Tips for people who have been out of the paddling scene and are looking at getting back in.
I have been paddling for 45 years and have watched a lot of people step away from the sport and want back in, but have too many hurdles to do so, or so they think.
If this is you, you know how your paddling faded away. Let’s talk about how we can get you back in a boat and smiling.
First- Here is the standard life cycle of a kayaker.
Growth Period- In the beginning, most people are brought into the sport by a friend, signing up for a kayak class, or joining a club, and often more than one of those at the same time. This is an exciting time. Everything is fresh and new, and you don’t have any real expectations, because you haven’t done it yet and haven’t watched anyone else learn to do it. This new period- call it the “growth period” is about new rivers, new skills, increasing comfort levels, and if void of any mishaps, it is all fun and games.
Cool Down Period- “Everyone rises to their own level of incompetence and remains there.” Usually, paddlers bump into life’s new realities that include getting married, getting a job, or having kids, or all three. In the Merrimack Valley Paddler’s, back in the late 70’s, early 80’s we kiddingly would have a Norse Funeral for a club member’s kayak if they got engaged. It was suggested that we go and take their kayak, fill it with sticks and gas and light it and send it down the river, since they won’t need it anymore. While this is just a few goofballs trying to be funny, it is more true than people realize. The cool down period comes in a few formats.
- One is where you just don’t paddle often due to your schedule, and consequently your friends can’t depend on you anymore to paddle, so they move on to new people, and eventually, you stop all together.
- Another is where you have a hard experience, such as a swim, or other scary moment that makes you feel less invincible and ultimately you back off. Then, perhaps you feel awkward, and your friends may even make fun of you some. Many people take a break from paddling, even if it is just backing off on the harder runs, but it often turns into less paddling and then no paddling.
No Paddling: kayakers tend to start biking (road or mountain biking), or other activities during the cool down period and it takes over. For some it could be a year or two, but for many of you it may be 20 years of no paddling. Almost 100% of the people who quit kayaking will reminisce about how much fun it used to be and almost zero % of former paddlers will say that they enjoy their new sports as much as they enjoyed paddling. The issue is getting started again.
How to start again without the baggage.
- Don’t expect to pick up where you left off.
- Take instructional courses- rolling/bracing, strokes and concepts, even have a guide take you on down the river for the first time.
- Make sure your equipment is up to snuff. Kayaks are easier to paddle today than they were 20 years ago.
- Do some of the things you did in the beginning, again. Sign up with a club, volunteer for the club. Plan a trip somewhere fun.
- Call up your old paddling friends and see who is ready to get back into it with you.
- Look up events/festivals that are being held and try to attend some.
