Teaching Your Children to #Paddleboard

Opening Banquet 2016 Sunday, April 24, 2016 

 Mark your calendars. The CNY Kayakers Annual Opening Season Banquet will be held at Fisher Bay Restaurant.  The price is $20 all inclusive and we include membership for the renewing members who RSVP in time. We will gather between 12:00 and 1:00 PM. Dinner is at 1:00 PM.

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Teaching Your Children to #Paddleboard

A popular water sport, mainly among teens and young adults, paddle boarding is also a child friendly activity that is fairly easy for kids to pick up and excel at. As long as your children have basic swimming skills and are comfortable in and around water, teaching them to paddleboard is going to be quite simple and a lot of fun! Here are some tips to get you started.

Start With Safety

First and foremost, ensure your child is wearing a certified life jacket when learning any new child friendly activity involving water. Safety always comes first! You will be starting your son or daughter out in shallow water, but a life jacket is going to make any tumbles off a paddle board that much safer, and really, it’s just good practice for water sports.

Second, ensure you are teaching the skills of paddle boarding in not only shallow water, but in an area that is calm and a safe distance away from waves, currents, boats and swimmers that may be in the area. This is going to allow for the safest conditions to teach and minimise distractions, as well as protect swimmers from a possible projected paddleboard in the event of a fall.

Get Equipped

Once you have obtained a paddleboard, through purchase or rental, equip your kids with child sized paddles. Although paddle boarding is a child friendly activity, child sized paddles can be challenging to come by so an adult paddle that can be adjusted down to child’s size will work also. Show them how to hold the paddle shaft with two hands instead of the proper adult position of one hand on top of the paddle handle.

Tip: don’t forget the sunblock, sunglasses and sun hat to protect your child from the sun while out on the water.

Start With Kneeling

Start with having your ‘students’ kneel on the paddleboard before attempting to stand, to give them a feel for the water beneath the board. This is a good time to teach your children the basic skills of paddle boarding, including the forward paddle stroke and buoy-turn, and have them practice paddling while still in a kneeling position. Give them some practice time while still on their knees until they feel ready to take it to the next level and stand.

Time to Stand!

Help the little ones stand to their feet by stabilising the paddleboard until they are up and balanced. Stand by and spot them as they continue to balance and begin to practice the skills they learned while kneeling. Standing close to your children’s paddleboards will also help you keep them away from other activities that may be happening in the water nearby that could threaten to interfere.

Paddle boarding is a child friendly activity that is pretty easy to teach, but you may want to consider signing your offspring up for a lesson if you lack experience and are unfamiliar with the strokes. Any place that rents paddleboards will most likely offer a beginners’ class to get the kids started. You may also want to consider taking a lesson together, so you can enjoy the day together out on the water on paddleboards!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Richard Edwards is the Managing Director of Summit & Blue, an adventure holiday company offering independently crafted child friendly activity holidays to exciting destinations around the world, including France, Italy, Portugal, the USA and Canada. With unique itineraries and exciting activities like biking, hiking, white water rafting and canoeing, we create holidays for those looking for an experience a little more off the beaten track.

Is it Okay to Sea #Kayak Without an Eskimo Roll?

Join us at Camillus Kayak Shop Demo Day 2016

By Gary Ward

Sea kayaking has mushroomed as a personal water sport over the last two decades. More and more people own kayaks and paddle regularly. Sea kayaking lets you get close to the water and close to the shore in places that are very difficult or impossible on foot or even in other small boats. But kayakers are prone to several potential dangers. Being prepared for the dangers is important. Knowing how to self-rescue is a basic skill that all sea kayakers need to know, and those out paddling on their own really must know and practice self-rescues to make sure that they are prepared for getting themselves out of tricky situations. As a sea kayak guide, I want to help teach others how to kayak safely and responsibly.

Rescue skills are a cornerstone of sea kayaking skills, along with boat preparation, paddling skills, navigation, and weather prediction. Upcoming articles will deal with the other four cornerstone skills, but today, we will concentrate on rescues, particularly self-rescues.

