Kayaking Skills for Different Waters

Kayaking is such a versatile sport that you can do it almost anywhere. Skinny water to deep water, river currents to calm bays, freshwater to salt water, and just about everything in between. So, where will your kayak take you?

When you think about kayaking in different waters, you must master different skills. Here are some thoughts on how to tackle different waters with your kayak.

Lake / Bay Kayaking Skills (protected waters)

Kayaking in a lake, pond, or other calm water is a great place to begin. Protected waters make for a good starting point to learn the basics of kayaking. If you are kayaking in a bay or lake, you will want to focus on basic techniques like paddle strokes, body posture, and entering / exiting the water. Additionally, waters like this will prize stability over maneuverability, open space over narrow courses, and calm waters over currents. 

This is the perfect type of water for beginners. So if you seek a leisurely afternoon of recreational kayaking or fishing, this might be just the ticket. 

Skills to Hone:

• Basic paddling strokes - Know how to do an efficient forward and backward strokes. Work on sweep strokes and stopping as well.
• Body position & posture - Keeping correct body position can help to make your strokes more efficient and reduce body aches and pains.
• Entering and Exiting - Practice your dock and shore launching and recovery skills. 
• Self-rescue / Towing - If you can’t self-rescue, hone your swimming skills and be prepared to tow your kayak and stay close to shore.
• Kayak Safety - Always wear your PFD and keep a whistle or other attention-grabbing device handy. Wear sunscreen, hydrate, and leave a float plan with someone on shore.

River Kayaking Skills (currents and rapids)

River kayaking can be a bit more challenging for new kayakers. Because they - by nature - flow, rivers will offer new challenges. River kayakers will need to increase their skills to handle what the current might throw at them. Once you’ve got the basics, river kayakers will also need to know how to read the current, maneuver quickly and efficiently, and self-rescue or plan for capsize. 

Those who crave a bit more adrenaline in their kayaking might gravitate toward rivers. From full-on whitewater to slow-moving creeks, rivers can challenge your kayaking skills. There are a number of types of river kayaking including river running, playboating, and creeking. 

Skills to Hone:

• Basic Skills - River kayaking uses all the skills above in protected water kayaking. 
• River navigation - Hone skills at reading the current, identifying eddies, ferrying across the current, and entering & exiting (peeling out) of eddies. 
• Maneuvering - Dealing with currents means learning how to edge (leaning to control the direction of the kayak), pivot turns, and bracing (to prevent capsizing). 
• Rescue skills - This type of kayaking has more chances of capsizing so knowing how to self-rescue and help others is important.

Ocean Kayaking Skills (surf and waves)

Ocean kayaking requires the skills of both lake / bay kayaking and river kayaking. You need to hone some specialized techniques to be able to deal with surf and current, like a river kayaker, but you also need the skills for crossing long distances efficiently, like a calm water kayaker.

Sea kayaking is great for building your endurance and honing your muscles. You can also get some adrenaline rush from “surfing” your kayak as well. So you need to hone your skills at maneuvering your kayak effectively as well as paddling efficiently.  

Skills to Hone:

• Basic paddle skills - All those protected water skills still apply. You should be able to paddle forward, back, sweep, and brake well. 
• Stability, Bracing, and Edging - Sea kayaking requires that you learn to direct your kayak even when there is surf and current. Learning how to brace, stabilize, and edge can help your kayak effectively. 
• Rescue - Skills for reentering your kayak after a capsize is very important in ocean kayaking as you might not be able to get to shore quickly. Knowing how to eskimo roll or other self-rescue is a good idea. 
• Sculling draws - Sculling draws are a stroke that allow you to move your kayak sideways. Sometimes to stay on course, you will need to maneuver your kayak to the side. 
• Surf launching / landing - Practice getting your kayak in and out of the sea through the surf. This type of entry and exit is one of the hardest so this is an important skill for ocean kayakers to master. 
• Weather awareness - Another important skill for ocean kayaking is honing your weather awareness. Things can change quickly on the water and, if you are out in the open, it can be difficult to reach land quickly and safely. Knowing how to spot warning and danger signs is vital for those who paddle on the ocean.