[Closed] Learning to Kayak

go on a course to learn the basics. Plas Y Brenin does quite a few.

Plas Y Brenin does quite a few.

I've done a few different course there over the years and the standard of instructor on every one has been first rate, really cannot recommend Plas Y Brenin highly enough.

Long way to go though and their midweek courses are the whole 5 days so it would initially be a bit of a commitment. You could find a local activity centre that runs courses then see how you like it before committing to anything that takes up too much of your time and cash.

Another option would be to do it as part of your Summer holidays, Neilson do kayak beginners courses as part of their programme at some centres. So missus and the kids can lounge around by the side of pool whilst you entertain them doing capsize drills.

One other thing. It's good to kayak with someone that you trust for a while at least, when you're learning (or pushing your limits) a lot of the things that can go wrong are much easier to deal with if there's someone else about. Not saying you can't manage on your own but a minor inconvenience can become a right pain.

I started Kayaking without any lessons or training. Some may say that's foolish but I bought a general use, stable kayak to begin with, took it to the canal, jumped in and hoped for the best. It didn't take long to get to grips with it but I was always nervous of tipping so was very cautious.

In the end I just took a basics course which let me experience tipping over in a controlled environment. It is something that is pretty easy to pick up and do without training imo but it is wise to go and learn how to get out of difficult situations should they arise.

Thanks for the replies. I will check out Plas Y brenin. My initial thought was just to go out and do it. But Mrs was adamant that I at least go with someone else who knew what they were doing.

[url= http://www.active4seasons.co.uk/index.php ]linky[/url]

Have you spoken to this guy?

Depending on where in the North East ....

During the winter Hexham Canoe Club do pool sessions on a Friday night and during the summer there are Wednesday evening paddles (though in theory no coaching).

Canoe England do sessions at various times at Low Prudhoe.

[url= http://www.tynevalleycc.co.uk/index.html ]Prudhoe[/url]

[url= http://www.hexhamcanoeclub.org/ ]Hexham[/url]

[url= http://www.tbiwwc.com/activities.html ]Tees Barrage[/url]

My initial thought was just to go out and do it

Depending on the type of water, Kayaking isn't something you should "just go out and do".
I've seen a great many competent Kayakers get in to a lot of trouble.

Go on a course tailored to the type of water you want to paddle, and even when you've reached a good standard going out on your own still isn't a good idea.

My couple of pennies for you.

How old are you? If you want you could look at uni clubs.

Plenty of the students paddle mid week. You could get in contact with Durham or Newcastle as both have active clubs. Durham allows non university members certainly.

There are clubs that do pool sessions on week nights. You could learn the basics there. Prudhoe used to be on a Friday IIRC. Hexham also paddle midweek.

Look into canoe polo. It is good for teaching the basics and building the right muscles and control. Again mainly played midweek and evenings. Back in the day there was a very active NE league played in Darlington/Tynemouth and Newton Aycliffe.

There is also the Teesside barrage - not sure if there is a club there but it is sort of flood lit or at least it was and I used to spend many an evening surfing happy eater.

If you are small my wife is selling a I3 221 😉 Sadly my boat was sold years ago and I haven't done any proper paddling since 2008. Still occasionally dabble in a bit of open boating and sea kayaking for holidays and trips. Didn't have the motivation to keep up the whitewater stuff. Too hard to get competent people together when the rivers were up and the local clubs seemed to be aimed at kids and beginners rather than people wanting to paddle purely for fun on 3/4 type stuff.

I'd check on a club 1st, trips tend to be weekends cos that's when people are free but in every club I've been involved with the club sessions are mid week evenings.

But if you can't do weekends you really need to consider if paddling is for you as that's when 99% of paddling takes place as people have time free, I'm not going to say you have to go in a group as that'd be hypocritical of me, but without a lot of experience it's a bad idea. When shit goes wrong paddling it can be pretty uncompromising, I had 2 friends drown in the space of 2 days on relatively easy water last year.

I am bit old for a Uni club at 45 !

