I'm wondering what kayaking is all about?

Question

I'm wondering what kayaking is all about?

Answer 1

its great fun!

Whitewater kayaking is the sport of paddling a kayak on a moving body of water, typically a river. Whitewater kayaking can range from a fun, carefree, splishy-splash float trip to a challenging, adrenaline-filled sport.

Answer 2

Adrenalin, it's all about adrenalin.

Answer 3

It's like canoeing or white-water rafting. Look up "Extreme Sports" on Google to get more information.

Answer 4

Personal effort and achievement; great for fitness, it can become an obsessive passion to be out there on the water, your water! There's different levels or fields to be involved in either as a Social or Team kayaker - white water, sprint racing, flat water, kayak fishing, champagne @ sunset... A 5:30 am paddle is great for clearing the mind of the mundane and wonderful way to say "Good Morning, Morning". We're using it as an introduction as we travel with folding kayaks. I've kayaked 70+ km over 2 days across Shark Bay, West Australia with a group, Also, because "I can" solo kayaked 30+ kms coastally, run a river that is in flood [with a 75 year old kayaker], kayaked and camped a river, done a bridge to bridge run with 140+ kayakers for charity and the list goes on as it is all fun and enjoyment - "Because I can" do it...

Answer 5

Its brilliant - apart from the whitewater side of kayaking, which is generally about adrenalin, sea kayaking and touring is about journeys and you can see so much more wildlife from a kayak than from on foot, or in a larger boat. You can also get much closer to the shore than a larger boat.

If you fancy giving it a try then see if there is a local paddling club near you who can teach you what to do and provide boats and equipment for you to borrow.

Answer 6

Kayaking is about what you want it to be about.

If you want it to be about relaxation and stoping and smelling the roses so to say. You want to be a recreational boater.

If you are a adrenaline junkie and want to go fast quick and be in danger go whitewater kayaking

If you want to get out on the ocean or go really fast or even go on long hauls you can be a sea kayaker.

Kayaking is about what you want it to be about.

Answer 7

Kayaking is fun, healthy and  adventurous. You can do it  either by yourself or with a partner or with a group.

My advice is to take some lessons and give it a try. If you like salt water swimming or lake swimming you'll love kayaking.

Answer 8

a good fun outdoor activity. you can take it to any level you want.

Sea kayaking is great fun, white water is fine but you need to be a bit nutty for that.

Answer 9

Kayaking is a great (but extremely expensive) sport, once you get the hang of it.  I enjoy whitewater the most (because I live near more rivers than seas) but I have done some sea kayaking as well and I found it to be completely enjoyable.  When you go whitewater kayaking, it's as if the kayak is an extension of your body.  You need to use your entire body to control the boat.  I like it because rivers are always changing, so even on the rivers I paddle often, I don't always need to run the rapids the same way.  My route will be completely different when the river is high than it was when the river was low.  It's fast, it's a great rush, and it's great excersise.  It's the best water ride.  Also, I find whitewater kayakers to be a wonderful bunch of people to hang out with.  In areas where kayaking is popular, at the end of the day the area campgrounds are always one big party.  People will go from campsite to campsite just to discuss their kayaking trips with total strangers.  It's a sport that not a lot of people do, so when you meet other kayakers you become friends instantly because you have a hobby in common.  

Sea kayaking is fun because you don't miss anything.  If you are in a power boat, you don't see the detail in your surroundings like you do from a kayak.  If you are in the ocean, you will see a ton more wildlife than you ever will from a larger boat.  I have had seals come right up to my kayak because they were curious.  Since kayaking is a silent sport, it will not scare away the adorable sea life.

I would definitely recommend getting into kayaking, sea or river, but make sure that you a) get a boat and equipment that fits your body (kayaks are like clothing - you need to try them on and make sure they fit right or they won't work for you) and b) take a lot of lessons and gradually work up to more challenging excursions.  I only gave you those two suggestions because, like in any adventure sport, you can die kayaking if you aren't properly outfitted and experienced.