Lots of new people are becoming interested in the sport of kayaking. It can be a fun and cool experience during the hot season. Extreme kayakers don’t mind the cold weather and just wear suits to protect them from the cold waters. There is a whitewater kayaking basics article here for you to read and enjoy.

Another website AdventureZoneTOURS has an outdoors recreation message board for all 50 US states and is seeking people to share trip reports, stories, places and photos of your great kayaking places. In addition a new feature has launched and they are seeking travel suppliers in rural areas who rent kayaks, have accommodations, or guide activities. Read press here.

Whitewater Kayaking Basics

By John Mailer

For many, whitewater kayaking is a fun, adventurous, and often adrenaline filled experience. whitewater rafting is usually done on a river in a kayak which is made of durable, tough plastic that is able to flex a little as it moves down the river. Kayaks can be anywhere from about 6 feet long to 12 feet or longer.

For beginners, tamer sections of a river are much better to learn in. the more extreme and advanced kayaking enthusiasts sometimes can end up looking like they are insane, especially if the river is particularly harsh.

Types Of Whitewater Kayaking

There are basically four types of kayaking. The first is generally called river running. This type of whitewater kayaking can be a combination of sight seeing and running down the rapids, or whatever types of challenges the river may offer. These kayaking trips can be one day or several days.

Creeking is a much more difficult type of kayaking. This is the type of whitewater kayaking which involves going down difficult parts of the river or rapids. Boats used in this type of kayaking are generally larger with a rounder front and back, which helps the kayak resurface more quickly if it happens to go under.

Slalom is another type of whitewater kayaking. This is basically the same as competing in slalom down a hill on skis. The kayaker navigates a section of a river, going in and out of the gates or poles. This involves going downstream through some gates and upstream through others. Interestingly, this is the only type of kayaking that is seen in the Olympics.

The most unique form of whitewater kayaking is called playboating or freestyle. Instead of going upstream or downstream, the kayaker generally stays in one area of the river performing different maneuvers, which can include spinning, cartwheels and other aerial feats. Sometimes you will hear this version of kayaking called whitewater rodeo in America.

Whichever version of kayaking interests you the most, there is one main requirement: you have to have a river to go whitewater kayaking. You can generally rent all of the other equipment once you arrive at the river, but it will take some investigating to find a river suitable for whitewater kayaking near you.

Whitewater kayaking can be a thrilling an interesting sport to compete in. Of course, you have to have a certain love of the water since you will be immersed in it quite often if you are going to go whitewater kayaking.

About the Author: John Mailer has written articles on the extreme sport of whitewater rafting offering whitewater rafting trip ideas. He has also written articles on how to begin snowboarding

Source: www.isnare.com

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Tis the season! Now that summer has arrived and the water is warming up a bit, more and more people are heading out to the waters for their adventure. This website is available for you to share information on kayaking gear, equipment, and great places to visit. The comments are open, please post. Groups share your calendar date and users write and post articles and stories. Add comment or use Contact Us link at bottom of page.

Here is a kayak video from youtube.com by yatessy.

If you’re new to kayaking, here is an article about basic kayak skills.

Basic Kayaking Strokes

By Nicole Munoz

In our beginner’s guide to kayaking, we discusses the various types of kayaking and the basic equipment you need to get starting, including a kayak designed for the waters you plan to kayak on, an approved lifejacket, like the Coleman Ebro Paddle Vest, and a quality double bladed paddle for kayaking. Now, we are going to discuss a few basic paddling strokes. Once you have an understanding of these simple strokes, you will be ready to enjoy your very first kayaking adventure.

First, you will want to learn a forward stroke. This is the paddling stroke used most often during kayaking and is used to propel the kayak in a straight, forward motion. Begin this stroke while sitting correctly in your kayak. Lean forward just a little, holding the paddle firmly with both hands. Keep your left elbow bent with that hand level with your chin as you extend your right arm completely, placing the right paddle blade into the water. The blade should enter the water slightly in front of your body, near the position of your feet.

Remember to use your entire body as you paddle, rotating your upper body with the movement of the paddle blades. Use this movement to push the right blade through the water, moving it back toward you, parallel to the boat. Stop the blade once it reaches your hip and quickly pull it out of the water. At the same time, you will need to reposition the paddle so the left blade is ready to enter the water. Now, you will want to bend your right arm while fully extending your left arm and repeat the same process.

Once you are comfortable with the forward stroke used in kayaking, it is time to learn the reverse stroke. This is the stroke used to move your kayak backwards and is very similar to the forward stroke, only reversed. Remember, again, to use your whole body as you execute each step of this stroke.

Begin the reverse stroke on your right side, placing the right paddle blade in the water at your hip. Keeping your left arm straight and your left hand near the center of the deck, bend your right arm and push the paddle forward. Move the blade in the direction you are moving, extending your right arm as you bend the left, and ending the stroke when the blade reaches your feet. You will then take the right blade out of the water as you reposition your paddle, continuing the same process on the left side.

Now that you can move your kayak forward and backward, you should learn to turn the boat. There are a few different paddling strokes that can be used to steer your kayak, but most kayakers find that the bow sweep helps keep the boat stable as it turns. To make a left turn using the bow sweep, you will want to straighten your right arm while turning your body slightly to the left, keeping your left arm bent. Begin to move your body to the right as you propel the blade through the water in an arc away from the boat. At the same time, straighten your left arm and bend the right, stopping the stroke near your hip. This paddling stroke will turn your kayak quickly, without loosing speed, and will usually keep the kayak stable.

About the Author: For more tips and information about Basic Kayaking Strokes, check out http: www.summitcampinggear.com.

Source: www.isnare.com

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