I guess what I was really looking for was the same kind of thing we have with cycling, a bunch of people who get in touch with each when they fancy a ride, no real formal club, just loose association of people who like to ride, and we very often introduce a new people to the group, some stay some don't but they are always treated with respect and waited for when needed.

So Kayakers.... Is this how you end up paddling, or is it almost always through more formal clubs ?

So Kayakers.... Is this how you end up paddling, or is it almost always through more formal clubs ?

I've paddled with a couple of mates and Mrs mW. I've never been to a club.

started with a club (Hastings, many moons ago). meet the people you want to paddle with and go paddling with them.

club trips are generaly a massive faff but good for newbies or those that need to borrow kit.

Unless you have mates who paddle a club could be is a good way to meet the sort of infomal group you are looking for. Generally the club members will do more paddles that the official club events calendar would suggest.

It's a far more severe learning curve than biking, and there is more dependence on the group so you will struggle as a noob to just hook up with a bunch of randoms to begin with. It can make paddling seem a bit cliquey but I implicitly trust my normal paddling buddies to make the right calls and have the know how to sort any situations we might end up in, dropping an unknown person in means we either have to wind back what we do or take a risk that they know what they're doing. I do paddle with random groups occasionally but only on rivers where I have full confidence that I can look after myself in pretty much any given situation. I'm still a member of my local club though and I mostly paddle with a mixture of club members and an extended network met through friends of friends etc. You will extend your network of paddling buddies faster through an active club.

It is more of a club based sport than cycling at the recreational level. I think the reasons are:

- Over the winter pool sessions are a great way to learn / improve skills. You generally need a club to book organise these
- Lots of specialised equipment, even entry level stuff is expensive. Clubs tend to own quite a bit of equipment for members to use. e.g. I own a couple of kayaks but don't have an open canoe or sea kayak which I borrow from my club when needed
- Potentially risky to do it on your own or in a pair, especially when inexperienced
- To get "good" at you will need quite a bit of coaching, a club will be a cheap way of getting this

I'd 100% recommend getting involved with a club, or at least doing a decent introductory course (like at PyB as others have said). This will at least give you an idea how to keep safe and help you buy the right equipment. It's very common for people to turn up at clubs having spent £1000s on kit which isn't what they need.

Clubs are ok but have limitations, weekends arent usually one of them. Most mess around on water during the week more often in swimming pools, making your early experiences ALOT more fun.
But for alot of folk self taught kayaking is the norm. The only downside is equipment; you'll buy stuff that's based on no experience which you'll grow out of rapidly.
IE a wide stable boat is good at first but ultimately slow and ungainly after a while whereas a fast nimble kayak will feel tippy and unpredictable and make learning in a long and scary process.

In short go to your local club, get in the pool, learn the basics then take your family on a Saturday club river trip before you spend your money.

In fact; you said north east. Where abouts are you? I'll be happy to paddle with you, I'm near Derby.

I used to leave just over the road from the canal. Bought a touring kayak off the supermarket notice board and started paddling. Doesn't have to be complicated. Moving water's a bit different of course. Might be a club meeting at a local pool one evening - there was near me.

I have a voucher for a learn to canoe course.
Its eight hours long. Will it really take that long?

No not at all. More like 20 - 30 years. But for the basics 8 hrs is only just going to cover it. Its all down to how quick or slow you pick it up.

It's quite easy to pick up the basics, very hard to master. If your going to go out alone learning to role would be handy, which can take from a few weeks to many years depending on the coaching and your ability.

My first go in a kayak was in a K1 in a river with a decent current, I didn't stay upright long :p

Thanks for all the replies.

I would love to do this 😀 20 day course ( but it is'nt really likely)

http://www.pyb.co.uk/courses-detail2.php?coursecode=KCC37

Thanks Killwill :D... but I am bit too far up (Newcastle)

would I be better going down the open canoe type route on quite rivers, to get started ? or even doing some gentle waves ?

