[Closed] Getting fit for kayaking

You don't need to be fit for it, get fat for warmth.

Good technique is all about core strength but if it's an intro course then I can guarantee you'll end up over relying on your arms. When I was playing canoe polo I was doing a lot of planks, back raises, core rotations, sit ups, etc and shoulder strength stuff, but that was for throwing rather than paddling.

"You don’t need to be fit for it, get fat for warmth."

I'm all over that bit.

Core strength is handy especially when your learning as you get knackered wobbling about as you get used to balancing.

Kayaking is all about fluidity and flexibility. I would work on your stretching.
hamstrings, glutes etc all take a battering in a boat as you are sitting in an unnatural position for hours. Try some yoga and other stretching excercises little and often. Also when actually on the course it is very important to stretch and warm up BEFORE getting in the boat - this will really help your mobility on the water

When I was racing it was press ups and bench pulls/seated rows if you've got the equipment.

Otherwise it's a lot like cycling where it's unnatural, and the best training is to do it lots.

Most beginners there's an over-reliance on the arms rather than body rotation and leg-drive and therefore tire quickly.Techniques also differ between flat-water / marathon, touring and river. Certainly worth working on your core and upper-body strength as once you get tired, you lose your shape and technique goes to rats. I also found that my glutes would get very painful from being seated until I developed my technique and used my leg muscles more.

Many years ago I went on paddling roadtrip through Europe for 8 weeks. For preparation I did a 10 week program on Nautilus equipment, not with the aim of preparing muscles, but more ligaments and tendons. Muscles strengthen quickly, these don't.

Anyway, it paid off for me as everyone else developed strains etc.

I wouldn't worry about fitness for your initial course, but take it easy. Remember, technique beats power every time. Also luck beats technique too, but I hope that doesn't come into it on your course...

Just practice holding your breath under water.

Right.  Plank under water whilst eating.

Cheers all 😁

what kind of kayaking, and where is it?

It's kayaking for a beginner so starts off in a flat lake before a bit of sea and river stuff.  It's in north Wales, does that make a difference?

Practise swimming.

It’s in north Wales, does that make a difference?

Plas y brenin?

If its heading out to do a mix of stuff the hours on the water will be less than you might think. Especially if pyb  where you need to get back for cakes.

As others have mentioned. Core work such as plank does come in useful. However thats assuming you pick up the right technique quickly. If not then train your arms since they will get knackered fast.

It’s kayaking for a beginner so starts off in a flat lake before a bit of sea and river stuff. It’s in north Wales, does that make a difference?

Not specially, just interested! Big difference between sea kayaking and river kayaking, and white-water kayaking and race kayaking. and all of that in eg turkey v north Wales, both with temperature/conditions and the make-up of the course and tuition.

Mainly being nosey! - I've not got much to add - I've had a few hours here and there over 20 years, then 3 days of river kayaking in slovenia a few years ago. As above - if you get your head round things quickly and get a feel for the techniques earlier rather than later, you'll be better than someone fitter but slower to "get" things.

Can you learn to learn?

Honking up hills on a SS will work some of the same muscles, if that's all you've got!

For preparation I did a 10 week program on Nautilus equipment, not with the aim of preparing muscles, but more ligaments and tendons. Muscles strengthen quickly, these don’t.

I would probably have called it a day after the third day in slovenia if we hadn't been moving on anyway - got some niggles on the insides of my knees from being sat in the boat.

When I started I ended up injuring my shoulders and then had to spend some time strengthening them and sorting my technique to try and protect them a bit.

For a week long beginners course I wouldn’t bother with specific core strengthening or anything like that but having a good level of generic fitness would help, especially for a week long course.

Mostly you want to go excited and ready to have a go. You’ll learn more faster by being relaxed and up for messing around rather than getting super stressed about technique to begin with.

I hope you enjoy it, I learnt to kayak in North Wales while I was at uni and I’ve now been paddling 8 years and work at an outdoors centre in Scotland teaching it

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound sarcastic. Yes it's at PyB.  I will be practicing my cake eating.

Having done a lot of kayaking in my 20's(mostly white water) and taught a lot of people to paddle through a uni club. I wouldn't worry about getting too fit, this will come in time.

Being fitter will help but if you're already riding a bit then you should be ok.

As others have said I recommend a few planks and some light stretching.

Try and be disciplined to warm up before hand and stretch out in the evenings. The position of sitting in the boats can be uncomfortable when you start.

Have a great time, paddling is a great sport and combines great with mountain bikes. Too wet to ride, then paddle.

I will be practicing my cake eating.

Trust me, the coaches will be stood with cuppa in hand on that wee bridge at the end of the lake. So famous an image of PyB it even made the UKCC Paddlesports Coaches Handbook....

If you have access to a rowing machine it will give you a reasonable whole body muscle workout and cardio.

Oh and have fun, its great!

Though its another rabbit hole to go down in terms of kit, boats, paddles, carbon etc etc