> Hints for beginners

You may get the White Paddle during a first practice on calm water, white water or on the sea. You will be alone or with a crew, in your canoe or your kayak. The basic advices hereunder will be useful to you.

A. General remarks

1. Weather conditions

Knowledge of the weather conditions.
During an offshore navigation you expose yourself to abrupt changes of the sea and climatic conditions.
Get regularly informed about the weather conditions and be careful of offshore winds not to be overtaken by events.

2. The equipment

The boat must be adapted to your technical level, your size and your weight. Your life jacket and your helmet starting from class II, are your protection equipments. They must fit you and comply with the European standards (EC marking). Carry closed and light shoes. Withdraw your jewels and attach your glasses. Select clothing well adapted to your activity and to the climatic conditions (windcheater if it rains, wetsuit if the weather is cold…).

3. Choose your boat

There are two types of canoes-kayaks:

  • the “sit-one-top”: as they are open it is easy to embark and to land. Generally, water is evacuated automatically ;
  • boats with a decking: more technical and more adapted in certain conditions (waves, wind, cold weather…). They can be equipped with a spray cover if one wants to stay dry.

4. Choose your paddle

There are 2 types of paddles:

  • the single-bladed paddle is adequate for the canoe. It has only one blade, the end of the shaft is equipped with a grip for the comfort of the higher hand. Position to use it: on your knees, or even seated for the sit on top. Its size: it has to arrive as high as the chin.
  • the double paddle is adequate for kayaking (and for the canoe of the sit on top type). It is a double bladed paddle. Its size: it has to arrive as high as the wrist (arm stretched out over the head).

B. Technique

1 –How to go on board and land

Along a bank, place your boat in a parallel to the bank, bow upstream. .Facing the sea, place your boat on the beach and partly in water, bow towards the open sea. To land, do it the same way but boat directed towards the beach. If you have some difficulties, ask somebody to help you by holding your boat.

2- How to set in the boat

Once on board, make yourself comfortable. If you are in a kayak, spread your legs, get a hold on the foot rests, then test your stability by making waves with your boat.

3-How to move with your boat

  • Take your paddle in your hand.
    Simple paddle: one hand on the grip, thumb placed under it, and the other one close to the blade. The hand capping the grip directs the paddle.
    Double paddle : both hands close to the blades, apart of the width of the shoulders. The right hand is fixed and the shaft turns in the left hand.
  • To move forwards, immerse your blade so that it looks towards where you wish to move and draw. If it “cuts off” the water, it means that your blade is badly directed and does not allow a solid support.
  • To move:
    To go straight ahead, control the drifting of the back of the boat by paddling far behind.
    In a two-seater: be synchronous, paddle together. The difficulties must be solved together with complementary paddle strokes.
    If you have a simple paddle, choose a side to paddle. Do not hesitate to change side from time to time.
    Look far away in front of you, direct your boat towards the place where you want to go and paddle. Carry out full or repetitive movements. For a better efficiency, paddle gently and take time to correct the path.
  • To slow down, carry out a movement which goes from the back forwards (the contrary to what you did to move forwards).

C. Security

Nobody is sheltered from capsizing. If you are accompanied by a monitor, follow his instructions. In white water, float on the back in horizontal position, the feet in the direction of the current on the surface of the water, head upstream, without trying to stand up in the middle of the current, then swim as soon as possible towards the edge.