I'm on a mission to find all the great kayaking spots in and around Gauteng. With that in mind, I headed out to Paddle Power on the Crocodile River, 4 km upstream from Hartbeespoort Dam and had my best paddle experience to date. Feeling your entire body work as you get into a paddling rhythm is a fantastic sensation, and you know you're doing good stuff like exercising your core, back, arms and legs – which is incredibly satisfying, especially if you're someone like me and spend way too much time sitting at your desk. But continually going around in circles on a small dam, albeit in a well-appointed kayak surrounded by greenery, can get pretty damn boring. The same scenery keeps gliding by like clockwork. Before you know it, you're almost on first name terms with all the coots (small water birds) defending their little territories around the dam, you've passed each one so many times. Okay, I'm pretty eccentric, so this most probably doesn't happen to you. But my point is, after putting in about six laps at Emmarentia, my mind begins to wander and I get bored. Here's the thing though: After paddling 6 km (one lap equals one kilometre) my body still has more than enough oomph to keep going, but I invariably stop and get out because I'm unstimulated. This is great for getting a couple of paddles in after work during the week, and seriously convenient as I live down the road. But when it comes to pushing myself physically and developing my endurance skills I need a much bigger pond. My next go-to place is Lake Heritage at Cradle Moon. Significantly larger than Emmarentia Dam, and only 36 km outside Johannesburg, it's a great place to paddle – and when I'm there I find I can naturally cover much more ground. Even better, when I'm taking a breather, I can just bob about in the middle, taking in the surrounding Muldersdrift countryside while appreciating the birdlife and watching game amble along its banks. They also have a great outdoor restaurant, so I always make a pit stop there before heading home. But at the end of the day it comes down to the same thing – I'm going around in circles, again. Paddle Power, my gateway to adventureWanting to broaden my horizons, I popped into Canoe & Kayak World and spoke to Robbie Herreveld – one of SA's most respected paddlers and kayak tourer of note – to get some advice. “Paddle Power,” he says right off the bat. “From there you can go 4 km down the Crocodile River and into Harties. Just keep on Malibongwe until you hit the Broederstroom T-junction and you're there.” Well, that was me sold. Two days later I was back, this time to purchase a really cool kayak life jacket – I was gearing up for my first mini adventure! On arrival, I found Paddle Power to be everything I'd hoped it would be. In many ways it reminded me of one of those rustic pub/eateries you can come across in places like the Eastern Cape. Following the colourful handmade “To the beach” sign, I walked through some dense indigenous vegetation and found myself on a small sandy area bathed in sunshine. Large enough to take a few tables and beach chairs, with enough space left over for small kids to play and build sandcastles, I thought it was a nice touch. To my left was the river, and up the bank on my right I could see the shaded deck of the Beach House restaurant that provides great views over the river. Paddle Power's main activities include river rafting trips and abseiling, but I wasn't there for that. On hearing what I was planning to do, Pat, one of the owners, warned me how low the water level was in some areas, commenting that some visitors have a complete sense of humour failure when they get stuck on a sandbank. This made me laugh – the whole point of taking on a paddle like this is to deal with what nature throws at you and work it out. If I'd wanted an uncomplicated, predictable paddle I would have stayed on a dam! Saying hello to the CrocodileNow I haven't messed about with small boats on rivers since I lived in the Eastern Cape during the mid 90's, but everything I'd learned soon came flooding back. My first “wake up call” was quite funny. The river bank dropped down about a metre and was fairly steep, with very little space for me to get my act together while climbing into my kayak. All was going well until I swung my right leg over the hull and my left leg sunk into the mud right up to my knee. Not sure how to extract myself, I gingerly lowering myself into the cockpit and somehow managed to wiggle my stuck leg free and give it a good shake (to wash off the thick mud) without tipping into the drink. Laughing at myself for forgetting how precariously sticky riverbanks can be, I headed out downstream on my way to Hartbeespoort Dam. When Pat mentioned the river was extremely shallow in areas she wasn't kidding. The first kilometre was fairly tricky to navigate, with me having to pay close attention to what the current was doing to pick out the deeper channels. Even then, the water was often too shallow to paddle, and I had to resort to using my hands to scoot myself along until I found a deeper section. But with all the sandbanks out the