Regards JD

Learning kayaking is similar to most water sports such as canoeing, sailing and wind surfing etc, its all about balance. I recommended that you take a basic class like the ones run at the National Kayaking School at Kenmore that teaches basic kayaking skills and water safety. I would also recommend especially in the beginning that you always go out in a group to ensure safety.

There are a few basic rules to kayaking that are important to know in order to get the maximum enjoyment from this excellent adventure sport

How to properly sit in a kayak:

How to hold your paddle:

Proper paddling techniques:

Rules of the waterways:

Have the right kayaker gear for the water condition

The choice and type of kayak and equipment will be determined by your experience and water conditions such as loch, lake or stiller water, fast moving rivers or open water sea kayaking. For every kind of water you will need the right type of kayaker gear to ensure your safety to avoid any potential dangers whilst kayaking. This will enable you to enjoy your kayaking safely, enabling you to start having fun from the beginning.

Before taking to the water always ensure that you leave a contact and return time before going out on the water, carry sufficient safety equipment in the event of an accident, and know the type of kayaker gear you will need to keep yourself safe, helmet, gloves, wetsuit, and buoyancy aid etc. Kayaking has always been a favorite adventure sport of mine, as well as a pastime my entire family can participate in. It is a sport that everyone can enjoy.

So where can you find these great bargains, well there are a number of clubs and organisations which frequently offer surplus equipment for sale, however, the easiest way to find the right kayaker gear is by doing a search on goggle using keyword searches like, cheap secondhand kayaks or kayaker gear, or kayak equipment, this will return a number of sites which you can look thru to find the kayak that matches your needs and budget. There are a few sites in particular that you are going to want to check out.

Kayakergear.com is one of the best for all your kayaking equipment, they have a huge selection of used and new, cheap secondhand kayaks, slalom kayaks, whitewater kayaks sea kayaks and touring kayaks to recreational kayaks and canoe kayaks for sale.

They also feature a vast selection kayaker gear from, safety equipment, casual wear, women’s gear, foot wear, eyewear, life jackets, paddles, touring and recreation accessories and more, and with a continuous supply of famous brands names from the best manufacturers, including La Cordee, NRS, Beluga, Ortlieb, Pelican, Lotus Designs, Kokatat, Immersion Research, Boreal Designs, Riot, Pyranha, Wilderness Systems, Mad River Canoe, and White’s, your sure to find the kayak that best suits your needs and budget.

You may also want to check out the National Kayaking School Kenmore if you are looking for any type of kayaking training. The National Kayaking School provides excellent half day to 5 day white water kayaking & sea kayaking courses for families groups and individuals, it’s also ideal for the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.

Like all water sports it is important that you stay safe and responsible both for your sake and those of others on the water. Remember to wear the right kayaker gear such as a buoyancy aid and helmet and that you leave details of were and when you will return before taking to the water.

The National Kayak School Kenmore is 6 miles west of Aberfeldy, on the banks of Loch Tay. The school offers one day introductory courses in sea kayaking and white water kayaking with the only white water run in the UK guaranteed all year on their doorstep.

We were a party of six, with me, one other experienced kayaker, and four novice kayakers. As well as a diversity of skills we also took a range of kayaker gear and equipment from a Gemini 2 seater sit on kayak, four Coleman Sport Kayaks, and two Pyranha 4 twenty’s, although during the course we used the excellent equipment supplied by the centre.

We were there for a total of five days, and took the three day course, which included all equipment, instruction, superb personal performance clinics by great coaches who made it an experience of a lifetime, with a guided run down white water course, and a trip to Oban for a spot of Sea kayaking. All in, it was a week that will live long in the memory, the scenery was breathtaking, and the kayaking was exhilarating. What’s next hopefully the 5 day – Summer Isles Trip?

Start packing my kayaker gear now!