Kayaking on Rivers | Paddling for Beginners

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I’m not a newbie , but I’ll still watch every video like this . You can’t be a “know-it-all” , gotta be open to learn everyday . Good video , thx for the upload !

As someone new to kayaking, I really appreciate your “beginner” videos.

Hint: I always paddle upriver when I start out. That way when It's time to return, the journey is easier. This is especially important until you get to know your fitness level to paddle rivers. Also, I'm an excellent swimmer, but I ALWAYS wear a life jacket. No execeptions or it's a No Go. Great video, thank you very much.

All of this is great advice, especially about recognizing and avoiding danger! Just today I paddled a few miles down the St. Marys River in Florida/Georgia at flood stage, in very fast current with strainers everywhere (in my new Bonafide EX123). I survived to tell the tale! For the next video, maybe talk about how to steer effectively to avoid obstacles (I have noticed this requires some pre-planning), how to properly approach bridges/pilings (they seem notoriously dangerous), and strategies for making your way upstream against the current (or just directly across the river from one side to the other). Also, how to get around or through obstacles that fully block the river (fallen trees, etc.), knowing when and how to portage, etc. Another good topic would be understanding the effects of tides on coastal creeks and waterways, and how to avoid trouble when kayaking around power boats. Would love to hear your thoughts on any of those topics. Thanks! Love this channel!

I’m so thankful that there are channels on YouTube designated entirely to the hobbies I want to pursue

as a class 4 whitewater kayaker i must say this video is so needed here in norway the worst accidents we have are when ppl lose their lives in fishing kayaks on the rivers we have here becouse they want to fish for salmon when around the river bend theres a 10+ meetre drop down a waterfal with some logs stuck down it

Awesome video. Went on a (rental) kayaking trip with a buddy mostly blind. Been kayaking before, but only on lakes, harbors, and ponds--not really any currents to worry about. Did very minimal research about river kayaking beforehand besides general hazards and the like, as the route we were taking was very basic and in a fairly populated area. We had an absolute blast and we're both very interested in getting into the hobby (especially since we tried a pungo very much like the one you're sitting on. What a kayak!). This video was very helpful as it helped to fill in some of the blanks we realized after our trip. I had no idea those things were called eddy lines! So cool that the hobby is so fleshed out that there is a name for every part of the boat and phenomenon in the water! Having access to information like this in well made videos makes me happy to live in the world we live in today. I didn't even search for this stuff, it just pops into my recommended after I was looking into which kayaks are best for beginners. Now I'm deep in the rabbit hole and getting useful tips like this. Thanks for your effort. Sure beats blindly trying to find a book or stumbling across a person who can guide you into the hobby!

In Switzerland the "Aare" (Rivers Name) Boating is very popular but we have a few drownings every year despite many warning signs. We have one place that has one of those big waves and luckily I can start my tour a few metres under this danger point, but many will just go into it and see if they can get out. Also, when swimming in a river, keep your feet up and in front of your body. That way you won't get caught up.

I was fortunate to take a beginners white water course in my early 40s in Beachburg On, I believe you were part owner, best instructor, I am 67 and have loved being on any river in a kayak since. Made a convert out of me. Just retired this spring, the water is calling !!

For those who haven't started leaning during a turn to make your turn sharper. Try this on calm water. Place your weight onto one butt cheek. Lets say you've placed your weight to the right and now your boat has taken a lean to the right. If your moving forward with some momentum you can low brace with a right paddle drag and make a fairly quick right turn without upsetting your boat ballance further. You could back stroke your paddle at this point to speed your turn rotation. In moving water a low braced turn can be effective done on a dime if you will. The moving current can be your friend in regards to maneuvers.

Always good videos to revisit. You know it’s spring when… :)

I began kayaking this year. And learning a lot from your videos. I see there's different techniques in using the pedal down a river turning and whatnot. It'd be nice for an in-depth paddle instruction on how to hold the paddle in the river for steering and keeping it going straight.

So I got a sea kayaking anecdote that involves a river. I was paddling with a group and to get back to launch point we had to cross a rapid (maybe class 2 at the heart of it, I'm not super familiar with white water classifications) created by the mouth of a river. When we left earlier in the day it was high tide, so we island hoped further away and were not bothered by the river mouth, but coming back we had no choice because other wise we would have been on sand. Anyway, I'm the last in the group to cross the rapid (second guide was dealing with rudder breaking issue further back though) and I know full well I have to show my butt to the current to prevent capsizing. Well my dumbass somehow managed to lose a bit of balance and of course that made me lean into the rapid, thus the current caught my boat and flipped me. So since I couldn't roll yet, I just got out of my kayak and flipped it upright, then saw the guide was already pretty far away and on the other side of the rapid (I was still in it) so I decided to just climb back into my kayak. I actually did manage to climb back in my sea kayak before the guide got to me (hurray for me! First time I did it when it was not practice) but yeah, just wanted to say to new paddlers that if you don't show your butt to the current while your sideways, it's going to just grab your boat and flip you super quickly, so unless you got good bracing/rolling, you're going for a swim.

“A conveyor belt through the outdoors.” Love that description.

Like people that try crossing a flooded roadway in a car and have no idea the power of 2' of water. You just can't stress enough the power of a flowing river which is virtually docile till something goes wrong and in a second your beyond your capabilities. Great video. Oh and PFD, PFD, PFD.....

This is a fantastic resource Ken. Thanks for taking the time to make it. Teaching an intro to river class tonight so I was doing some research. This touches exactly what I’m hoping impart on these first time river paddlers.

I just did my first run down flowing water, I did everything you said not to do and I flipped two times, just learned a great deal, thank you for this video, wished I had watched it before I went out! 2 thumbs up

Best kayak videos my husband and I have seen in all our years watching them

I’m 62. Spent the majority of my life working. That being said I grew up in the country and have some experience. But now it’s time to enjoy life more fully and I know there is a lot of technique to learn not only to make it more efficient and enjoyable but most importantly safer. So thank you. I’ll take all the knowledge you have to give. Many thanks 🙏.