Recreational Kayaking and Kayak Touring 

Kayaking gives you the opportunity to experience nature first hand.  You can go places and see things that you couldn’t see by any other means.  Kayaking is good exercise and a great stress reliever.   One of the great thing about kayaking is that you can set your own pace and do as much or as little as you’d like.  You can put out a lot of energy or you can have a nice leisurely day.  Kayaking is also a great family activity. Below is some information about two of the most popular kayaking disciplines.

Recreational Kayaking is a fun and is very user friendly type of kayaking.  The boats used are generally wide and stable and are designed to track in a straight line.  These boats are great for general cruising, fishing, and photography on local lakes and streams.  The most popular kayaking discipline is recreational.

Touring Kayaks are long and can be rather narrow boats, known for their speed and trackability.  They are primarily used on flat stretches of river, and larger bodies of water such as lakes, bays, and on the ocean.  These boats are much more seaworthy and are designed to handle single or multi-day trips.

Kayaking Classes?
You can learn to kayak on your own, but the bottom line is knowledge and skill goes a long way.  Your experiences will be better and more enjoyable having developed good basic skills.   You will be safer, have better boat control and have a better understanding of the water dynamics.  Classes will accelerate your learning curve and get you started in a safe and supportive environment.  The more knowledge you have the more comfortable you’ll be…  Classes are also a great way of meeting people and a good way to try kayaking to see if you like it.

Choosing a Kayak:
There are three basic items you will need to get started if you are recreational kayaking: a boat, paddle and pfd.  Touring kayaking will require more in the lines of equipment, safety gear, and education.  We carry a wide variety of both recreational and touring kayaks from the top manufacturers in the industry; along with a full line of accessories.  Boats come in a variety of lengths and widths; and are designed with different purposes in mind.  When selecting a boat you need to consider your height and weight, what type of water you intend to spend most of your time on, how much performance you are looking for, and how much you want to invest.  We can help you to identify which boats will fit your needs the best.  It’s a good idea to try out a variety of boats before making a purchase… try before you buy!

 Where to Look for Information:

• On our Recreational/Touring Forum you can discuss paddling, ask questions, find people to paddle with, etc.
• Find information on our local rivers and lakes in our Guidebook , Created by You
• Learn about the different classes offered thru Whitewater Warehouse on our Instruction Page
• On our Calendar you will find a listing of upcoming classes, dates and descriptions