Active Action Sports : Tags : kayak

http://active.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/3218671.jpgWhitewater kayaking is a lifelong pursuit of fun and challenge. If you?re looking for a new outdoor sport, now might be the time to check it out.

If you are completely new to whitewater kayaking, two things you will need to familiarize yourself with are river safety procedures and basic river-reading skills. Other skills--like boat handling, eddy hopping, ferrying and rolling--will come with time.

Whether or not you take formal lessons, you will definitely need some instruction on how to roll. Instruction will help you develop proper technique instead of just survival skills--and ensure your safety. Instruction should start on dry land, move into a pond or pool, and then into the river. Formal instruction will also provide you with all the right equipment and a shuttle. Here are a few important aspects of kayaking to keep in mind:

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http://active.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/977759_1.jpgStubby plastic whitewater boats with fiberglass wave skis and and fins on the bottom represent the evolution of the sport known as surf kayaking. Surf kayaking allows you to catch many more waves, paddle back out more quickly, and get to breaks that would be a long walk or paddle on a board more easily. Plus, you can have fun in more diverse conditions.

The biggest thing for beginners to grasp is the period of waves. The closer together the waves are, the harder it is to get out through them. So when launching off the beach, look for patterns in the series of waves. Wait for the larger ones to pass, then launch when the water is as close and low down on the beach as possible. Be on the lookout for side shore currents as well.