Ever wanted to escape the city, but don’t have the cash, time or resources to get away from it all? Well, living in Vancouver there’s always one place you can escape to where you will find a lot less people, a lot more freedom, and a sense of peace: the ocean.

Kayaking not only provides that escape, it’s also a great way to stay in shape, enjoy the outdoors and travel to some wicked remote places. This activity can be enjoyed by people of all ages, shapes and sizes (kayaks are a lot roomier than you might think!). Most rental shops offer beginner lessons, which will give you the basics you need for technique and safety.

Although kayaking requires some level of physical fitness, you can start out as easy as you want and work up to longer trips once you get your paddling muscles toned up a little. If you’re worried about tipping over – don’t. Unless you’re hitting up some big waves or rocking back and forth like crazy, you’ll be fine. Kayaks come in different widths (wider=more stable, narrower=less stable, but less drag when cutting through the water), and the ones you’ll find at a rental shop are generally wide, stable models that are perfect for beginners.

12 Tips to Get You Started

Even if you don’t take a lesson, kayaking is pretty easy to figure out (although we do recommend a lesson or two to ensure safety). Here’s some tips to get you started:

1. Before heading out, make sure you’ve got your spray skirt cinched around your upper midsection and your life vest secured over top. Always wear a life vest!
2. Before pushing off, lay your paddle lengthwise down the kayak and tuck one end into the top straps so it stays in place while you launch.
3. Once you get your kayak to the shore, push it into the water so it’s fully floating, then wade in so you’re standing near the cockpit, turn your back to the water and straddle the kayak. Ease down to sit in the cockpit, with your legs still outside the kayak. Once settled, pull your legs in and tuck them down inside the hull.
4. Starting behind you, pull the spray skirt over the lip of the cockpit, working around to the front until it’s secure. This can be a little tricky, but it’s not hard with a little practice. Make sure the tab at the front is sticking up. If you DO happen to capsize, you need to be able to grab the tab quickly and pull it free so you can easily get out of the kayak.
5. You’ve got two pedals (one for each foot) that you’ll rest your feet on. Use them to turn the kayak’s rudder left or right to help steer.
6. Paddle on alternating sides to go forward. Find a good balance – digging the paddle deeper into the water will make you go faster, but it’ll make your arms tired. A shallower paddle will make for less speed, but also less drain on your muscles.
7. Hold your paddle with your elbows bent at a 90 degree angle, and don’t use a deathgrip – try to push with your hand while paddling and keep your fingers relaxed.
8. Try to use your whole upper body to paddle. Think of keeping your arms fairly relaxed and using your core to direct the paddle. You’ll have more endurance this way.
9. If you hit any waves just direct the nose of your kayak into the waves and try to absorb the motion with your hips (don’t stiffen up or your kayak will start rocking and you’ll increase your chances of tipping).
10. Remember to pull on the cord (behind you and to your left) to drop your rudder once you get in a couple feet of water, and raise it again when coming in to shore to prevent damage to the rudder.
11. Don’t forget sunscreen and water – kayaks have “pockets” to keep your water bottle close at hand, and you’ll need to keep hydrated out there, as well as protected from the sun.
12. Have fun, and if you get tired just stop paddling for a bit, rest your arms, and enjoy the scenery!

Every summer, we love going on a kayak camping trip. Picture being on an island that you can only get to by boat, then exploring until you find a good place to setup camp. Then all you have left to do is enjoy some swimming, hiking, food, wine and star gazing. And picture doing all this with only a few others scattered over the island. Basically picture the crowds of Granville Island on a warm, summer Saturday, then picture the opposite of that.

Where to rent

There are many places where you can kayak/rent a kayak in the lower mainland. Some of the options:

Deep Cove http://www.deepcovekayak.com/

Port Moody (Rocky Point Park) http://www.rockypointkayak.com/

Granville Island/English Bay/Jericho Beach http://www.ecomarine.com/

North Shore http://www.northshorekayaks.com/

White Rock/South Surrey http://www.kayakcourses.ca/

Once you gain some experience and love for the sport, British Columbia has some of the most spectacular kayaking adventures in the world awaiting you!

Please share any other recommendations/comments on kayaking the west coast.

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Tagged as: how to, kayaking, ocean, Outdoors, Sports, tips, vancouver