River Kayaking Basics
Posted on 22. Aug, 2009 by Morgan in River Kayaking
Kayaking on a river can provide the best of both world for kayakers, from a calm trip down in a beautiful setting to an exciting whitewater rafting adventure. Kayaking is what you make of it and being able to go from one extreme to the other is something than many kayakers enjoy. Kayaking in a river without serious rapids requires little skill and can be a great way to enjoy the great outdoors and explore areas inaccessible to hikers.
It is always important to remain aware of your surroundings and have a good understanding of how to get back from where you started. If you’ve ever watched Man vs. Wild or Survivor Man then you should know that it’s no fun to be lost in the wilderness. If you are kayaking alone make sure to tell someone where you are going and how long you plan to be gone. Tell them to call and check on you at a particular time or meet you at a designated location to ensure you are safe. This is one of the best ways to make sure you will be rescued if things don’t go according to plan.
Always bring a compass, matches (waterproof) and a small amount of food with you on any kayaking trip. These are essential tools that you can use in an emergency situation to make sure you will survive. Since you are located on a river you’ll have plenty of access to water but having iodine tablets or a small portable water filter will ensure that you have access to safe and clean drinking water. It is important to remember that even in the most calm conditions it is still possible to get lost and being prepared for the unexpected will help you stay calm and survive should things go wrong.
If you are planning on going whitewater kayaking start with a course. Many new kayakers want to learn from experience but just one class will go a long way towards making sure you understand the right technique for successfully navigating whitewater rapids.
When people think of hitting the rapids they oftentimes think of whitewater rafting. Even if you’ve been whitewater rafting before it is important to understand that whitewater kayaking is a much different sport. There is a much greater potential to get seriously injured while whitewater kayaking which is why a lesson is essential to get started. One of the first whitewater kayaking concepts to understand is the International Scale of River Difficulty. Below is a brief summary of the different levels:
Grade I – Peaceful and calm river, great for your first river kayaking adventure.
Grade II – River flowing significantly faster than a Grade I but has no obstacles along the way. Despite the lack of obstacles Grade II and above should only be attempted by experienced kayakers.
Grade III - River flowing very quickly with a number of irregular waves and potential obstacles along the course.
Grade IV – Fast river with large and irregular waves, narrow, rocky passageways – only attempt if you are a kayaking expert and have a more durable, whitewater kayak.
Grade V - Violent, extremely fast river with steep grades, dangerous, obstacle-laden passageways and boiling eddies. These should only be attempted by experts with a significant amount of experience with Grade IV rapids.
Grade VI – Life threatening rapids, only attempt if instructor-level or ten plus years of experience with whitewater kayaking.
The key to whitewater kayaking is picking the right path to take down a river. This could be impossible to know without careful analysis of the river beforehand or the help of an expert. When whitewater kayaking it is important to scan ahead and be aware of any obstacles or narrow passageways you’ll need to avoid. A helmet should be worn at all times along with a high-quality life jacket. If your kayak tips while navigating rapids you should be at an experience-level where you can easily right the kayak under the given conditions.
To learn more about whitewater kayaking take a look at the video below:
