It is much easier when tipped to push on the sides and slide out.“Imagined-
The biggest fear when kayaking the Grand River is tipping over and not getting out. Many have this horrible image of hanging upside down, stuck forever. Truth is, kayaks are stable and easy to exit. In fact recreational kayaks are easier to paddle and more stable then most canoes.
Dealing with the media image is the biggest problem. If a person had never experienced a bike and saw BMX bikes performing, they would believe they could not ride a bike; a ridiculous conclusion. The same mindset happens with kayaking. What the media portrays versus what the sport is; can create nightmares in the head. Nightmares in the head stop many people from experiencing everything.
If tipping and being trapped is a fear, the best medicine is to tip and get out with a spotter. People are amazed at how easy the exit technique is… they are even more amazed at how hard it is to tip. As tippers drain the water out, so fear leaves the mind.
For beginners, kayak lessons on the Grand River will insure a positive experience worth the investment. People tip on a river because they can’t steer. Being unable to steer makes the novice kayaker vulnerable to everything that can catch and snag. People who can’t steer, end up where they don’t want to be. The bottom of a river is not always a breath taking view. The basics of river kayaking are simple… learn to steer a kayak, enjoy a beautiful river.
But it needs to be pointed out that for some, using a kayak is out of the question. People that are big in size should stay away from kayaks that are small in space. No one can slide out when totally jammed in. This is a valid danger and rafting on the Grand River would be a safer option for them.
