Kayaking river rapids is an exhilarating and adventurous sport that takes patience and practice to learn. The American Canoe Association recommends a beginner course for everyone new to this sport. Even a short course of one to three days can help you get started with good practices rather than bad habits that can be difficult to break. A kayaking course will also teach you how to kayak safely. In swiftwater, things can go wrong quickly; it's important to know how to respond effectively to common mishaps.
Steps
Step 1
Unless you choose a sit-on-top kayak, you will need to learn the wet exit before you can kayak river rapids. A wet exit is how you will get out of the boat if you flip. It involves pulling the skirt off the cockpit and pushing yourself out of your boat and into the water.
Step 2
If you choose a sit-on-top kayak, practice getting back on the boat in flat water, before you need to in a real situation. This can save you valuable time in the middle of a rapid and may prevent injury.
Step 3
Learn basic strokes in flatwater before attempting to run rapids. These include the forward stroke, reverse stroke, sweep stroke and draw stroke.
Step 4
Learn to distinguish the downstream V and rooster tails that mark clear channels. This will help you go downstream smoothly and quickly. This takes time, practice and, most likely, whacking into more than a few rocks.
Step 5
Learn to identify dangerous river features such as undercut rocks, pinning rocks and downed trees, which are called strainers. Water often pushes objects--including paddlers--into and under strainers. They don't come back out easily.
Step 6
Learn basic kayaking maneuvers: eddy turns, peel outs, ferrying and attainment. While you can certainly bomb down a whitewater river without these skills, you will increase your skill, fun and safety by learning these techniques.
Step 7
Learn to scout rapids. If you can't see around a bend, you should scout the rapid either by getting out of your boat on shore or on a rock or by catching an eddy. If you choose to scout a rapid by catching an eddy, be sure to pick one that will allow you to backtrack if the rapid is not safe to run.
Step 8
Learn paddle and hand signals for stop, go, strainer, first aid and emergency. Often, it is difficult to hear others on the river, and obeying these signals may help save someone's life, including your own.
Step 9
Learn to roll. A roll is not necessary for a beginning whitewater kayaker, but it does increase your safety on the water. This is because it is always safer to be in your boat than out of it, especially in rushing water. A solid roll may also increase your confidence and risk taking and, therefore, your skill.
Things You'll Need
- Whitewater kayak
- Paddle
- Personal flotation device (PFD)
- Helmet
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