way, the river opened up and continuing on my way became a non-issue. With the current pushed me in the right direction, making paddling easy, I glided through the predominantly rural landscape dotted with expensive estates with views to die for. And the birdlife was spectacular. At one point, about one kilometre from Harties, I came across a vertical cliff that dropped straight down into the water. Dotted with precariously hanging trees, I paddled under the high-rise canopy and found myself completely engulfed by swirling swallows as they hunted insects for lunch. Then I noticed a pair of Malachite kingfishers hanging out on a branch close to the water not three metres away from me doing the same thing. It was a special moment, and exactly the kind of stuff that made me take up kayaking in the first place! My Harties experienceBefore I knew it I was entering Hartbeespoort Dam. The wide open, watery vista that greeted me I found completely liberating – I'd never paddled on such a big body of water before. So I struck out for the middle, not knowing where I was going, just that I felt free. Eventually, way in the distance, I spotted what looked suspiciously liked a yacht mast, so I changed direction to go investigate. Turns out I'd stumbled across the Ifafi Aquatic Club. After paddling closer to check it out properly, I then began considering my options. Although still feeling strong, I'm no Man Mountain and fairly new to paddling, so I didn't want to push things too far on my first major outing. With that in mind, I headed around the bay where the Swartspriut River enters the dam on my way back to Paddle Power. While doing so I came across a bird sanctuary chock-a-block with breading birds on their nests. The raucous cacophony of bird cries completely bombarded my senses, making the experience quite special – so I decided to take a well-deserved break and hang out watching them for a while. Heading back to baseBy now the sun had shifted somewhat in the sky and I realised it was time for me to start heading back. I had no idea how far I'd paddled, I just knew that when I eventually got back to the Crocodile I still had 4 km to go, and with the current working against me. Travelling against the current once I was back on the river proved to be quite interesting. Whenever I stopped paddling there was no forward momentum at all – I just stopped, then started moving backwards. This meant I had to paddle hard the entire way, it was my only option if I wanted to get back to my car and crack open a refreshing ice cold beer! Negotiating the shallow sandbanks proved to be particularly tricky. Although there was still just enough water to float my boat, it was too shallow for me to paddle, so the current kept swinging my bow downstream and back towards the dam. Knowing that it's always a mistake to fight a current, I went passively with it instead until I found my gap and headed back upstream. By the time I got back to Paddle Power I was happily exhausted, not to mention famished! So I settled down on the Beach House restaurant's deck for a couple of pints and some chow while I chilled taking in the view. And, as an added bonus, the one man band was knocking out some amazing blues – perfectly finishing off what had been an epic day. I've always known that I'd enjoy kayak touring, and now that I've completed my first mini adventure I'm chomping at the bit for more. In fact, I've already given myself a new goal; paddling the entire circumference of Hartbeespoort Dam – now there's a nice big circle for me to get stuck into! - (c) 2017 NavWorld To find out more about Paddle Power visit their website www.paddlepower.co.za

Kayaking isn't rocket science, neither is it particularly expensive, but it can give you a great workout. So if activities like going for a run or climbing onto a bike don't float your boat much, maybe you should consider giving paddling a try. That said, here's how I got into kayaking – hopefully my journey will help motivate you into taking up this amazing, multifaceted sport! Not all of us were born to run, or clock-up kilometre after kilometre along winding trails on a mountain bike. Fortunately, there are many ways for active types to burn calories, get fit and have some quality outdoor fun that have nothing to do with “mainstream sports”. I definitely fall into this category. I'll happily lug heavy camera gear around with me on a 15 km day hike. But if you ever catch me running, chances are something bad's going down – like I'm getting shot at! And I enthusiastically dumped my bike chain for the rush of an internal combustion engine decades ago. My main outdoor focus has always been water. (Although it must be said, hiking comes a close second.) My childhood passion, swimming, later morphed into scuba diving which, in turn, stoked my interest in powerboats and, ultimately, moved me on to sailing – where my interests remained stuck for longer than I care to remember. That said, I don't have a competitive bone in my body, so the thought of taking any kind of racing seriously just gives me the creeps. As a result I prefer more chilled, less structured