Most committed sea kayakers are proud when they perform their first roll. After the first, the next rolls come easier, until the kayaker figures out that the roll is only in one direction, on one side, usually the strongest side. Then the whole process starts over again for the off-side roll. Eventually, the roll on either side gets good. But a set up roll does not mean that a kayaker can roll when something happens unexpectedly. Usually, the first few necessary rolls are blown, until the renewed rolling practice starts incorporating more unexpected obstacles to rolling back up. More practice in more difficult scenarios then leads toward a "bombproof" roll. This is one of the ultimate goals of a committed kayaker because it is the quickest and easiest self-rescue for a capsize.

Being able to roll is not absolutely necessary for a committed sea kayaker, however. Self-rescues line up on a continuum of effort and difficulty, and relate to the types of seas a kayaker wants to paddle in. If you are a kayaker that paddles only on a small lake that is calm 95% of the time, the ability to roll is not really necessary; however, if you are regularly paddling in 1+ meter swell, breaking waves, currents, and surf, then you really need the roll. The more dynamic the water you paddle in, the greater the need for multiple self-rescue techniques, and especially a roll. Most committed sea kayakers learn at least four techniques for self-rescue.

The "cowboy scramble" is a technique of climbing back into the kayak from the back. It is easier said than done. Climbing onto the kayak while preventing it from tipping over again requires practice. It is possible to clear the cockpit of most of the water before trying to scramble back in. This is an advantage. It does not require any rolling skills, just a bit of practice with keeping balance and supporting stability with paddle techniques. The cowboy scramble is effective and fairly quick, so it is a good technique.

The paddle float rescue is the next non-rolling rescue. Some kayaks have a clip-in padded seat that can also serve as a paddle float. But most need to have a paddle float brought with them. There are foam paddle floats inside special bags that the paddle blade fits into, and there are inflatable paddle floats. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages. A bagged foam paddle float is ready to use in a few seconds. It comes off the boat and fits onto a paddle blade. The other paddle blade is attached to straps behind the seat, with the whole paddle/float system now acting as an outrigger to assist re-entry into the kayak. A blow up paddle float takes us less space and has excellent flotation, but it has to be blown up while in the water. This is not always so easy. After it is blown up, it is treated just like the bagged foam system. Unfortunately, a paddle float rescue can be time-consuming and tiring. But it is relatively easy and works well in most situations.

A re-enter and roll rescue assumes that a first roll attempt has been blown and you had to exit the kayak. With rolling skills, a re-enter and roll rescue is good because it can be quick. It involves pulling the kayak onto its side, inserting the legs up to getting the rear end on the kayak seat, and then rolling up. The last stage usually has the head under the water, but it can be done quickly, and the whole process can be repeated if the attempt fails. It has the advantage of being quick, but the disadvantage of leaving a lot of water in the cockpit to pump or bail out.

The last rescue to discuss is the assisted rescue. If you are kayaking with others or just happen to bail out of your kayak while someone else is kayaking by, another person can assist you back into your kayak. Assisted rescues are part of essential rescue skills and need to be learned as a responsible kayaker.

When do you need a particular set of rescue skills? Assisted rescues, the "cowboy scramble" self-rescue, and the paddle float self-rescue are essential for everyone. Deciding to learn to roll will often depend on the types of water you paddle in and whether you ever paddle alone. If you want to be a solo paddler in waters that can or do have waves and currents, learning how to roll is strongly recommended. If you only ever paddle with others on calm waters, assisted rescue techniques and the two non-rolling self-rescues are adequate. As a guide, I want people to be able to use good judgment and think through potential problems on any sea kayak trip, whether it is for a couple of hours or a multi-day trip lasting several months.

No matter what level you are paddling, rescue practice is absolutely essential. Human beings do what we are trained to do in stressful situations. Learn how to do rescues from a highly skilled kayaker or professional so that you get the best techniques, then practice those techniques. After practicing them, you can put them to bed until the next season. Drag them back out and practice them again at the beginning of each new season. Make it fun and you will want to do it every time you go out! If you want to move on to the level of rolling, get help learning the body motions to roll. A good way to learn to roll is to connect with a group of river, or whitewater kayakers. They play in very dynamic waters and have rolling down to an everyday, mundane thing to do. I know a lot of my sea kayak paddling skills, including my roll, from doing whitewater kayaking on the side.

