Southern Ontario Kayak Lessons… No TV Eskimo Rolls Please

The biggest fear when kayaking is tipping over and not getting out. Many have this horrible image of hanging upside down, stuck forever. Kayaks are easy to exit from… just grab the sides, push and slide out. The Eskimo roll is not needed to enjoy leisure kayaking. A kayak/canoe instructor would choose to teach a beginning kayaker the simple wet exit… which is easy to learn and requires no effort or skill.

The problem with kayaking is the media stereotyping of a tipsy kayak and a needed Eskimo roll to enjoy the sport. If a person had never experienced a bike and saw BMX bikes performing on TV, they would believe they could never do that and not bother to try a bike; a ridiculous conclusion. The same mindset happens with kayaking. What the media portrays versus what kayaking is; stops many people from experiencing it.

Believe it or not… most people tip over when getting in or out of a kayak. They have not bothered to learn the simple technique of properly entering and exiting from the boat. If tipping and being trapped is a fear, the best medicine is to tip with a spotter standing beside the boat. People are amazed at how easy it is to slide out… as the tipped kayak drains out, so fear leaves the mind.

Compared to a canoe, a kayak is probably more stable and easier to steer. People learn faster in kayaks then canoes… and are often paddling around with ease within a half hour. Beginners are amazed at how shallow the required water depth for kayaks to glide like swans. The kayak offers a closeness to the water that cannot be experienced in a canoe.

Why is kayaking easy? Because with a kayak there are only two basic strokes required… the forward stroke and the backwards stroke. By combining these strokes one can turn, pivot 360 degrees or move forward & backwards. To stop is simple…just jam the paddle in the reverse direction. Though not originally designed as a rudder, recreational kayaks with skegs can be used by the beginner like a set of training wheels. The skeg when lowered helps the novice paddle in a straight line forward.

For the beginner, kayak lessons insure a positive experience worth the investment. People tip on a river because they can’t steer. Being unable to steer properly makes the novice kayaker vulnerable to everything that can catch and snag. People, who can’t steer, end up where they don’t want to be... looking from the bottom of the river up! The basics of river kayaking are simple… learn to properly steer a kayak, enjoy a beautiful river.

A learning adventure company located one hour west of Toronto called Grand River Rafting specializes in teaching beginner kayak lessons. They offer a unique "On-River-Instructional" course where a novice can learn how to kayak while doing a guided river trip.

These instructional learning adventures are spent paddling down the Grand River with a certified kayak instructor. The instructor will critique the novice’s style. They will demonstrate proper ways to enter/exit a kayak, teach the strokes, show how to read water and how to do a kayak wet exit if needed. They also review the basic equipment needed, what to look for when purchasing a kayak and what to pack for a day trip. People can learn on slower moving currents of the Grand River or experience a beginner spring splash on the Nith River.

The 3-5 hour instructional learning adventures are filled with practical hands-on experience with a personal guide. Prices start at $140 for one person to $65 per person for a group of four. The "Instructional-On-River" kayak lesson includes all equipment, lunch, shuttle and guide/instructor.

One thing needs to be pointed out… that for some, using a kayak is out of the question. People that are big in size should stay away from kayaks that are small in space. No one can slide out when totally jammed in. This is a valid danger and needs to be recognized. For large sized people wishing to experience the river… kayaking may not be a wise choice. A guided rafting trip on the Grand River would be a much safer and enjoyable option.

The imagined skill of a required Eskimo roll to enjoy kayaking is unfounded. Leisure kayaking is easy to learn… it is easy to do. Take the instruction to safely enjoy a unique water activity for life.