activities where I get to push myself physically – often without realising it – while simply enjoying myself outdoors. So yeah, I definitely see myself more as a “weekend warrior” than a dedicated sports enthusiast. How I got into kayaking The kayak touring seed got planted in my brain back in 2013 when I signed up for a short offshore paddling course in Cape Town. However, I was still besotted with the 18-foot daysailer I had at the time, so it remained just a fun experience. But when I moved back to Gauteng last year everything changed – now landlocked, I had to come up with a radical new plan to get my “water fix”! Chad Andrews from Canoe Concepts playing model on our NavWorld photoshoot. It was November, and I'd met up with Chad Andrews from Canoe Concepts at Emmarentia Dam for a NavWorld photoshoot. I had recently interviewed him for a beginners kayak article I was doing titled Getting started: All the basic moves a newbie paddler needs to know and needed to illustrate the thing. Knowing that I was interested in paddling (albeit basically clueless!), at the end of the shoot Andrews casually mentions “You should seriously think about join the club, it's really affordable.” “Hey, why not!” I figured. “I'm already here.” So then and there I wandered straight into Dabulamanzi Canoe Club's reception to find out how the whole gig worked. What really surprised me was how affordable signing up was. Annual membership is just R720 (this diminishes as the year progresses), I also paid R100 for the SAMSA levy, along with R80 for my tag that gives me access to the showers and boat storage area. And, when I get my own boat (which I now have), storing it would only set me back an extra R1 000 per year. My luck was in timing-wise for the beginners paddling course, too. This cost R600, but courses aren't run regularly throughout the year. When the racing season is in full swing, like it is now, they shelve newbie training so members can concentrate on competitions. Considering the whole deal to be an absolute bargain, I paid up in full on the spot. Why joining a club makes sense I've completed enough boat competency courses to know how important it is to get the basics right before heading out on your own. And the quickest, most efficient way to do this is to join a club. For a start, you're surrounded by an amazing pool of knowledge – so you tend to not pick up any of those nasty rookie habits that are so hard to shake later on down the line. And yes, while I may not be competitive, I do want to develop an efficient paddling style. That way I get to work the main muscle groups that kayaking targets properly, namely my core, back, shoulders, arms and legs. It also means I can travel further with less effort. Even if you don't want to enter kayak marathons like these guys, you can still learn a lot by just observing their paddle techniques. Another advantage is you get answers to all your questions, often over a beer. And just by kicking back at the clubhouse, watching the “grown ups” doing their stuff, you get to understand what areas you need to focus on and why. Apart from that, you get loads of good informal advice. After I'd completed my beginners paddling course and was wobbling around the dam on my own, other paddlers would often stop and make constructive comments. Things like: “I've noticed you're not holding your paddle correctly, here's how you do it”, or “try this with your stroke, you'll find the blade strikes the water more efficiently”. In no time I was up to speed. And the beauty of it all was I didn't even have my own boat! I'd simply used one of the club's beginner K1 kayaks that are freely available to members 24/7. Apart from allowing me to practice enthusiastically over the December holidays without spending a cent, it also meant that I had some breathing space to save up for the touring kayak I wanted while still enjoying my new-found sport. I opted to pay for the beginners paddling course (comprising three Saturday sessions out of four) simply because I figured it was a really affordable way to get up to speed fast. That said, I could've gone a more informal route. The club throws in one free training session for newbies, which is enough to get you wobbling around and not falling in too often! Then you can either get a coach, or do your informal thing, relying on other paddlers to point out flaws in your form as you work it out for yourself. Finding the kayak of my dreams Paddling may be paddling, but how you go about it makes a huge difference. For example, you might want to enter marathons (which in my mind is best equated to road cycling), or go the touring route (the mountain bike equivalent). Then again, you could have aspirations to shoot rapids, or enjoy the hurly-burly action of kayak polo. And the boats used for each specific sport category are completely different. That said, I knew right from the get-go I wanted a touring kayak. But having wasted more money on boats than I care to admit over the years, I knew the best option was to buy secondhand. So I dived online and, after about a month of patient searching, I found an