Paddling Skills

These articles focus on particular skills related to kayaking, from off-water preparation for beginners to current navigation for experts.

Boat building:

Nuu-chah-nulth Canoe Carving by Jacqueline Windh February/March 2004
The Gals Who Built the Boats by Lee Beliveau December/January 2003
Building ‘Greener' Boats by Jamer Buote December/January 2003
Composition Basics by Chris Hudson August/September 2002
Building Dreamboats by Martin D. Trees April/May 2002
Wooden Kayaks: You Can’t Build Just One by Harvey Golden February/March 2001
Wooden Kayaks: Arctic Kayaks by Wendell Phillips February/March 2001
Kayaks: Skin Boats in Transit by Wendell Phillips February/March 2001
Wooden Kayaks: Designing in Cedar Strip by Mike Walker February/March 2001
Wooden Kayaks: Building a Plywood Baidarka by Eric Schade February/March 2001
Wooden Kayaks: Building a Volkskomponentkayak by Ulli Höger December/January 2001
Wooden Kayaks: Learning to Stitch and Glue by Donna Wilford December/January 2001
Wooden Kayaks: The Cedar Strip Kayak by Vaclav Stejskal December/January 2001
Wooden Kayaks: The Varnished Kayak by John C. Harris December/January 2001

Equipment:

The "Day Bag" - by Alex Matthews / April-June 2008
Choosing a PFD - Mercia Sixta talks with Alan Wilson April/May 2003
Selecting a Kayak by Andree Hurley April/May 2003
Renting or Buying a Kayak by Chris Ladner April/May 2003
How to Choose a Paddle by Graham Ketcheson April/May 2001
The Greenland Paddle by Adam Bolonsky February/March 2001
Collapsible Boats by Ralph Hoehn February/March 2001
Personal Flotation Devices by Carol-Ann Giroday Winter 2007
HIN It or Lose IT by Larry Burden December/January 2003. Identify your boat!
Preventing Theft by Constable Larry Burden October/November 2001

Kayak care and maintenance:

How To Paint Your Kayak - by Nick Jones Fall 2007
Addendum to Gelcoat Repair Article by Bryan Nystrom October/November 2005
Basic Gelcoat Repair by Brian Nystrom August/September 2005
Major Structural Repairs Story and photos by Alex Matthews

Learning the basics:

Transporting Your Kayak - by Alex Matthews Fall 2007
The Solo Kayak Carry Winter 2007
Getting In and Out of a Kayak - by Alex Matthews Summer 2007
Launching Your Kayak by Michael Pardy June/July 2003
Taking a Kayak Trip by Elle Andra - Warner April/May 2003
Lifting and Carrying Kayaks by Linda Cain April/May 2003
Rigging Your Paddlefloat - by Vadim Kin April/May 2003
Staying in Your Boat by Christianne Wilhelmson April/May 2003
Composition Basics by Chris Hudson August/September 2002
Loading Your Kayak by Ed Day February/March 2002
Paddling Basics by Dan Lewis April/May 2001. A perfect starter's article.
Towing 101 By Dan Lewis April/May 2006

Navigation:

Make your mark - Navigation by chart marking by Adam Bolonsky / Spring 09

The ABCs of reading charts - by Adam Bolonsky / Jan. 09

The basics - by Adam Bolonsky / Summer 08

Using Charts by Timothy Sprinkle April/May 2003
How to Navigate by Paddle-siting by Jacqueline Windh April/May 2003
Paddling With GPS-Part 1, by Michael Schmidt April/May1999

Paddling with GPS - Part 2 by Michael Schmidt June/July 1999

Options: Beyond ocean kayaking

Rigged out - outrigger canoes - by Sheila Porteous / Fall 08

Racing for Skills and Confidence - by Dian Weimer / April-June 2008

Paddle strokes:

Skillset - Stern rudder stroke. By Alex Matthews / Summer 09

The low brace lean turn - by Alex Matthews / Summer 08

Forward Sweep With Edging by Alex Matthews Spring 2007
Fewer Strokes, Faster Boats by Adam Bolonsky Spring 2007
Paddling Forward by Alex Matthews Spring 2007
High Brace Lean Turn Winter 2007
Paddling From the Core by Adam Bolonsky October/November 2006
High Brace - by Alex Matthews October/November 2006
Low Brace by Alex Matthews August/September 2006
Sculling Draw - by Alex Matthews June/July 2006
Going Straight by Dan Henderson April/May 2001
Effortless Paddling by Adam Bolonsky April/May 2001
Back to Basics- Paddling Technique, by Kevin Mansell August/September 1998

Preparation and training:

Off-season conditioning for kayakers

Poor conditioning can lead to early fatigue and soreness that diminishes the full enjoyment of kayaking.
(Winter 2009)

Health and Fitness: Yoga for kayakers

How does yoga relate to kayaking? In a word: awareness. By April Link. (Fall 2009)

The Tao of Sea Kayaking - Remain calm in the midst of chaos. By Eric Soares / Summer 09

Health and Nutrition: Food as medicine - by Bruce Burnett. Fall 2008

Maximize your tent time - Twelve ways to get out more. By Neil Schulman.
Secrets to Winter Comfort - by Neil Schulman Fall 2007
Yoga and Sea Kayaking by Rob Hansen Spring 2007
Fitness: Paddle Faster, Paddle Further Winter 2007
Greenland Rope Gymnastics - by John Gamba Fall 2007
Coping With the Cold by Shelly Saunders April/May 2003
The Fundamentals of Good Paddling, by Dan Lewis April/May1999
Approaches to Training, by Ben Goodman April/May1999
Learning by Doing, by David Pinel April/May1999
Kayaking for All Abilities by Kathryn Gardner April/May 1997

Rescues and reentries:

Face up!