If you're going to go for a canoe, then I'd revise some of my initial advice and say just get yourself a medium sized 2nd hand boat and go have fun, preferably on a gentle river or lake initially, learn a few strokes but basically i think it's much easier to learn the basics of a canoe. For (multi) day trips or enticing the kids into the boat a canoe is a fantastic boat to use.

Also reading between the lines it appears that you're not all that sure which aspect of paddlesports you really fancy, fair?

If so this course [url= http://www.pyb.co.uk/courses-detail2.php?coursecode=KCC78 ]go canoeing[/url] might be the one to go for. Little bit of everything and I reckon you'll come out the end of the week with a better idea of what you fancy.

MuppetWrangler.. I really think I would be best suited/enjoy moderate white water type kayaking ( as long as you can have beer at the end)

However you are right in that I really just want to get on the water somehow. so might be good to get a open canoe and hopefully meet some people to move across to kayaking.

However you are right in that I really just want to get on the water somehow. so might be good to get a open canoe and hopefully meet some people to move across to kayaking.

I like both but they are very different. This isn't a definitive comparison as in the right hands a canoe can tackle very serious white water but I tend to think of the canoe like a touring bike whereas a whitewater boat is veering closer to the mood of a downhill bike. The other thing that should probably influence your decision is the type of water you have easy access to.

From Newcastle you're not far from the sea so a good sea kayak could be an option (deffo get training for that). Sit on top could be a good introduction to a bit of messing about along the shoreline and just getting you in the water with a minimum of fuss. A canoe or whitewater kayak are going to lend themselves (generalisation) to different types of river so access is going to become quite relevant to which type of boat you choose. What navigable waterways do you have access to in your region?

Also I wouldn't go anywhere near white water by yourself, even the low grade stuff can have you over pretty easily, it can go bad very quickly, often with the smallest element of user error. Learning how to save a dunking or how to protect yourself if the dunking is unavoidable takes a lot of practise before it becomes second nature.

As muppet wrangler said (top advice actually) whitewater or moving water is FLIPPIN lethal if you're inexperienced. You'll be stiff & timid which usually always results in an instant capsize; without practicing wet exits most people panic attempting to right the boat - then drown in the process.

Canoe vs kayak!
Mountain bike vs road bike!
Its purely down to what you fancy, there's no advice for this one. And besides you'll end up with both.

And besides you'll end up with both.

If I had the room I'd definitely have a little white water boat, a sea kayak and a mid sized canoe. It's not quite the n+1 thing but each has there place and each is very enjoyable.

I like the analogy of bikes n kayaks.

But can i have a go:
sea kayak - road bike with no tyres.
Whitewater Playboat - bmx.
Whitewater creekboat - as mentioned downhill bike.
Crossover kayak - hybrid bike.
Canoe - Honda goldwing.
Whitewater canoe - 10ft high uni cycle.

As MW & kill will have said there's not masses of crossover between the strokes in a canoe and kayak, there's benefits in reading the water and stuff but if you want to kayak learn to kayak. I've not done so much river boating recently because it chews time and the little un prevents it, it's also massively weather dependent so not reliable, I've done more sea kayaking in recent years and in the right places with tides and rocks and surf it can give a good buzz but generally is more about the location and scenery. You're well set for whatever you want to focus on with your location though.

But try a club and you should be able to try the lot.

Like it. Tried to add to that a bit.

sea kayak - Audax bike.
Whitewater Playboat - bmx.
Whitewater creekboat - downhill bike.
Crossover kayak - hybrid bike.
K1 - Time trial bike.
Canoe - Off road tourer.
Whitewater canoe - Off road tourer setup for the iditarod.
Sit on Top - Plain gauge steel hardtail.
Inflatable Kayak - Brompton.

😀

Open boats are a bit single speed. Beards and sandals. I was always a white water paddler but have done a few bits of open boating and sea kayaking. If I was to get back into it now I'd buy a sea kayak as the sewa is nearly always 'running'. Seen too many friends injured on whitewater too. You won't just be able to join in with a random group unless you can show you are competent. There is a massive level of trust involved as when it hits the proverbial lives are at risk. Still I have plenty of friends from my boating days, even a wife so it is worth it in the long run. Nothing in biking has ever come close to running flooded rivers and I crossed out allegedly in my wales guidebook.