absolute bargain. My pride and joy ready and waiting for me to have some fun at Cradle Moon. I'd been coveting the Wilderness Systems Tsunami 140 touring kayak ever since I first saw it at the 2016 Johannesburg Boat Show, but I never expected to get one so soon. Imported from the US, and a real quality build with a solid international reputation to match, it goes for R20 400 new (including the rudder system). I found one in immaculate condition, including rudder, for just R7 000! And, to sweeten the deal even further, the guy threw in a paddle worth R1 500 and a bilge pump that goes for R300. This seriously freed up my budget – allowing me to get a good Holdfast kayak mounting system for my car, a set of quality lockable tie down straps, along with a good collapsible kayak dolly to easily move my heavy 25 kg touring boat to and from the water. Right now I feel like I'm living the life of Riley. I still have a few more kayak bits and pieces I want to purchase, and some of the compact camping gear on the market is catching my eye, but I'm sure I'll be sorted by the end of the year. Right now I'm just concentrating on having fun – paddling at Emmarentia Dam in the week when I can, and taking my new toy out to Cradle Moon over the weekends where I can train and enjoy myself surrounded by nature. I also feel new destinations calling, my wanderlust is definitely growing – it's going to be interesting to see where I end up next! - (c) 2017 NavWorld

Located in Parys on the banks of the Vaal River, slap-bang in paddling heaven, Fluid Kayaks has been helping adventurous water-lovers get their aqua-centric kicks for the last 15 years. In fact, nothing quite says summer than seeing their popular, brightly-coloured craft being paddled around on a bright sunny day. Take a tour with me as I find out how these legendary homegrown kayaks get made. Recreational plastic kayaks have a lot going for them. They're tough, virtually impossible to sink and affordable. Just as importantly, they can be expected to last for years, require minimal, if any maintenance and, should the worse ever happen, can be easily repaired. No wonder these no-nonsense, practical watercraft are so popular with adventure-loving South Africans. Speaking of popular, one brand in particular – Fluid Kayaks, manufactured in Parys, Northern Freestate – seemingly dominates the local recreational paddling scene. You find their tried-and-tested designs everywhere, from shooting class 5 rapids and exploring winding rivers, to simply mucking about on dams or hooking lunch beyond the surf zone at sea. The company also has a strong following in the US and UK, and ships container-loads to places like Asia on a regular basis. Curious to see how their kayaks get made, I contacted Fluid's Rusha du Toit and arranged a tour of their factory. Making adventures happen As luck would have it, my visit coincided with a production run of the company's versatile Synergy two-seater sit-on-top kayaks (available in both recreational and fishing configurations) – giving me ample opportunity to check out the entire fabrication process from start to finish. Even better, the production staff were clearly motivated, and it quickly became obvious they knew their stuff. Right from the get-go, I could tell this was going to be a fun experience. Confident I was in good hands, du Toit headed happily back to the tranquillity of her marketing office, leaving the guys on the factory floor to fill me in. Victor Mokhasi, taking over where du Toit left off, starts showing me around. With 11 years handling the roto-moulding process under his belt, he's one of the more experienced workers on the floor. While not going into too much detail (exact temperatures, oven times etc. are closely guarded trade secrets), Mokhasi explains the two most critical aspects of his job – time and temperature control. “If we are out by just one degree, or get the time in the oven slightly wrong, the kayak will have to be rejected. That's because, unless we get it exactly right, the plastic loses its strength and durability. What we want is a hull that's strong, yet elastic enough to bounce back when hitting something hard and not get damaged.” Achieving the exact 'cooking' time and temperature is a scientific process that includes a number of variables, one being the weather. As temperatures climb throughout the day during summer, oven times become shorter and cool down times take longer. Conversely, in winter the reverse is true. Interestingly, each plastic colour has its own specific 'cooking' temperature too. To easily get around these complications, Fluid painstakingly compiled reference charts, allowing Mokhasi to quickly determine oven temperatures and times, regardless of the weather, size of the mould or colour of plastic being used. Another successful strategy Fluid has adopted, especially in summer, is to start work early, then wrap things up before the heat of the day becomes problematic. Getting down to business, Mokhasi takes me over to the raw LLDPE (Linear Low-Density Polyethylene) – the tough stuff recreational plastic kayaks are made of. Stored