Need Help Getting Into Kayaking

[Flea]

Hello, I am new to kayaking and am having trouble getting into the sport. I am, especially, having trouble finding some one to teach me how to kayak and finding out which kayak I should buy although, I have done my research into brands and models and know I want a whitewater kayak probably from Jackson or Dagger. I have been trying to attain both of these things for about a month now to no avail. Any help anyone could provide would be much appreciated. Also, if it helps, I live near Heber Springs, Arkansas.




Thanks,
Jesse

[Tim Eubanks]

C'mon, you 'yakkers, help the newbie out!
Jesse, here' my two cents' worth, not being a real kayaker and all......

Start in a big volume boat, like a Jackson Hero. Stability equals quick learning. You don't want to spend all our time upside down. Learn how to paddle the boat first and work on rolling later. If you know how to paddle and brace, flipping is much less likely(footnote to Cowper a few years back).

Work your way up the ladder: Don't go jump on Richland or the Cossatot right off the bat. The 'Tot has lots of nasty rocks and ledges that will make you gun shy.

Try to hook up with one of Cougan's lower Little Missouri treks, if you can paddle on week days.

Pray for rain, lots of it.

[BEubanks]

Got a friend with an extra boat and some gear you can borrow? Find a lake or pond and get him/her to show you some basic strokes and maneuvers. Repeat on moving water.

Or borrow the boat and gear, watch some instructional DVDs or youtube videos, and then go practice.

Or hire an instructor to do one-on-one instruction for a day. Would cost more but might be worth it if you're really anxious to make progress.

Depends on how much $ you want to spend up front and how quickly you want to start.

My short 2 cents.

[Cowper]

Spend some time at Ouachita Outdoor Outfitters this summer, in combination with a trip or trips to the Ouachita River Whitewater Park at Malvern.

Right now it is shaping up to be a dry summer. So here would the the script for a great Saturday:

1) Sleep a little late, or do some chores in the morning.

2) Get to Ouachita Outdoor outfitters in Hot Springs by maybe noon. Chat with them about boats, what you've done in the past, what you want to do in the future. They'll help you choose a boat when you're ready, but they won't put any high-pressure sales on you. If you decide to buy a used boat, they'll still be happy to sell you a decent paddle and other accessories.

3) Leave there, and get to the WW park no later than 1:30. Somebody will be there early; you can probably sit in and paddle a couple of different boats to get more of a feel for what each is going to be like. You might even get them to start teaching you how to roll.

4) By about 2:30, the water will start coming up. All of a sudden, chances are good your new friends are going to get ants in their pants and want to get back in their own boat and surf, because the window for good playing can be as short as an hour or two before the water starts going back down. But it is still a fun place to stand around and watch to see what tricks folks can do in their boats. Many folks also enjoy tubing or swimming over the ledge, walking back upstream to do it over and over again.

[tomOzarkVideo]

Does the central chapter play boatball??

If so.. Do that as well. It will get you some balance practice.

And it's fun!

[Renee H]

Not many boaters congregate near Heber Springs during a dry summer so I would suggest YOU make the drive to Malvern to Ouachita River WW park (during the weekend releases - noon to 3pm) and you should find plenty of boaters willing to let you try or paddle a boat around at the ledge and like Cowper said OOO is right up the road and has demos - your help getting started is a short drive away.

[SteveGabbard]

When you go to Rockport don't be shy. Most boaters are very friendly and don't mind answering questions while they are lounging on the bank.

I'm out for a couple of weekends but wouldn't mind meeting you down there a little early and letting you paddle a superhero and superstar.

Also, plan on attending Rendevouz at the end of the summer. I'm pretty sure you could get some help there.