Throw rope and rope bags are essential pieces of safety gear for whitewater kayakers, canoeists, and rafters. Once a throw bag is deployed, whether to rescue a swimmer or to dry out the rope, it is important that the safety rope is properly packed back in the rope bag. Follow these steps for instructions how to stuff and pack a throw bag. Difficulty: Easy Time Required: a couple of minutes Here’s How: Tips: What You Need
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Every kayaker who spends any amount of time in their boat will at some point end up flipping over in their kayak. Its just a part of the sport really. There are many ways to remedy the situation, namely getting the kayak back upright with the paddler in the kayak. Kayakers can learn to roll their kayaks, do assisted or “buddy” rolls, or wet-exit and have to make their way back into their kayak. There are rescues such as the T-Rescue where another kayaker assists in getting the flipped kayaker back into their kayak. And then there are the rescues…
There are a few different ways to empty a kayak that is full of water. This how-to addresses how to empty a whitewater kayak that has been water logged. Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 5 Minutes Here’s How: What You Need
It may seem like a silly task to read about how to hold a kayak paddle. That being said, I can’t even tell you how times I have caught people holding their paddle wrong, upside down, or even backwards. The following steps will help you to understand how to properly grasp and hold a kayak paddle. Know the Anatomy of a Kayak Paddle This step is the most basic of them all yet without it trying to understand the rest of the steps can be an exercise in futility. A kayak paddle, unlike a canoe paddle, has 2 blades attached…
A properly executed hip snap will enable a kayaker to be able to roll his or her kayak back over with the paddle in almost any position, or with no paddle at all. But, like anything else, the hip snap requires practice with the aim of it feeling comfortable and ultimately becoming second nature. Difficulty: Average Time Required: 5 minutes each session Here’s How: Tips: What You Need
Every whitewater kayaker will be upside down in a kayak at some point early in their paddling career. Even experts find themselves underwater at times, sometimes even on purpose. It is for this reason that kayakers need to know what to do as soon as they flip over, lest they smack their face or head on the river bottom. While it is not natural to tuck when upside down in a kayak, this quick how-to will guide you through the steps of tucking when you are upside-down so that you can either wet-exit or roll back up. Difficulty: Average Time Required: 5…
The T-rescue is a kayaking rescue maneuver that requires the assistance of another kayaker still in his boat. It should be practiced in calm water with relatively little wave action until the techniques are mastered. Before the kayaker still in his boat can perform the T-rescue, the other kayaker must have performed a wet or underwater exit from his capsized boat; otherwise, it will be too heavy to lift. Instructions Step 1 Paddle toward the capsized kayak and coast until you are perpendicular to its bow. Step 2 Stay in your kayak. Grab the bow of the capsized kayak and…
Whether you’re camping in the back woods or hiking along a wilderness trail, knowing the essentials of wilderness survival is an important skill to possess. While in most cases you may not be able to hunt for large game on the fly, you can easily whittle a piece of wood into a hook and use it to catch fish in a nearby pond or stream. The process is relatively easy and can be done using two pieces of hardwood and a pocket knife. Once you whittle the wood into a rudimentary fishing hook, tie it to a bamboo pole or…
Kayak paddles come in various lengths with differing shaft shapes and blade designs. All the features of the kayak paddle are designed for the kayaker’s comfort, skill level and type of water the paddle will be used in. The style of paddle blade you choose will be based on your personal preference and experience level. You may find that as you become more comfortable in a kayak you’ll want to change blade styles to fit your increasing experience level. Step 1 Evaluate the material of which the blade is made. Fiberglass blades are lightweight and durable, making them more maneuverable,…
There are a few different ways to empty a kayak that is full of water. This how-to addresses how to empty a whitewater kayak that has been water logged. Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 5 Minutes Here’s How: What You Need