Whitewater Kyaking

[SnowRider]

Does anyone do this? Looks like fun but I have never tried it Does anyone know where you can whitewater kayak around here?

SnowRider

 

[dmc]

I've done it... It's fun... It just usually requires cold water.. And I can never get past that...

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Whitewater kayaking is a blast

but I'm partial to whitewater rafting.

All you need is a river and alot of practice. The areas I know for decent water in New England is in NW Maine and the Dacks. In Vermont there are a couple of dam releases that has good water. With all this rain the water should be fast and mean right now. It's just like any sport, start off easy then work your way up. Sure cools you off on a hot and humid summer day.

 

[bigbog]

ww kayaks & canoes...

...Paddling moving water is a lot of fun, particularly when you're craft's hull is designed for it. It's a different world in comparison to flatwater.
Learning the needed paddling skills is easy and exhillerating, and it becomes addictive....like, ummm, that activity beginning with sk.... :smile:
*With all this rain...the streams & rivers will be runnable all summer long...no matter what you're in, just learn it...then you can enjoy it.

Steve

 

[roark]

Was practicing my roll (or lack therof) yesterday. Trying to get back into it.

 

[SnowRider]

Was practicing my roll (or lack therof) yesterday. Trying to get back into it.

Where do you kyak around NH, VT, MA? And where do you get your equipment for it? Finally, do you think it would be hard for a 13 year old?

 

[bigbog]

...

For Beginner Lesson(s), most organizations have all the necessary gear...kayak, paddles, sprayskirts. Learning:
1) How to get & maintain your balance.
2) the Wet Exit.
3) Rolling Up.
4) Fundamental paddling technique(s) come easier....when practiced on flatwater, when you're not in survival-mode:-o

what's usually needed:
1) a PFD
2) a Wet-top(ala NRS's Hydroskin)...keeps you warm(Not Dry!..just warm) after rolling and wet-exiting...
3) on the stream/river: helmet is a necessity.

13 is a great age to get into it, or at least start thinking about it....8)

 

[ctenidae]

You could have done some great kayaking in Raleigh, NC yesterday. The slideshow on www.wral.com is pretty amazing. Lotsa water.

 

[roark]

Where do you kyak around NH, VT, MA? And where do you get your equipment for it? Finally, do you think it would be hard for a 13 year old?

For starting out you'd want some flatwater, so a lake or even a pool work for getting comfotable with the wet exit and learning to roll. Then one could do some mellow rivers like the conneticut. Much of the whitewater in New England is fed by the release of dams - the Deerfield is where I had many lessons.

Equipment: If you're taking beginner lessons, they 'll provide most of it. I'm fortunate and have a coworker who is really into it and I can use their extra gear. There are many stores that stock kayaking gear, but it can get expensive very quickly!

13 is a great age to start.

 

[loafer89]

The Housatonic River in Northwestern Connecticut is a great place to get started with Whitewater and Clark Outdoors is the place to rent any gear that you may need for a day on the river. The river is mostly quickwater with some class I-II parts near Cornwall Bridge.

I have been paddling with my son since he was 4 on everything from flatwater to class III+, but I have 11 years of paddling experience, and it's always a good idea to do any paddling in groups of two or more.