Go to a club learn some stuff and meet people. Then you will find people to do more in formal stuff through.

Son and I did a half day course in the autumn as a first timers. Went to Surflines at Llanberis (think they shut for the winter though). All kit was included for about £40 and they drilled us on basic paddling, climbing in and out, safety etc. Dead simple, didn't take long and they were really friendly. Tees Barrage sounds the best idea for more advanced stuff.

Learnt to Kayak and couldnt swim, so make sure you have a decent life jacket, most sports centres with a swimming pool have learn to lessons.

Remember when paddling down stream its easy, and you need to paddle back against the river flow, so easy to go to far.

Also you need a permit to kayak on the canals and some rivers.And dont forget soem canals are shallow or full of rubbish to easily trap you .

Great for arms and shoulders, and great at night ,surprising what wildlife you see.

Had a slalom one, a river racer with a rudder you controlled with your feet from inside the boat, and an open sea one called a poly pippin a large almost indestructable one.

Whilst canals aren't my favoured place to paddle (filthy trolley infested shit shewers) I've never needed a pass to paddle them. There's loads of debates and squabbles about water access rights both in canals and rivers (some run through private land making the river private too!) but i couldn't care less. Let lord snooty come after me!

It's not quite the n+1 thing

Not sure about that, the most we had in the shed (between me, Mrs and son) was 33. I think we're down to about 27 now. That's more than we have bikes, Mrs and I have 4 each and 3 trikes (son has left home now and doesn't cycle).

My brother went up to Oban for a sea kayak course last summer and it blew his mind, he lives in Zurich so is planning to paddle round a few lakes out there this year. Dont have details of the course but he was up there for about 4 days and said it was fantastic

OK a bit of a confession 😳 . I bought an old Kayak off a club ( a long while back) and my wife bet that it would never hit the water ! so far she has been proved right. So what would you recommend for this beauty 😀 I have a local flattish lake. and I have also done a course at center parks, were we did have to do emergency exits ( getting out of the boat rather than a roll) and I had no trouble with this.

[img] [/img]

Nice T Shirt as well !

Open boats are a bit single speed. Beards and sandals.

You could of bl**dy well told me, been chucking myself and groups at work down all sorts in the 'wrong' boat for years, without a beard. (but I do have some sandals, although I wear them in the kayak)
[url= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5298/5586180353_bcc02eaa9d_b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5298/5586180353_bcc02eaa9d_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/5586180353/ ]River Orchy, Easan Dubh[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/matt_outandabout/ ]matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
[url= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5230/5586170239_9d9ae6f72e_b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5230/5586170239_9d9ae6f72e_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/5586170239/ ]Dagger Prophet, Chicken Chute middle Orchy[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/matt_outandabout/ ]matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8296/7931364586_5f4bd70bea_b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8296/7931364586_5f4bd70bea_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/7931364586/ ]River Dochart canoe[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/matt_outandabout/ ]matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7693535112_49b3777552_b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7693535112_49b3777552_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/7693535112/ ]Abernethy Ardeonaig[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/matt_outandabout/ ]matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8444/7938531056_d613040d65_b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8444/7938531056_d613040d65_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/7938531056/ ]River Awe canoe[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/matt_outandabout/ ]matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
(OP - get on a course. Where are you, I can recommend a good few great coaches)
[url= http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4097/4889386086_154b6d1980_b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4097/4889386086_154b6d1980_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/4889386086/ ]Etive[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/matt_outandabout/ ]matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
[url= http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4123/4888568671_8a5a8a5aab_b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4123/4888568671_8a5a8a5aab_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/4888568671/ ]Etive[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/matt_outandabout/ ]matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr

matt_outandabout

😀 Great Pics.

Note to self... Get arse in gear

that invader looks a 'snug' fit. wouldnt fancy getting out of that in a hurry...

agree with the N+1 but lack of space means I've just bought a dagger axiom which is pretty good at a lot of things.

got a share in a canadian too.

