Kayaking allows you to enjoy the great outdoors, sweeping views and physical activity all in one. Ideal as an individual activity, kayaking can also be done in pairs. Whether you've just purchased a kayak or you're planning to rent a kayak for a trip, you should know that paddling a kayak requires precise movements and continuous motion. Since your paddling motion is the only way the kayak can move forward, it's up to you to learn to paddle correctly and efficiently for the best experience.
Step 1
Register for a kayaking course. The safety rules and specific steps to getting into a kayak, paddling and reacting to tipping are not to be learned on your own. An instructor who is certified by the American Canoe Association can give you the best and the most extensive beginner course to kayaking. With the right foundation, you'll be more comfortable in your kayak and better equipped to paddle efficiently and safely.
Step 2
Purchase the appropriate equipment and gear you'll need to kayak. Before you ever place your kayak in the water, you'll need a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life preserver, a bailer or pump, a rope, first aid and emergency kits, a whistle, emergency drinking water and gear to protect against the elements. Your instructor will offer more information as to what you'll need to start paddling.
Step 3
Plan or attend a beginner kayaking trip with your course or through a local kayaking club. Never go into the water to learn to paddle on your own the first time. Ensure you have someone who can comment on your form and correct any mistakes you make the first few times around so that if you decide to go solo, you feel comfortable in your paddling skills.
Step 4
Practice your paddling form in the water. The most efficiently paddled kayaks are those that are powered by the shoulders and back, not the arms. Focus on long, smooth strokes that begin with the paddle held widthwise across your body. As you dip the left side of the paddle into the water, twist your left elbow down so the paddle enters the water perpendicular to the water's surface.
Step 5
Paddle often by planning frequent kayak trips for you, students from your course, members from a club or other friends. You'll find your most comfortable rhythm and technique from practice alone. Nearby lakes, wetlands and slow-moving rivers are ideal for practice, so long as kayaking is allowed by local ordinances.
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