Kayaking FAQ

Whether you are a newbie to kayaking or a seasoned pro, The most important lesson to learn with kayaking needs to be learnt even before you get to your kayak or go anywhere near the water. You need to learn the importance of using a buoyancy aid, as it does not matter how good you are at swimming or kayaking. If you end up in the water, which as a newbie there is a high possibility of, you can risk getting cold weather shock given the UK water temperatures.

Wearing a buoyancy aid will remove the risk of injury or drowning, you will be able to relax more and enjoy the experience and enjoy yourself.

The next best tip we can give you is to check your seating position when you get into your kayak. Most people will slouch whenever they sit down, but when sitting in a kayak you need to sit upright on the comfy backrest. If one is provided. If not then ensure you still sit upright with your back in a 90-degree angle to your legs and resting your feet on the foot pegs whilst pointing the heel of your feet into the centre of the boat. This will help you balance the boat and keep dry from not dropping into the water.

Now that you have your sitting position just right, the next part to learn is holding your paddle correctly. You need to make sure to hold your paddle shoulder distance apart, and then you want to roll your shoulders whilst placing the flat side of the paddle into the water facing you and pull back, and then just repeat it with the other side, and before you know it, you will be paddling down the river or out to sea.

Once you have done all of this, then just relax your muscles and enjoy the experience.

It does not matter if you are new to kayaking or you go out every chance you get, you always want to buddy up with at least 1 other person. Always try to buddy up with people who are heading in the same direction as you... After all, you never know what can happen so ensure you are prepared for everything that can go wrong. Make sure you feel confident at getting out of the boat on your own if you were to capsize. Remember a kayak can be replaced, but you can't !!!

If you are on an experience then you will not need to worry about any of the above as you will have a trained instructor with you at all times to keep you safe, and to make sure that everyone has a great time.

We have been looking at some of the many Guinness World Records below, and we have picked some of our favourites, we have also included the link to all of the others as there are loads.

1. The longest distance travelled in a kayak over a 24-hour period is an amazing 156.41 miles on flat water in Poland by Sebastian Szubski on the 18th & 19th of June 2019. This was Sebastian Szubski's fifth attempt at this record, after narrowly missing out on his previous efforts.

2. Highest altitude kayaking was at 18,723 feet above seawater which was achieved by Daniel Bull from Australia. Daniel climbed to the top of the summit of the highest volcano in the world (Ojos del Salado), Daniel then used his ice axe to pull himself and his kayak over the frozen lake, and then created a kayaking lane, and all of the time of doing this he never used an oxygen mask or similar breathing apparatus.

3. Longest waterfall descent, this world record is held by both a female and a male, so with ladies first this is held by Christie Glissmeyer from the USA at a height of 82 feet at Metlako Falls in Eagle Creek, USA on the 10 May 2009. The world record for the guy is held by Tyler Bradt also from the USA, but with a height of 186 feet at Palouse Falls, Washington, USA on 21 April 2009.

The design of the kayak first came from the Inuit, formerly known as Eskimos from the northern Arctic regions thousands of years ago. The first design was made from a mixture of driftwood and animal skins, as well as sometimes using the bones of whales and other animals. The purpose of the design was for hunting to feed the tribe and survive.

Then in the 1740s Russian explorers led by Vitus Bering came into contact with the Aleutians who had developed the design of the kayak further over the years for the use of both hunting and transport, as well as improving it for the harsh environment.

The kayak later became increasingly popular by the mid-1980s as German and French men started kayaking as a sport. In 1931 Adolf Anderle became the first person to kayak down the Salzachofen Gorge in Austria. The Salzachofen Gorge is also believed to be the birthplace of white water rafting.

Kayaking was later introduced to the Berlin Olympic Games in 1936. Then in the 1950s fibreglass kayaks were commonly used and developed, and then in the 1980s polyethylene kayaks were introduced. The sport of kayaking became a mainstream water sport by the 1970s, which is now an activity that is loved by most people, as it can either be a nice relaxing paddle over calm flat waters, or if you are an adrenaline junkie then you can try white water kayaking, once you know what you are doing and are wearing all of the right gear.

• Interesting fact: The word kayak means "Hunter's Boat" or "Man's Boat"

This is a common question with numerous misunderstanding as most people think that the difference between canoeing and kayaking is all about the boat, but this is not the case. In fact the main difference between canoeing and kayaking is all to do with the blade you use to paddle. With a canoe you use a single blade to paddle, and with a kayak you use a double 2-handed blade, also with a kayak you can either sit in or sit on top of a kayak, whereas with a canoe you would sit or knee inside an open canoe.

If you are going kayaking in the UK then you need to remember that the water is always cold, and the weather is not much better most of the year. And can change very quickly at any time.

If you are planning a trip kayaking then you want to be prepared for the elements, even if it is a hot summers day, you want to take a top with you just in case you start to get cold. Always handy to have in case someone else needs to borrow it if they start to feel cold. It is a good idea to remove your shoes and socks until you are safely in the boat as the chances are you will get your feet wet as you push the boat off.

If you are going kayaking in the winter you will want to take full waterproof clothing with you, and also a change of clothing is a good idea just in case you end up in the water. Remember to always wear a Buoyancy Aid no matter how good a swimmer you think you are as this could just save your life

if you are planning a trip out on the water to go exploring in either a canoe or a kayak, then we have put together a list of items for you to take with you, also check with your venue as some venues will supply some of the below items for you:

• Buoyancy Aid (This is a must)
• Change of clothing / Waterproofs
• Sun Protection & Hat
• Bottle of Water / Food or snack
• Sealable bag for your Phone / Car Keys etc