in sacks and coming in a range of bright colours, it has a fine consistency resembling beach sand. It's prepared this way for good reason; not only does it facilitate the even distribution of plastic throughout the mould while in the oven, it also helps make the melting process more efficient. Next, he shows me Fluid's two gas-fired, roto-moulding ovens; one large and the other small to accommodate different mould sizes. Size aside, both work exactly the same way – continually pivoting up and down along their centrelines while rotating the moulds placed inside around their longitudinal axes. This is done to ensure the molten plastic gets evenly distributed inside mould to produce a consistent thickness throughout the finished kayak's hull. The moulds – made out of thick aluminium to efficiently transfer a stable, even heat to the plastic – are extremely heavy, so gantries have to be used to manoeuvre them to and from the ovens. Once placed inside Fluid's large oven, the new Synergy-in-the-making 'cooks' for its pre-determined time and temperature, rotating mechanically around all axes. Shake and bake Moving over to a Synergy mould, Mokhasi first applies a releasing agent to the bottom half, then measures out 30 kg of LLDPE (the weight of a Synergy kayak) and evenly spreads it out inside. While he's busy, a colleague concentrates on the top half; applying the releasing agent, attaching branding decals and threaded brass attachment points that will fuse seamlessly into the plastic when baked in the oven. After joining the two halves of the mould together, Mokhasi uses a blowtorch (and handheld infrared thermometer) to pre-heat specific spots around the cockpit area where heat from the oven takes longer to penetrate. Once placed inside the large oven, the new Synergy-in-the-making 'cooks' for its pre-determined time and temperature (between 20-30 minutes at 270-300 degrees), rotating mechanically around all axes the entire time. Once removed from the oven, the mould is first cooled to a specific temperature by continually rotating it in front of a bank of fans. This is a critical step, explains Mokhasi. “If the kayak remains too hot, it won't release from the mould. However, if too cool it'll shrink too much, causing it to be rejected.” When the temperature is just right, typically after about 30 minutes, the mould is opened and the kayak removed. The still-hot Synergy is then placed on a purpose-built jig, where it can cool to a manageable temperature without distorting. Once removed from the oven, the mould is cooled to a specific temperature by continually rotating it in front of a bank of fans. Finishing what they started When the 'freshly-baked' Synergy hull is cool enough for further processing, it moves along the production line to Gladwin Mohono's domain – namely final assembly and quality control. Mohono, another trusty old hand, has been with the company since its inception back in 2002. His team's job is to attach the myriad bits and pieces (think watertight hatches, attachment points, rod holders, grab handles etc.) that transform bare hulls into complete, functional kayaks. After being released from the mould, the still-hot Synergy is placed on a purpose-built jig, where it can cool to a manageable temperature without distorting. While watching his team kit out a line of incomplete Synergy hulls 'cooked' earlier that day, Mohono explains his role. “Every boat gets quality tested before leaving the factory, and I'm proud to say we have a very low rejection rate, maybe 0.1 percent. Whenever I find a faulty hull it gets cut into pieces and returned to our supplier for recycling. We do this to prevent it from getting used by mistake.” When cool enough for further processing, the bare hulls then get kitted out with all the required peripheral gear, transforming them into complete, functional kayaks. To determine if each hull has the required strength and elasticity to survive real-world use, Mohono performs a drop test. Although low-tech, it's a proven, highly-effective method of transferring brute force onto a small area. It involves dropping a long, narrow-diameter 5 kg iron bar 2 meters onto a piece of plastic cut from the hull. Mohono elaborates: “When assembling the kayaks we have to cut plastic out of the hulls to accommodate things like watertight hatch covers or rod holders. It's these offcuts that we test to establish if the plastic has been processed properly.” Although low-tech, Fluid's drop test is a proven, highly-effective method of transferring brute force onto a small area. What a positive drop test result looks like; a nice clean hole with no cracks around the edges or small bubbles visible in the plastic. After positioning the plastic to expose its outer surface to the test (the side that takes the most impact abuse), Mohono drops the bar and inspects the results. “If I get a clean round hole, then the plastic's good and the kayak can be readied for distribution. Cracks around the hole indicate that the hull was 'undercooked' in the oven, while small bubbles in the plastic means it was 'overcooked'. When I see either of these