Ultimately, rolling a sea kayak is not absolutely necessary, but being able to rescue others and yourself is absolutely necessary. There are effective ways to do that without a roll, and you judgment needs to come into play to help you decide which techniques are best for you in your sea kayaking activity. Knowing and practicing safety steps makes for better paddling and can be a fun part of the activity. Building time into the beginning of your season to practice can make it a more enjoyable, as well as safer, paddling season for you and those you paddle with. So, get out there, practice your rescues, and have fun paddling your waterways.

Gary Ward has been leading trips and teaching in wilderness areas for 20 years. Having traveled from desert to sea, he spends most of his time now in coastal areas, exploring the boundary between land and sea, land and sky, and sea and sky.
He can be found leading tours, teaching, and writing for his business, Coastal Bliss Adventures.

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#Kayak Review

Opening Banquet 2016 Sunday, April 24, 2016 

 Mark your calendars. The CNY Kayakers Annual Opening Season Banquet will be held at Fisher Bay Restaurant.  The price is $20 all inclusive and we include membership for the renewing members who RSVP in time. We will gather between 12:00 and 1:00 PM. Dinner is at 1:00 PM.

Kayak Review

CNY #Kayakers Opening Banquet and Kayaks For Kids

Opening Banquet 2016 Sunday, April 24, 2016 

 Mark your calendars. The CNY Kayakers Annual Opening Season Banquet will be held at Fisher Bay Restaurant.  The price is $20 all inclusive and we include membership for the renewing members who RSVP in time. We will gather between 12:00 and 1:00 PM. Dinner is at 1:00 PM.

More Banquet Information

Kayaks For Kids

By Marc Fredmen
Kayaking is a great outdoor activity that can be practiced as an adventure sport as well as a recreational activity by people of all ages. This has caused tremendous increase in the popularity of kayaking. If adults have taken to kayaking in a large way, then the children too have not been left behind. In fact kids have taken to kayaking in such a way that there are special kayaks and other equipments available for kids.
Exclusive Kayaks for Children
Lot of parents these days introduce their kids to kayaking at a very early age. In fact, parents are often accompanied by toddlers who share their parents' kayaks for a joy ride. However, as the kids grow up they start demanding a separate kayak for themselves. In such cases, parents can find it difficult to choose the right kayak for their little ones. Parents must remember that they get special kayaks designed for kids so that it is easier and more fun for the tiny tots to ride the waves.
It is recommended that a sit on top kayak is the best type of kayak for children. This is mainly because a sit on top kayak is more stable and thus offers greater security. Also, since there is no cockpit like a sit in kayak, the sit on top kayak is easy to get into and get out of. Also, a sit on top kayak is easier to handle as compared to the sit in kayaks.
Especially, in case of an emergency when the kayak capsizes, children can easily get into a sit on top kayak than a sit in kayak. They only need to tilt the kayak and get on to it. For a sit in kayak, kids must learn specific maneuvers to get into the cockpit.
Also, it is always a good option to buy an inflatable kayak for children. Inflatable sit on top kayaks are very light yet stable and almost impossible to capsize. Also, kayaks made of plastic or fiberglass is also an equally good option for kids. Also, another advantage of an inflatable kayak is that kids can easily carry it by themselves.
Features of Kids Kayaks
While buying an exclusive kid kayak, it is important to ensure that the kayak has the following basic features:

1. A kid paddle.
2. Easy to adjust foot and thigh braces. Usually kids kayaks comprise of molded foot wells.
3. Ergonomic bow and stern grab handles.
4. A gear strap that can secure the dry bag.
5. Usually kids' kayaks are smaller than the normal kayaks. Parents must ensure that the kids kayak has enough speed which would allow them to keep up with the parents' kayaks.
6. It is always great to opt for kayaks that have a tri-form hull. A tri-form hull offers good primary stability, which is so much crucial for kids' kayaks.
7. There are many kayaks available these days that can be used by parents as well as kids and thus are perfect family kayaks.

