Kayakers trying out eskimo roll. Check this out, Crazy!?

Question

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/711314/kayak_roll_and_nearly_drowning/

Loonies! Anyone know of some good places to take up kayaking? It looks like a lot of fun.

Answer 1

Looks like those guys are having a blast!

Watch Ally's technique (he's good), he has an excellent "hipsnap" and would be able to roll his boat "sans paddle" (a hand roll).  Kenny's O.K., but would have difficulty rolling in the middle of a rapid (rolling in a calm lake or in a rapid are two entirely different animals).  He needs work on his hipsnap.  As for Ryan, well, lets just say that dude is going to get alot of practice swimming through some nasty rapids hanging onto a boat filled with water (yikes!).  

Kayaking is a great sport.  You get to see parts of the country that are ONLY accessible to boaters (i.e. no trails, flat water, or road access).  If you want to take up the sport, I would highly recomend joining a local club.  I started kayaking by joining one.  I initially intended to start kayaking in order to do some camping (I love to camp), but I ended up getting into white water boating after I learned more about the people and the sport. Joining a club is a good way to network with other boaters, learn about local bodies of water, get free lessons, and is usually an excellent source for finding affordable boats and gear. Boating clubs typically have a newsletter or a website with good info if you are not up to joining.

Try some of these clubs/links.  I believe some of them are in your area:

University of Warwick Canoe & Kayak Club

http://www.sunion.warwick.ac.uk/canoe

England - email: [e-mail]

Shetland Canoe Club

c/o Bridge-end Outdoor Centre Bridge-end, Burra Isle,

Shetland ZE2 9LE

Thames Riverkeeper

London England UNITED KINGDOM

Phone: [phone]

London Canalkeeper

London England UNITED KINGDOM Phone: [phone]

International Sea Kayaklng Association

5 Osprey Avenue

The Hoskers, Westhoughton Bolton,

Lancashire, England BI5 2SL

Jersey Canoe Club

c/o Kevin Mansell 177 Quennejais Park,

St. Brelade, Jersey, JE38JU

British Isles

Paddlers International

8 Wilstshire Avenue Hornchurch

Essex, England RMll 3DX

Sea Kayak Group UK

c/o John Fiszman 54 St. Clare's Close Littleover

Derby, England DE22 3JF

That'll get you started.  Good luck, and happy boating (and keep your eyes open for ol' Nessie.  I hear she eats kayakers like they were popcorn).

Answer 2

Contact the BCU (British Canoe Union) in Notingham, sorry don't have the number anymore, I now live in the States.

They can give you names and contacts of clubs in your area.

They often have pool sessions and beginners stuff going on.

Just go and join in.

Answer 3

In colorado RMOC or Rocky Mountain OUtdoor Center call them at 1-800-255-5874 they are in Salida Colorado, or jacksonkayak.com