Biggest Mistake most novice paddlers make ?

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Permalink Reply by Rick K. on October 29, 2009 at 11:50am

My opinion is that bad paddle technique is one of the more minor mistakes that new paddlers make. Here in the land of big hats and bigger egos, the number 1 mistake I see is that new paddlers don't know their limits and quickly get into situations i.e. rough water, fast currents, high winds, where they end up with their lives at risk. Several die each year because of this and it's very sad.

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Permalink Reply by Peter Donohue on February 4, 2010 at 5:42pm

I agree with Rick. Taking risks, often without even knowing it, is a bigger mistake than poor paddling form.

Actually, if you watch This is the Sea 3, where Paul Caffyn is interviewed, and watch his form, you would say he is doing it all wrong. He is paddling with his arms, not his core. Little or no body rotation. And this guy has circumnavigated more countries than most people have ever even traveled to (Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Japan, etc.)

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Permalink Reply by Lance Pillsbury on February 11, 2010 at 9:43am

I would agree as well. After a year of specifically working on my technique I finally have it down to the point where it is almost second nature. It has allowed me to go farther, faster and with less fatigue. But Sunday, paddling out of the Ventura Harbor, I saw that the coast guard had issued a small craft warning, and man, they were not kidding. 7 to 8 ft swells with a 10ft spread made it impossible to get past the breakwater. On top of that, the area behind the breakwater water which was usually calm, was filled with fast currents, riptides, and eddies that made that area very treacherous. It was a good day to stay in the harbor and explore all the channels and boats and chase seals.

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Permalink Reply by Willi H2O on February 11, 2010 at 10:06am

Great observations guys - looking back at this in hindsight ah, ha, ha - I need to concur.
A little humility and being honest with one's own abilities goes a long, long way.
"There is always another day to paddle" is good advice for all kayakers.

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Permalink Reply by Gary on August 17, 2010 at 1:11am

One of my biggest surprizes was the wind. A typical paddle in my area is paddling upriver on the Colorado River from Willow Beach towards Hoover dam early in the morning when there is very little if any current. Then later in the day you somewhat rely on some current to make your trip back a little easier. One of my first trips the wind came up and in summer it blows upriver. If the wind is strong it will overpower the current and you will have to paddle hard the whole way back or you will travel upriver. The first time it happened to me I made it fine but it was one hell of a work out. I imagined some friends and family members whom I paddle with that would have been spending the night and or waiting for the wind to die down. another note on the paddle, I paddle a short recreational kayak. Call me crazy but I like the exersize.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Watson on December 8, 2010 at 6:42pm

My biggest was time management and overreach, aside from my failure to appreciate water guages. My initial forays into kayaking were on moving water in the dead of summer during low water and my 2 hour paddles would stretch to 6 hour ordeals. I finally wised up, joined some clubs and went to skills classes and soaked up all the knowledge I could.

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Permalink Reply by Ronald on April 23, 2012 at 6:02am

I  would go with understanding the effects of fatigue. It goes hand and hand with knowing water and wind conditions, paddling techniques and the length of a trip taken. The same recovery techniques practiced in a classroom setting or on a warm calm lake becomes a lot different when your arms are tired from paddling and legs are stiff from sitting. Knowing your limits and keeping a safe energy reserve is the difference between being a statistic and living to paddle another day. Occasionally practicing recoveries after a day on the water provides insight into how realistic our day was.

 

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