paddling with friends, I have asked the question – What ideals of kayaking you know now are topics you wish you knew when you started for the first time? I have compiled ten of the most common subjects which came up in the conversations. The reoccurring theme within these top ten is paddler development. How to properly paddle Kayaking is fairly easy sport…

Chart Reading: Why do some lights flash at night?

Seasoned kayakers will tell you, paddling in low to no-light environment can be challenging. While on the water at night, shoreline object recognition is not as vibrant as it usually is during the day. A kayaker should have the ability to navigate safely during their time on the water. Much like reading a street map while driving, paddlers can use a navigation chart to reach their destination. In…

How to make better decisions before paddling

Paddle sports generally are a very safe, fun, relaxing and enjoyable activity. The majority of people can pick up basic techniques and methods to navigate the waterways rather quickly.  Kayaking, however can be dangerous, and the dangers increase without taking simple precautions. There are techniques which are used to reduce hazards and make the journey on the water safer to the paddler. Risk…

You purchased your first kayak, now what?

Congratulations, you have advanced from the notion and desire to own a kayak, to ownership. Time to take that beauty out for a paddle on any stretch of water, right? Besides, you have seen numerous pictures and videos of folks jumping into the sport of kayaking without incident, what could go wrong? Well, this is not necessary the plan of action…. As a child when we learned how to ride a bicycle,…

The “experienced” kayaker

How many times have we read the phrase, “They were an experienced kayaker/paddler”? This seems to be a term used by reporters posthumously as they write an article of a paddler who was involved in an incident. The authors of the media release tend to receive this information from family members, onlookers, or perhaps the paddling partner who was also involved in the incident. Majority of these…