The ‘Face Up’ reentry reduces need for upper body strength in assisted rescues. Read more.

The ladder to success

The assisted ladder rescue offers a mashup of more established techniques that could help nervous swimmers. (Winter 2009)

Skillset: Re-enter and roll

The concept is simple: in the event of a swim, you can re-enter your capsized kayak while it’s still upside down, and then roll it back upright. (Fall 2009)

Skillset - The assisted ladder rescue, by Alex Matthews.

Skillset - A foot up using sling reentry by Alex Matthews / Spring 09

Skillset: The Scoop Rescue - by Alex Matthews / April-June 2008

The “Bow Tip Out” Assisted Rescue - by Alex Matthews Fall 2007
The Rat Swim and Bow Rescue - by Adam Bolonsky Fall 2007
The 'Scramble' Self Rescue by Alex Matthews April/May 2006
Assisted Rescues - Story and photos by Alan Wilson April/May 2004
Big Picture Rescues - by Alex Matthews April/May 2004
Time Well Wasted by Dan Lewis April/May 2004
Learning to Self-Rescue by Dan Lewis April/May 2003
Canoe-Over-Canoe Rescue by Andrew Westwood Winter 2007
Saving YourSELF Story and photos by James Michael Dorsey April/May 2006
Group Rescues - By Jonathan Weingast April/May 2005

Rolls:

Skillset: The Sweep Roll - by Alex Matthews / Fall 08

The Kayaker’s Best Friend by Dubside Spring 2007
To Roll or Not to Roll by Dan Lewis October/November 2006
The Offside Extended Paddle Roll by Adam Bolonsky August/September 2000
The Eskimo Screw Roll by Adam Bolonsky April/May 2000
The Greenland Crooked-Arm Roll by Adam Bolonsky June/July 1999

Skill development:

The three Rs of avoiding a collision

Planning and safety: In an environment where might makes right, paddlers face extra marine navigation risks. Read more.

Planning and Safety: Uncertain about certification?

Michael Pardy wades into the debate on the merits of certification-based kayak training. (Fall 2009)

Finding Your Edge - by Dan Lewis/ April-June 2008

Strings Attached - by Neil Schulman / April-June 2008

The 3 Golden Rules - by Alex Matthews Winter 2008
Paddling Like A Boater By Adam Bolonsky February/March 2005
Surf Safari: surf techniques by Dan Lewis October/November 2005
New Directions in Teaching by Michael Pardy, Photos by Bryan Debou December/January 2005
Lessons Learned - Story and photos by Jonathan Weingast April/May 2004
What Can Go Wrong On the Water - Story and photos by Lyn Hancock April/May 2004
The “What-ifs” of Solo Kayaking - Story and photos by Neil Schulman April/May 2004
Paddling With Wind - Two Approaches - by Alan Wilson April/May 2004
Decision Making in a Crisis - by Michael Pardy April/May 2004
Paddling Scenarios - by Mercia Sixta April/May 2004
Playing in Waves by Dan Lewis June/July 2003
Becoming a Better Paddler by Shawn Baker April/May 2003
Paddling Solo by Neil Schulman April/May 2003
How to Paddle with Kids by Bob Putnam April/May 2003
Paddling Tidal Passes by David Pinel April/May 2003
Learning from Earth and Ocean by Karen Charleson February/March 2003
Racing 101 by Alex Matthews August/September 2002
Exposure Exposed by Jacquiline Windh August/September 2002
Watch Those Fires by Sue Handel February/March 2002
How Not to do it by Dan Lewis December/January 2002
Welcome to Whitewater by Paula Jamieson June/July 2001
Which Way is the Wind Blowing? by Graham Shuley April/May 2001
Star Light, Star Bright by Bryan Nichols April/May 2000
Risk Assessment is Not ESP, by Michael Pardy and Jordie-Allen Newman April/May1999
Tools of the Trade -Taking a Kayak Guide Training Course, by Sue Handel August/September 1998
The Learning Curve by Lilian Alessa December/January 1997
Expect the Unexpected by Howard Rossman December/January 1997

Trip planning

Trip Planning: Servant of the maps

As the rain drives Neil Schulman indoors, he's looking at maps and charts, and pondering dreams. (Winter 2009)

Planning and Safety - Kayaking and relationships. By Michael Pardy.

Safety and planning - Setting goals for groups, by Michael Pardy / Spring 09