These are some of the most important features of kid's kayaks and must be kept in mind by parents while buying a kayak for their little ones.
The author Marc Fredmen is a kayaking expert and provides essential tips for kayaking beginners [http://www.kayakingbeginner.com/]. Paddlers can know more about the different types of kayaks [http://www.kayakingbeginner.com/Different_types_and_classification_of_kayaks_used_for_sea_kayaking.php] here.
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#Kayaking #Wetsuits - For Colder Weather Conditions

By Larry S. Kang

When we think of a kayak, we often think of a small, slender boat similar to a canoe, and for the most part, this description is right. Kayaks are indeed long and slender, but can be easily distinguished from a canoe. A kayak sits you much lower than the canoe, and allows for great leverage in the water. It also calls for maneuvering with a paddle that is double-bladed. A canoe calls for a one-bladed paddle and allows you to sit up a lot higher.

Some prefer the kayak for exploring, due to the ease of maneuvering as compared to canoes or other boats. There are many types of kayaking from sea to ocean to stream to whitewater, and for the best experience paddlers often use a kayaking wetsuit to ensure their safety and comfort.

Kayaking wetsuits are used to keep the kayaker warm. Although the kayak does have a spray deck, water can still get to the kayaker, depending on the roughness of the waters. Therefore, wetsuits are prudently used in waters or air temperatures under about 62 degrees. A good wetsuit will keep you warm whether you are dry or wet; and there are times you may choose get wet intentionally, whether to jump in the water or practice rolling.

Kayaking wetsuits are normally made out of neoprene, and can be thinner than regular wetsuit in certain areas for purposes of mobility. The wetsuit is usually in one or two pieces. With a one piece wetsuit, your legs and core stay warm while your shoulders and arms may be uncovered so they are free to move. There is also the long sleeve version, which is good for colder temperatures. A two piece wetsuit may be better for all those that do not like the feel of a one piece. And, believe it or not, there is even a wetsuit available for the family dog, which can have has his own spot in the kayak.

A simple suggestion when kayaking is to dress according to the temperature of the water, regardless of the air temperature. And, the best way to dress in cold temperatures is by wearing a wetsuit to keep the chill off and protect you against hypothermia. Another option to combat the cold is by wearing a wetsuit, a dry suit, a dry top, or a semi-dry top.

Kayaks are made to move fast in the water when you want them to, and can lend you great fun in a multitude of weather and water conditions. But, you may simply just want one to have some family fun or use it for calming and relaxation purposes, which will be a decision factor as to how you dress. If you don't know how to choose a kayaking wetsuit, do some research online or visit a sporting goods store and talk to a sales representative. There is a lot of info available that can direct you to the best style and guide you to a wetsuit that is priced perfectly for your budget. There are many different brands and styles that you can choose from, so your decision should be mulled over before you make the final decision. You can also take advantage of the Internet, should you know what you want, where many times you will find additional discounts.

Larry Kang is a writer on outdoor recreation topics such as hiking, kayaking, and nature photography. If you would like to learn more about kayaking and wetsuits [http://www.basickayaking101.com], browse instructional websites such as Basic Kayaking 101: Kayaking for Beginners [http://www.basickayaking101.com].

If you find this article useful, feel free to republish it on your website, blog, or newsletter as long as the credits above remain intact and the hyperlinks stay active.

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Origin Of #Kayaking

By Milos Pesic

John MacGregor invented kayaking. In 1845, he designed Rob Roy (a canoe) and in 1866, he formed a canoe club with others interested in kayaking. In 1936, kayaking became part of the Olympics followed by white water race.

Kayaks History

People of Arctic, like the Inuit, first developed kayaks many years ago. Centuries passed away to design and redesign kayaks having supreme design for people of particular region. The term kayak means "hunter's boat" or "man's boat." The kayak is a boat powered by human. The deck of the boat is covered. The kayak has a cockpit covered with a spray skirt.

The first kayak was made of wood with a small hole in middle craft for the person to sit. Inuit and Aleut developed kayaks as a means for hunting. The design of kayaks varies considerably from one region to another. The design of canoes and kayaks differs distinctly as double blade paddles propel kayaks and canoes have flat bottoms and are propelled by single bladed paddle. In some countries like Ireland and Great Britain, kayaks are known as canoes.

One, two, or even more paddlers can be accommodated in a kayak. The paddlers sit in cockpits below the deck, facing forward. The spray skirt or any other waterproof material is attached to the edges of the cockpit in a secure manner to avoid water from entering the kayak and moving the kayak upright preventing the water from filling and ejecting the paddler.

Earlier people made different kayaks for different purposes, but now the term kayak is being used broadly for boat.