two results the kayak gets scrapped immediately.” More fun to come Over the years Fluid Kayaks has gone from strength to strength, and the company has no intention of slowing down. That said, messing with proven, established designs and procedures can end up a costly exercise – especially if something unforeseen goes wrong. As a consequence, design changes at Fluid are few and far between. At first, this cautious mindset might seem overly conservative, but it's not. You'll find it throughout the boatbuilding and aviation industries, were input cost are high and the safety of end users is paramount. In these fields, any new development trying to supersede  “what works” is viewed with scepticism until proved otherwise. “Before implementing design changes we always have to realistically weigh up the benefits between spending serious capital re-engineering our moulds and what advantages we actually pass on to users,” explains du Toit. “Apart from it being a cost game, the last thing we want is a new boat that ends up being less safe or functional than the original. Getting the research and development right takes time, anything from 18 to 24 months, and requires a considered approach. To make sure we get it right, we rely heavily on our team of pro paddlers and Team Fluid Ambassadors, who rigorously put all our prototypes to the test.” However, just because design changes are rare, doesn't mean they can't happen. Fluid's new Buddy Angler fishing kayak, now kitted out with a rudder (for better control) and redesigned footwells (to accommodate the rudder pedals and give your feet more space), is a prime example. Du Toit elaborates: “Redesigning our Buddy Angler was an easy decision for us to make. Customer research indicated that enough fishing enthusiasts prefer the convenience of smaller kayaks for us to invest in changing our original moulds, so we did. By adding the extra hands-free control a rudder brings, what we've done is turn an already-popular compact fishing platform into something better.” Other plans Fluid has on the cards for 2017 include the introduction of a new two-seater sit-on-top, along with the launch of two new recreational kayak designs.– (c) 2017 NavWorld For more information visit Fluid Kayak's Website: fluidkayaks.com, or give them a call on 056-817 2951 – (c) 2017 NavWorld

Different strokes may work for different folks, but only the right technique is going to effortlessly propel you and your kayak forward. Gauteng's Chad Andrews from Canoe Concepts shows us the basic paddle strokes kayakers use to efficiently move through the water, conserve energy and keep their craft on track. Even better, he throws in some practical advice to help make your next paddling experience that much safer. Kayaking is fun. It also provides a great workout and connects you with nature. Just as importantly, as far as water activities go, it's about as safe a sport as you can get. That said, even a little bit of training before heading out on your first mini-adventure goes a long way. Learning how to hold your paddle correctly, how to use your body to power each stroke and where to put your paddle when, helps put you in control – making you that much safer on the water. Throw in a little practice, not to mention a healthy dollop of common sense, and you're good to go. Upping your game Statistically, it's recreational water users who are most likely to get into trouble. Those taking part in competitive paddling activities have a much cleaner safety record – mainly because they tend to have undergone in-house training at their clubs. Fortunately, learning how to handle your kayak correctly and stay safe isn't rocket science. To find out more and pick up some tips, I spoke to Chad Andrews, owner of Canoe Concepts – one of South Africa's oldest paddling establishments. Strongly influenced by his father, a hardcore paddler. Andrews cut his paddling teeth early, competing in his first Fish River Canoe Marathon when he was just 12 years old. Since then, his passion for canoe polo has seen him represent South Africa internationally three times. More importantly, he has a good-natured, hands-on approach and is very familiar with teaching newbies the ropes. According to him, just three short, fun sessions on the water are enough for most people to grasp the basic techniques and learn how to recover from a dunking. Andrews elaborates: “Learning the basic paddle strokes and how to get back onto your kayak after falling off is easy, once you're shown how. It can typically be covered in one 30-minute session, but I prefer beginners to have at least three, spread out over different days. That way, the techniques have a better chance of sinking in and becoming ingrained.” The news for aspirant racers is just as good. Says Andrews: “You can go from a complete novice to competing in the Dusi Canoe Marathon after just a few month's training... if you're dedicated enough.” Getting aboard Creating a splash before you've even left the bank is one way to elicit a laugh and some good-natured ribbing from your mates. Here's how you get into a sit-inside kayak while keeping your