Sea Kayaking

Sea kayaking is a wonderful experience to have. With calm, peaceful waters around you, there is no other more pleasurable and comforting activity than your kayak on the majestic open sea and grand lakes.

Kayaking started from the native watercrafts of Alaska, Canada and Greenland. Because of their ease and carrying capacity, sea kayaking or touring kayaks became part of modern leisure. These highly maneuverable crafts became the choice of campers and sea travelers. They are light, maintenance free and could upright themselves when overturned.

With the right equipment, avaible at our Online Store, sea kayaking is relatively the easiest, safest and most comfortable of performance water sports. Learning sea kayaking can happen anywhere that there is a wide body of water – even in New York City!

First the basic strokes are taught. The forward stroke is used to move the kayak faster, or rarely, slower than the current. The paddle should be vertical and your left hand rose almost to the level of your head. Submerge the blade of the paddle into the water, then try pulling you up without standing. It should move the boat forward. Then the blade should naturally come up out of the water as the kayak moves, but before it gets level with your hips. Then repeat.

One tip from the experts is to firmly anchor the paddle before starting the motions of your first stroke. The torso and upper body muscles are employed.

A stern draw is used to align the stern with the bow as a result of a too much turning or a skid. While going steadily ahead at a fast rate, a forward sweep may be used to make a turn. To slow down speed a reverse stroke is used.

The American Canoe Competition will host the 2008 ACA Whitewater Open Canoe Downriver Nationals from July 8 – 13 with downriver races for mixed and women class. This year there will be a Kayak Surfing World Championship in Mundaka, Spain. Other competitions are the South West Student Surf Kayak Contest and the 2008 Home Internationals.

The New South Wales Sea Kayaking Club also sponsors competitions. Other locations for sea kayaking which may include competitions are the Northern Isles and Northern Highlands, the Bass Rock and Moray Firth all in Scotland. The Australian Army White Water Association and the Sea Kayak Operators Association of New Zealand and the Irish Sea Kayaking Association have many activities which may include competitions which the professional and amateur kayak enthusiast can join.