Baidarka- this is a double or triple kayak developed in Alaska as a means for transportation of goods or passengers and for hunting.

Umiak- this is a larger open deck boat. The Umiak (women's boat) ranges from 17 to60 feet and is made of wood and sealskin. Single-bladed paddles were used in it and had more than one paddler.

Material Used

Earlier kayaks were made of wooden frames covered with skinseal. They were made by people who would use it with skin jacket sewn into it to act as waterproof seal. With time, the material used to make the kayak has changed. Whalebone or driftwood were used to make kayaks. During those times, sea lion skin was used as covering with whale fat as sealant. Now kayaks are made from fiberglass, plastic, and carbon fiber materials. Nowadays, kayaks are light, durable, versatile, and sturdy.

Nowadays, kayaking is accessible by all skill levels and is a form of exercise, exploration and travel.

Milos Pesic is a successful webmaster and owner of popular and comprehensive Kayaking [http://kayaking.need-to-know.net] information site. For more articles and resources on Kayaking related topics, visit his site at:

=>[http://kayaking.need-to-know.net]

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#Kayaking - For the Outdoors Enthusiast

By Larry S. Kang

Whether kayaking in the territory of the great white sharks or on a gentle stream in the backwoods, kayaking is a great hobby to take up. A kayak for the most part have long narrow covered decks, however, there are kayaks that are the sit on top kind. The difference between a kayak and a canoe is that a canoe is typically wider and seats the paddler higher up. Kayakers, unlike canoers, use double bladed, rather than single bladed paddles.

Kayaking is an adventure that many people enjoy. It is an outdoor activity that takes you places and allows you to experience and explore nature. For example, whitewater kayaking involves kayaking down the rapids, while ocean kayaking or sea kayaking, involves taking your kayak out into the ocean or an open body of water. Sea kayaking can also involve shorter trips, with the paddler returning to the starting point, or expeditions covering many miles and many days. This type of kayaking has steadily been increasing in popularity since the 1990's and has grown into a very popular sport through into the 21st century.

Kayaks are known to be classified by their use. Some of the many types and uses of kayaks include: polo, surf, slalom, whitewater, touring/day trips, and general recreation. Also, from each of these categories there are also sub classes. Within these classifications are also many levels of performance which will further separate the models of the kayaks.

There are two configurations of kayaks. One is the cockpit style of kayak and the other is the sit on top style. Obviously, with the sit on top kayak you are sitting on top of the kayak in an open area. The cockpit kayak involves sitting with your legs and hips within the kayak's hull and using a spray skirt that will create a water resistant seal around your waist. Both the sit on top and the cockpit style configurations are very popular among recreational kayaks. Most kayaks are designed to be used for a single person; however, there are kayaks that fit more than one person. Kayaks are also a great transportation when engaging in other sports, such as wilderness exploration, scuba diving and fishing.

Kayaking does require gear, however, and there are a few things you will need to get before you start. Obviously, aside from the kayak, you will need a paddle. Paddles come in all shapes, sizes and colors. The best thing to do is to find the one that is best suited for your size, the dimensions of your kayak, and the type of paddling you will be doing.

You also must include a life jacket or a personal flotation device, and can also bring along a spare paddle, a throw line that is at least 15 meters long and made from floating rope, a bailing device or pump, and some sort of signaling device such as a whistle.

Other things available for you to bring on board to make your kayaking experience a more enjoyable one are dry bags for storage of your gear, a compass and a variety of clothing from wet suits to dry suits, paddling footwear and hats. This can be an enjoyable sport or hobby and it is vital to make sure you take all the necessary precautions to not only stay safe but to ensure the best experience in the sport. Stay warm and safe - remember proper clothing as well as gear, which should include a wet suit if the water temperature or air temperature is below about 62 degrees.

Larry Kang is a writer on outdoor recreation topics. To read more information about kayaking gear [http://kayaksandkayaking.com/category/kayaking-equipment/kayaking-gear], and other topics related to kayaking, visit Kayaks and Kayaking Paddling Gear [http://kayaksandkayaking.com/category/kayaking-equipment/kayaking-gear].

If you liked this article, feel free to republish it on your website, blog, or newsletter as long as the credits above remain intact and the hyperlinks stay active.

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