stability, not to mention your dignity, intact. STEP 1: First place your paddle perpendicularly across the bank and kayak, then hold both in place by gripping the shaft and front of the cockpit together in one hand. STEP 2: Lean all your weight onto your other hand on the bank. STEP 3: Put your outside foot into the cockpit, ideally just a little off-centre to make the kayak lean slightly towards the bank. Bring your other foot onboard in a way that it crosses closely behind the first. Still keeping your hand on the bank to carry your weight, finally lower yourself slowly into the seat. Pro Tip Make sure you're sitting comfortably before letting go of the bank. A common newbie mistake is to push off from the bank, then press down on the opposite side of the kayak to quickly adjust their posture. That's when they invariably tip themselves into the drink. Holding the paddle Essentially, kayaking is a balance sport. As such, it relies much more on equilibrium and finesse than mere muscle – and it all starts with understanding how to correctly hold your paddle. When holding the paddle above your head, both arms should be at right angles. When holding the paddle normally in front of you, the knuckles on both hands should be pointing up and your hold loose and relaxed. Pro Tip Never tense up and firmly grip the shaft – all this does is cause unnecessary fatigue. The forward stroke Like a boxer delivering a knockout punch, the correct paddling technique requires you use your entire body. Relying solely on your arms not only causes you to tire quickly, but also gets you nowhere fast. The trick is to rely on your legs and torso, using your core muscles to rotate your upper body and provide driving power to each stroke. STEP 1: First step is to set the kayak's foot supports (or choose one of your moulded-into-the-hull options) so that both legs are slightly bent. STEP 2: Sit up straight, or lean slightly forward. STEP 3: To take a stroke on the right side, twist your torso anticlockwise so that the paddle's right blade is facing forward. STEP 4: Place the blade in the water close to the kayak near your feet, you want it to slice into the water with minimal disturbance. STEP 5: The moment the blade fully penetrates the water, press against the foot support on the same side to transfer power up your leg and into your core. Simultaneously unwind your upper body and pull the blade towards you, keeping the paddle as vertical as possible. During the stroke your top hand should be at about eye height. When your lower elbow lines up with your chest remove the paddle from the water. With your left shoulder now facing forward, your body's automatically set up for the next stroke on the opposite side. This rhythmic motion continues indefinitely as you paddle forward – your waist acting like a massive hinge as it continuously flexes forward and back and from side to side. Other Tips In reality it's the kayak that moves, not the paddle. What you're actually doing is “planting” the paddle into the water, then using the resistance created to pull the boat forward. Everyone has a natural left or right physical bias. Rookies often make the mistake of paddling unevenly (powerful stroke one side, weak on the other) as they unconsciously favour their dominant sides. Don't extend the stroke further back than where your elbow lines up with your chest. Apart from causing unnecessary drag, there's also a chance you scoop water and pull yourself overboard.  The backstroke Kayaks don't come with brakes. The forward momentum paddling generates guarantees they'll keep gliding through the water for some distance until you, or an obstruction, intervenes to stop them. The backstroke not only stops you in a hurry but, when executed properly, lets you to hit reverse – giving you the ability to avoid collisions as well as manoeuvre yourself backwards out of tight situations. As with the forward stroke, make sure you're sitting up straight and holding the paddle correctly. This is the only stoke that uses the paddle backwards, so keep it orientated the same way you would for a forward stroke. To take a backstroke on the right, rotate your torso clockwise so that your shoulders are parallel with the kayak. Looking over your shoulder, aim the paddle blade close to the rear of the kayak. With the blade submerged, unwind your torso to push the blade forward. The moment the stroke is over snap the blade out of the water. Continue the rotation of your torso to the left and repeat if necessary. Try keep your top hand level with your eyes throughout the stroke. Tips Combine a backstroke with a forward stroke on the opposite side a few times while stationary, and you can spin your kayak 360 degrees on the spot. When paddling backwards always look where your going. The best way is to rotate your head in conjunction with your torso and take a peek over your shoulder with every stroke. Sweep stroke (turning) Turning can be accomplished in a number of ways. The simplest is to just drop a blade into the water on either side of the kayak – the drag created will immediately turn your boat in that direction. The