PLEASE HELP: Whitewater kayaking beginner question!?

Question

so i'm 14 and am taking a level 1 kayaking whitewater class. i just learned wet exits but am really bad at them. we did some pretty big class 2 rapids today and i didn't flip but i almost did like going into eddies. thats the hardest thing.

later in the day i was trying a t rescue, me being the victim and i stayed under for like 5 seconds searching with my hands for a kayak but couldn't grasp it . I THEN Started panicking and didn't wet exit. my skirt was still on and i was flapping around an inch below the surface. eventually i happened to find the kayak and lift myself up but it was a failure because of my panicking.

i need some advice to not panicking, staying calm and proceeding with the steps of wet exiting(i probably wont do t rescues). first step is leaning forward, etc.

advice about not panicking please?

thanks

Answer 1

I am 14 too and had the same problem. I learned to not panic by learning in a swimming pool and moving up to a lake then and then the river finally. it is something you have to get comfortable with. Next time you have to wet exit try patting the top of your boat three times before you pull your skirt. it Will help you relax, and try going on the lake and have someone tip you when you don't expect it so that you get used to that in the river. I would also, if you have other people with you don't worry so much about the boat but your paddle and the whitewater swim position. Those are key. As far as eddies. An eddy turn is essential I don't know if you know it but it is almost like mixing soup kind of. watch a Solomon race on you tube. Eric Jackson is a great example. he is a great racer and knows the turn great. Coloradokayak.com the key to not panic is confidence

GOOD LUCK SYOTR

Answer 2

I know what you mean, I'm 13 and had the same problem but now i paddle grade 4 rapids, hopefully my tips will help you...

Try getting in a pool in your kayak with someone standing next to you. Flip yourself over and just hug your boat and hold your breath for as long as you can just getting use to the fact that you're upside down. When you have run out of breath get your buddy to hold his/her hands out flat on the surface of the water and you using your hands push off their hands as if they're another boat. If you don't have a buddy get to the side of a pool and use the edge to roll back up. Keep doing this until you feel at home under the water.

If you're having trouble finding the other peoples boats try and wave your hands along the side of your boat. So you're upside down have a hand sticking out of the water on each side of your kayak and swing them back and forward running along the side of the kayak hopefully your rescuer should hit your boat and you will end up touching their boat with your hands if you keep them swinging.

Another thing is try and get a bullet proof roll as soon as you can it helps allot with your confidence because you know you can get back up. Try practicing at a beach in the waves to get the feel of whitewater but without the dangers of rocks and stuff.

once you get past the panicking and get your roll sorted you'll be away.

Answer 3

I second what Andre said.  I had a lot of trouble learning my roll because I didn't trust myself to do what needed to be done.  I'm now a class III-IV paddler and have a solid combat roll, even in the middle of gnarley rapids.  It's gonna take lots of being upside down and getting used to the feeling (always with a friend though!).  Kayaking is a mental sport. It's also counter-intuitive to what our brain tells us we need to do.  You're going to have to re-train your instincts. Another thing that helps is to have a "mantra" or something you say to yourself when you flip over.  Mine has become so ingrained that I just do it instead of saying it upside down. Maybe even saying "Calm down" to yourself when you flip will help.  It might focus your mind a little more to have a mental "home base" to go to. Paddling is really rewarding and I encourage you to work through the mental blocks.

Answer 4

Good answers. Attain a solid position when you tip over or realize you are upset. Go to the start position of your roll. Execute. Always go to that start position. Keep you position in the kayak...feet braced on the pegs! The other advice is great. Practice and master the roll! Watch other paddlers. Learn to do all the strokes like good slalomers do. Use your torso to power your kayak not your arms. Have some one check your kayak and fittings. I have had surfers try my kayak and they all panicked when they were upset. You have two minutes to get up or get out. The surfers never have this problem....Re: Eddy turns. Have your instructor use a model to illustrate the forces involved. One current is downstream and the other other upstream.