Wake To Safe Kayak: How To Control A Wild Kayak

If you find yourself in a wild kayak there is no need to panic, just remember you are in complete control of the situation. You just have to be careful to stay safe, especially in rapids and whitewater. 

Let us tell you how to brush up on your skills and take the right precautions. This way you can easily paddle and steer a wild kayak. Read this handy beginner’s guide on how to stay calm in the water.

While whitewater kayaking is a fun sport, it’s a sport that requires you to keep your wits about you. Because the water moves so fast, it’s easy to get swept up and something dangerous can happen if you’re not careful.

How To Control A Wild Kayak

As with any sport, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and know how to get out of a dangerous situation if you’re unfortunate enough to get stuck. 

The first point when it comes to safety is to make sure you are fully trained and prepared for the speed you will face on this journey.

If you’re not sure, remember that it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Did you know that Kayak is a pantomime word? Which means kayak spelled backward is the same.

Steps To Control The Wild Kayak

  1. While paddling might seem like an upper-body sport, it’s all about using your legs properly and efficiently. 
  2. Try leaning forward slightly and keep your hands wider than your shoulders. And with a light grip on the paddle, place your feet on the footpegs and crouch your knees under the thigh supports. This position is guaranteed to give you the best power or paddle power to steer the kayak efficiently.
  3. Your arms are supposed to do the only thing when paddling a kayak that holds the paddle and points it in the right direction. The power to push the bulkhead comes only through your legs, and the paddles come from your hips and core to rotate. This is one of the most important things to keep in mind when learning how to paddle a wild kayak.
  4. One of the most effective tips for paddling a wild kayak is to tilt the boat to one side using your knees, buttocks, and hips. Remember, this has nothing to do with your upper body; You just have to use your lower body for this purpose. Kayaks are meant to be edgy; this is how they should move with the air and water flow
  5. The most important thing to remember when paddling a kayak is to start out slowly with the strokes and pay attention to the movements of your body. Once you get comfortable, you will automatically start paddling faster and faster.

Guide On- How To Get Scuba Diving Certification?

Amazing Tips To Control A Wild Kayak 

How To Control A Wild Kayak
  • One of the simpler rules is to make sure it floats. Yes, the obvious thing to do would be to make sure the kayak floats and doesn’t have any holes or tears that would cause it to sink in the middle of the lake. 
  • It is recommended to carry a PFD or a personal flotation device.
  • You can also increase your safety with the equipment you carry with you. You should carry a compass, map, food, water, matches, flare gun, cell phone, and anything else you think you might need

How To Paddle A Wild Kayak

Knowing how to maneuver your kayak is important. It’s a fact that kayaks can tip over while whitewater kayaking and you need to know how to flip them back over.

It is extremely dangerous if you are unable to do so. Make sure you have practiced and are ready for the sport of whitewater kayaking before venturing out alone or without someone trained.

You can employ the reverse stroke, forward stroke, or sweep stroke. Moving your paddle in accordance with these techniques will help in controlling a wild kayak. Kayak spelled backward is also kayak. Kayak dip coupons are also available for new tourists, especially if you are going on a wild kayak. 

Safety Measures While Controlling A Wild Kayak

Make sure you have your helmet on. If your kayak tips over like some do, you won’t be able to control how deep the water is beneath you.

The last thing you want is to hit your head on a river or creek bed because your kayak has overturned. Kayak dip coupons are also accessible for newbies.

Another item to have with you is your buoyancy aid (BA) or personal buoyancy aid (PBD). These are especially important when getting to the higher grade, more difficult rapids, but they should be a ubiquitous part of your pack when whitewater kayaking.

Not only do BAs and PBDs help you stay afloat, but most have reflective strips to help you be seen when it’s getting dark outside or the water is particularly murky. These items should allow you to stay safe in an emergency situation. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1- What happens if you flip in a kayak?

If you flip, you can utilize the stated methods to get right back up.

Q2- What are the three golden rules of kayaking?

The three rules are

  1. Having a good core strength
  2. Backup plan for accidents
  3. Choosing a safe environment

Read More- Why Do Scuba Divers Fall Backwards?

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