down side of this method is a loss of speed. To maintain forward momentum during a turn, you need to master the sweep stroke. To execute a stroke on the right, twist your torso anticlockwise. While still maintaining your hand spacing, shift their position along the paddle's shaft so its longer side extends in the direction of the stroke. Unwind your torso to pull the blade through the water in an arc, first away from the bow of the kayak then all the way back towards stern. Put some power into your body's rotation to optimize the stroke. Finish the stroke by lifting the paddle when it gets near the stern. Your paddle should now be set up for a normal forward stroke on the left. Pro Tip Use your hips to balance, keeping your upper body vertical and weight inside the kayak. A common mistake is to reach too far over the kayak's side when arching the paddle away from the bow (front), causing the paddler to become unbalanced and sometimes topple over.  Draw stroke (going sideways) Having the ability to move your kayak sideways is important – whether you're wanting to get out at a jetty or simply bum an energy bar from a paddle buddy while on the water. Here's how the basic draw stroke, sometimes called the T-stroke, works. Rotate your upper body sideways, facing the direction you want to go. Reach the paddle out from the hip and place it into the water as far away from the kayak as possible. Use your lower hand to pull the paddle towards you, making sure the face of the blade remains parallel to the hull. Your upper hand should be positioned just above eye level. Just before the blade reaches the side of the kayak twist it 90 degrees, allowing it to slice through the water and away from the hull. Remove blade from water and repeat. Pro Tip If the blade starts to get sucked beneath your kayak never apply force, you could cause the hull to flip over. Instead, simply let go and start over.  Self-recovery Falling into the drink is as much a part of kayaking as paddling is – so it's not a matter of “if”, but “when” it's going to happen to you. The self-recovery process for sit-inside and sit-on-top kayaks is pretty similar. That said, because sit-on-tops are wider (making them inherently more stable) and have open decks, they are by far the easiest to get back onto. Here's how you get back into a sit-inside kayak after falling out: STEP 1: Make sure your paddle gets pushed against the kayak by the current or wind and not swept away out of reach. STEP 3: Flip the kayak back the right way up. STEP 4: Floating on your stomach and kicking with your legs, pull yourself onto the hull behind the cockpit. Try and keep your weight as low as possible throughout the entire process. STEP 4: With your legs dangling down on either side, pull yourself forward towards the cockpit, keeping your weight along the kayak's centreline. STEP 5: When you can grip the cockpit, edge yourself towards the seat. Drop your behind into the cockpit, keeping your legs dangling outside. STEP 6: Bring your legs in one by one, using your paddle to balance while doing so. Pro Tip Wearing a proper paddling life jacket during a self-recovery helps conserve much-needed energy, making the process much easier and safer. If deciding to swim to the bank instead, quickly flip the kayak over and drag it behind you. When in doubt get out Common sense should dictate how much training you require. Andrews explains: “If all you want to do is mess about on a dam on a perfect summer's day, as long as you're wearing a proper paddling life jacket, chances are you'll be fine. That's because, if the worst happens, there's a better chance someone can get to you before you get into serious difficulty.” However, his laid-back attitude changes radically when it comes to rivers. “Fast flowing seasonal rivers can be deadly. It would be extremely irresponsible to paddle down one unsupervised without first completing a River Proficiency Course and learning how to properly read the river.” His rationale makes perfect sense. As summer rains swell a river, all manner of debris gets pulled downstream into the flow – only to congregate around man-made structures such as weirs and bridges. Says Andrews: “All it takes is a tree to get caught sideways across a bridge, then a plastic bag, then another branch... Before you know it, the blockage can become 300 metres deep. Get sucked into that and you're in serious trouble.” As a consequence, he's always on the lookout for suspicious eddies that indicate disruptions in the river's natural flow. Whenever the way ahead looks dicey, Andrews sticks faithfully to the golden paddling rule: “When in doubt get out”. He parks his kayak securely on the bank, then takes a walk to check out the obstruction up close. Only when he knows exactly what he's dealing with does he plan his next move. This established paddling approach to tackling obstacles is just as relevant when encountering rapids, which can change their characteristics dramatically depending on water levels. – (c) 2017 NavWorld For more information contact Chad Andrews at Canoe Concepts on 011-477 0785 or visit canoeconcepts.co.za