Whitewater canoe - 10ft high uni cycle.

My unicycle is waiting for the thaw.... 8)

What is the best kayaktrackworld equivalent? Have been thinking of getting one myself lately.

http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/forum (Kayaks/Owt)
http://songofthepaddle.co.uk/ (Canoes)

+1 for UKRGB. Just don't mention fishermen / access..

Coaching, try Ken Hughes / Stu Gibbon for NE coaching. I can put you in contact if needed, otherwise PYB or Glenmore Lodge. It might be worth just going to a local Watersports centre for a 1 and 2 star course, as you'll be with a group at the same level and could develop a group of boaters from there.

https://en-gb.facebook.com/stu.gib.7

Dave

Your invader looks similar to the perception dancers etc that revolutionused kayaking away from flimsy fiberglass boats to the polyethylene bomb proof beasties we have now.
If memory serves me well you may find it initially a little tippy as the hulls cross section is slightly rounded. But as old kayaks go they're ok. Not too dissimilar to current cross over kayaks like my Pyranha fusion.

Good luck.

Nice day on the river today...

http://www.strava.com/activities/38712548

sea kayak - Audax bike.
Whitewater Playboat - bmx.
Whitewater creekboat - downhill bike.
Crossover kayak - hybrid bike.
K1 - Time trial bike.
Canoe - Off road tourer.
Whitewater canoe - Off road tourer setup for the iditarod.
Sit on Top - Plain gauge steel hardtail.
Inflatable Kayak - Brompton.

I like it:
Squirt Boat - An Iron Maiden crossed with some water-boarding

bikes vs kayaks/canoes...

you have a problem;

on a bike you pull to the side of the road, walk home or maybe call someone.

on the water, you drown or die of hypothermia.

similar sport, i'm a qualified stand up paddleboard instructor. it scares the heck out of me that someone can buy a paddleboard and go straight out on the water, even worse in surf - that happens a lot in cornwall these days.

and besides safety, most folk who've been paddling self taught can't actually paddle anyhow. same with canoeing/kayaking, heck i've had canoes since i was about 10 and a few years back i did a bcu level 1 with my local club and learnt more in a bunch of saturdays than i knew was possible sitting in a bit of tupperware. same with swimming... all the same thing... reach, catch, pull, release.

Good point. I had a simple mistake turn into a long dangerous swim on a spate river before.

At least with a bike once you've had the crash its over...

I got out today for for a bit of self teaching.... 😳

[img] [/img]

and besides safety, most folk who've been paddling self taught can't actually paddle anyhow. same with canoeing/kayaking, heck i've had canoes since i was about 10 and a few years back i did a bcu level 1 with my local club and learnt more in a bunch of saturdays than i knew was possible sitting in a bit of tupperware. same with swimming... all the same thing... reach, catch, pull, release.

I know were you are coming from with this I have been riding for many years,but my technique is almost non-existent. I still have fun though, but would probably have more with some lessons.

At least with a bike once you've had the crash its over..

My broken ribs hurt a long while after the initial crash ( but i did walk away)

You could of bl**dy well told me, been chucking myself and groups at work

Do you run courses Matt ? If so are they Ok for Fat old men ?

Do you run courses Matt ? If so are they Ok for Fat old men ?

Where do you live?
Local to me suggestion (and worth traveling to paddle with as they are brilliant, both canoe and kayak)
http://www.beyondadventure.co.uk/

righog where in the NE?

I'm based on Teesside and run www.unsponsored.co.uk loads of boaters around here.

I can recommend Ken Hughes. Great guy, great paddler. Did a 1st aid course with him years ago.

Ken is ace too 🙂
http://www.kenhughescourses.com/

Thanks Matt and Unsponsored. I will check them both out. Teeside an easy enough drive for me. It wont be for a little while yet as I will a 10 week lay off from riding etc after an op tomorrow. But at least the weather might be a bit better ( not that, that puts me off)

Thanks again 😀