Intex™ Inflatable Kayak Explorer K2

Begin is to move the kayak as close to the shoreline as possible. You can then sit in the kayak and use your arms to push yourself into the water until you are floating on the surface.

If you’re concerned about scratching your hull on the ground, move the kayak into the shallow water and climb in there. Just straddle the kayak over the seat and sit down quickly, putting your feet in last.

Lower your kayak from the dock onto the surface of the water, making sure to keep the kayak parallel to the dock.

Place your paddle so it’s within easy grabbing distance of the seat. You can also keep your kayak from shifting positions by placing either end of the paddle on the kayak and the dock.

Remember, the higher you are, the more difficult it will be to enter the kayak. That means you’ll want to sit on the lowest point on the dock, as close to the kayak as possible.

As you’re sitting on the edge of the dock, lower your feet into the kayak first. Then, quickly position your body toward the front of the kayak and lower yourself into the seat.

The proper way to hold a paddle is to place your hands slightly farther than shoulder width apart on the shaft. Oftentimes, one mistake that beginner kayakers make is holding the paddle incorrectly. One side of the blade is concave and should always be facing you. Slice the paddle blade vertically into the water, keeping a relaxed grip on the shaft with your knuckles pointed upward. Keeping this form will put more power into your paddle without exerting more energy.

Focus on getting your strength for each paddle movement from your core rather than just from your arms. Your core muscles are stronger, so you’ll have more endurance and less of a chance of pulling or straining a muscle.

Sit properly in the seat. If you’re in a recreational kayak, you may notice that the seat is adjustable. Try to avoid slouching in your seat and sit up straight instead. You’ll be less likely to injure your back and shoulders.

Hold the paddle at its center so that each elbow is at a 90-degree angle, with both hands at an equal distance to their respective ends. Now you’re ready to move.

Hold the paddle firmly with one hand while the other rotates it.The hand closest to the water is the one that’s pushing it through the water, while the hand farthest away rotates the paddle. You’ll probably find you do this naturally as you move through the water.

1. FORWARD STROKE This basic stroke moves your kayak forward. Submerge one end of the paddle in the water near your toes. Next, propel the kayak forward by pulling the blade back towards your hip. While pulling the paddle blade out of the water, rotate your body forward while dipping the opposite blade into the water.

2. REVERSE STROKE This stroke moves your kayak backward. Submerge one end of the paddle in the water between your body and the stern (which is the back of the kayak). Look behind you and propel the paddle forward towards your toes. Allow your body to rotate back into a square sitting position and repeat the process on the opposite side.

3. SWEEP STROKES Use sweep strokes to turn your kayak. To use a sweep stroke to turn forward: Place the end of the paddle in the water by your toes against the bow, or front, of the kayak. Draw back the paddle in a half-moon arc towards the stern of the kayak. Rotate your torso with the paddle. To use a sweep stroke to turn backward: Place the end of the paddle in the water against the stern of the kayak. Draw the paddle forward in a half-moon arc towards the bow of the kayak. Rotate your torso with the paddle.

4. DRAW STROKE Use the draw stroke to move your kayak sideways. Stick the blade of the paddle in the water in the direction you want to move and rotate your torso in that direction. The paddle should be far enough out from the kayak that both of your hands are over the water. Pull to draw your kayak towards the blade.

For your first-time kayaking, or if you’re still newer to the sport are heading out on the water alone, we suggest you follow these tips:

Pick a small lake or pond that is calm and one which you can see the opposite shoreline. Bodies of water that don’t have heavy powerboat traffic are a plus because it will limit the number of unnatural waves you’ll have to face.

Launch your kayak from a shore that is visible to others on land. If you’re kayaking alone or are with a group that is remaining on the beach, your kayak will be in plain view should you require assistance or emergency help.

Plan your first few trips to be short and safe. Choose a bright and sunny day that doesn’t have a forecast of rain or high winds to keep your environmental challenges as predictable as possible. Also, know your limits and underestimate the amount of time you can safely kayak before you get fatigued. Like other workouts, you don’t want to overdo your first kayaking trips and make it difficult to paddle back to shore. Limit your first trip to an hour and then extend as you feel comfortable.

Warm, dry weather, calm water, and thorough safety precautions make for amazing kayaking conditions. However, you’ll still want to pay close attention to the forecast and other signs of fast-changing weather. A spur of the moment kayaking trip can be fun, but you also don’t want to risk getting caught in bad weather or in conditions that are beyond your skill level. So you will still need to do a little bit of planning.

Tips to help make your excursion enjoyable include:

Planning a trip to a location where the conditions align with your skills.

Double-checking the weather forecast before you push off.

Wearing safety gear such as a flotation device or a wetsuit.

Using the buddy system and always have a go-to plan in case of emergency.

Researching potential hazards, such as rocks beneath the surface or currents that are stronger than they look.

As a beginner, some of the conditions you’ll probably want to avoid include:

Fog, because it reduces visibility and muffles sound.

Busy waterways with a lot of boat traffic.

Polluted water, because you could accidentally expose yourself to harmful bacteria if you fall in the water.

Less-than-ideal or unstable weather conditions, since you won’t want to get stuck on a kayak in a dangerous storm