“Take to the water”
More than just a popular holiday activity, kayaking is a fantastic way to explore the British outdoors.
If you’ve been thinking about getting into the water, kayaking is not only a great form of exercise but an opportunity to see the world from a new perspective. With chances to see new wildlife and get access to places you have never been on foot, this water sport is a great way to spend time with your friends offline.
Seb Nicholls, an avid kayaker from South Wales, started kayaking when he was 20 and encourages more people to take up the sport. I took to the water with him in the River Wye to learn the ropes. These are the 5 things I took from him.
1. Looking at the water
When out on the River Wye in our life jackets, Seb and I made sure to paddle upstream initially, stopping every so often to look at swans, herons and fish jumping out of the water.
It was important that we looked for unusual ripples on the water surface as this indicated shallow rocks that could tip the inflatable kayak. We avoided these and paddled in unison to build momentum.
The section of the river we chose was calm and quiet, unintimidating for beginners. Don’t be embarrassed about being a beginner. Do a course with a qualified instructor to begin with. Make sure you’re comfortable swimming in the water.
2. It is okay to fall in
I asked Seb how he got into kayaking. He described how his friend taught him the basics in a racing kayak when he was living in New Zealand. “It was amazing to see how fast you could go, both paddling at full speed. He was really skillful in the white-water rapids on the river. I fell in a great deal, but that didn’t matter. It was really good fun,” he said. Don’t be afraid of falling in, because it can be fun when in a safe environment.
3. Seeing the extraordinary
Being in a small kayak, you are able to see things you couldn’t if you were just walking. When asked why he chose to start kayaking, Seb said, “It just seemed like a really chilled sport that got you places. It is both exciting and relaxing. Plus, you get to go down rivers and into coves and caves, places that you can’t get to any other way.”
4. Opt for secondhand
If you’re worried about the price of equipment, Seb recommends opting for second-hand alternatives. The expensive stuff can sometimes put people off getting into the sport.
Alternatively, there are many places to hire equipment while you’re still a beginner.
He said, “If [the equipment is] not perfect, that’s even better because the kayak and paddles are going to bash into rocks and stones, they get scratched pretty quickly. If you don’t mind what it looks like, you can get the whole kit for the price of a weekend’s work.”
5. Check permits
Check where you need a permit to launch and know the rules of where you want to kayak to. In the UK, the Environment Agency website has lots of useful information. You can also contact the British Canoeing organisation or use their website.
Visit your local lake for a canoe in the water, just like Grace. Enjoy the sun and try something new!