The best way to get started with Kayaking is to go Kayaking as much as you possibly can. Like most sports, practice makes perfect and you shouldn’t think of Kayaking as being any different. To get started you don’t have to buy a kayak and can instead rent one from a local lake. Lakes also make a great first kayaking destination since there is usually little or no current.

Start by paddling on your own from one end of the lake to the other. While this may seem simple it’s all about perfecting your stroke and doing as little work as possible to move the maximum distance. Make sure your paddle is making the maximum impact with the water and ensure you’re keeping a reliable cadence that you can keep up for a long period of time.

As you become a more experienced paddler you can move-onto the Ocean or even quick-moving rivers but make sure you go with a more seasoned kayaker for your first run. Kayaking is a great sport and a lot of fun, learning the basics isn’t as hard as you might think, but like I said in the beginning don’t expect to be an expert right away in kayaking.

Whitewater rafting is becoming an increasingly popular past time for thrill seekers. Many however fail to fully research their trip and the result can be at best one of failing to live up to expectations and at worst putting personal safety in danger. Here are my 5 top tips to ensure a happy and a safe first time whitewater rafting experience.

Choose your tour operator and/or instructor very carefully. Do not go for the cheapest option! Ask yourself just why they are charging so much less than the next guy. Is your safety in the water worth compromising for the sake of a few bucks? Join some internet whitewater rafting forums and seek advice on the best operators.

Think about what time of year you will be whitewater rafting. Whenever you go you will get wet – as in absolutely drenched. Not a great scenario in winter, (being wet AND cold is never a good combination!). Yet in the summer months you will get wet and this may mask the heat of the sun – resulting in sunburn or worse. Think carefully therefore before booking your trip.

Can you swim? No really can you swim? I don’t mean doing a couple of lengths in your local pool. I mean swimming in strong currents fully clothed. Think about that for a second – have you ever tried swimming in a lot more than a pair of Speedos? If not go and book some lessons – some proper lessons where you can learn more than the basic breast stroke.

Choose what you are wearing carefully – it goes without saying that your clothes will get wet you won’t want to be weraing any designer items – but what about footwear. The experts all agree that the best option is soft soled canvas shoes with plenty of grip. You may even consider buying a pair of proper “river shoes” designed solely(!) for water sports.

In addition to researching your operator thoroughly it makes perfect sense to research whitewater rafting itself. Learn about the types of water – there are 6 classes of river conditions ranging from Class I (virtually still water) to Class VI (virtually un-navigable). Whitewater novices should start at Class II or Class III. Remember also that classification can change depending on the conditions at the time. Get to know also the types of craft available to you – will you prefer kayaks, rafts or canoes? Do some reasearch and listen to experienced “river rats” in the forums.

You can be sure that with a little forward planning your first whitewater rafting experience will a highly enjoyable one which you will want to repeat again and again!

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Of course, not all adventures can go this smoothly. I’m sure there are many instances where people have noy brought their whitewater kayak paddle or their life jacket and have not had the good fortune of such wonderful friends to lend them the necessary equipment. Being, literally, up the creek without a paddle can be a daunting experience as you have effectively removed control of the water from your own power.

It is now up to the water, the waves, and the sheer force of nature to carry your adventure through to a safe landing on the shore. In the case of whitewater rafting, however, this isn’t usually a gamble many want to take; whitewater rafting can be vicious and brutal.

Adventurous Captivity

There are some that are, as many in the industry call it, captivated by adventure. These people are likely to let the waves carry them and will deliberately start their rapids trip without a whitewater kayak paddle. This is not recommended as it leaves them in the hands of nature and the clutches of the vicious white water as it rages forth carrying the small raft into certain oblivion.

Although this type of adventure is frowned upon, year after year many people embark on a similar type of adventure without a whitewater kayak paddle and, worse yet, without a proper life jacket.

Imagine being captured by an enormous wave and being tossed around like a cork in the raging waters, flipping and spinning about with no control over the direction your body is headed. This type of helplessness could have been entirely prevented with the proper use of a whitewater kayak paddle and some basic safety equipment.

Do not be captivated by adventure to the point that you lose sight of logic and common sense; take the proper equipment with you when you go whitewater rafting.

Author: John Mailer

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Whitewater kayaking is kayaking taken to an extreme. This is basically the combination of whitewater rafting, except that you are in a kayak instead of a raft. This sport has been gaining popularity in recent years, and has even been included in the Summer Olympics of 2004.

Whitewater kayaking is definitely not for the faint of heart, as it generally involves some of the roughest rivers around. People who go whitewater kayaking should have a lot of experience kayaking in rivers and rough water. They should also make sure that they know exactly what type of kayak they need to use.

The kayaks used for whitewater kayaking generally need to be sturdier than most other kayaks due to the beating that they will probably get from being in the river. Two person kayaks are not used for whitewater kayaking because it’s too dangerous to have more than one person in the kayak while going over whitewater. The single person kayaks themselves can vary between whether or not they’re short or long – this generally depends on what aspects of the kayak the person kayaking wants to emphasize.

There are several different types of whitewater kayaking as well. If you’re just going to be whitewater kayaking for fun, then you’re more than likely just going to be something called “river running.” What this means is that you take your kayak and go down a whitewater river. These rivers are generally not the roughest, and there are sometimes some flat parts as well as rapids. River running can either be a day excursion, or it might be a week long adventure down a river. This is a great choice for somebody experienced in kayaking.

Some people find that it’s fun to participate in playboating or rodeo. Basically what this entails is staying near the same part of a river and using the same rapids to do tricks. This is a much harder part of whitewater kayaking, so it’s less likely that you’ll find somebody who knows how to do it.

The last thing that people usually think of when they think of whitewater kayaking is what is known as “creeking”. This is the most extreme type of whitewater kayaking, and involves taking a kayak through some of the roughest whitewater in the entire world. This type of kayaking is usually done as a part of some sort of competition, or by people who are looking for an extreme whitewater kayaking experience.

No matter what type of whitewater kayaking you’re looking into starting, make sure that you’re prepared for what you’ll be doing. Since whitewater kayaking is an extreme form of kayaking, you need to be sure that you’re following all of the safety advice, and that you have all of the necessary kayaking equipment.

Author: Jakob Jelling

muchbetteradventures.com promises a clean break for outdoors people

January 14th, 2010

Whether you fancy skiing, surfing, walking, kayaking, or just about anything else which gets you outdoors, a new website called muchbetteradventures.com has come on the scene, promising you the chance to do it better.

Their independent travel directory puts you in direct contact (no commission) with handpicked holidays, tours, courses and accommodation from friendly local experts with a strong commitment to sustainability. They also provide travellers reviews, the resources you need to book a low carbon journey, and have started a collection of community built guides to each sport, where users are invited to share their favourite spots, useful info, ideas and inspiration.

Since going live with 2 members a few months ago the site has grown quickly. Although it is still early days, the site already features nearly 100 holiday options to satisfy the adventure seeker, and there are plenty more in the pipeline. It doesn’t stop there either. They are already working on a much better shop, which will showcase the equipment, clothing and accessories needed to perform stylishly and sustainably.

The ultimate goal is to provide the widest and fairest selection of responsible adventure choices ever seen, and bring support to many important conservation and community development projects around the world.

With a strong emphasis on personal experience and performance throughout the site, founders Alex and Ed believe the site will appeal to even the most hardened of green sceptics, proving once and for all that you don’t need to be an eco warrior to have adventures that are muchbetter for everyone.

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