Knowing the most useful beginner kayak techniques might make your first kayaking experience much smoother.

My arms still remember my first kayak day trip. Paddling as fast as I could, every other kayaker would still pass me by. By the end of the day, I was wondering if their kayak came with an undetectable engine or if I was doing something wrong.

Proper kayak techniques require some practice, but I’ve learned over the years that they aren’t that complicated. I’ll share with you the best beginner techniques so that you can look like a professional even on your first kayaking adventure.

Entering and Exiting a Kayak

For a smooth kayaking experience, it’s best to know what to expect.

Before Entering Your Kayak

I’d recommend adjusting your kayak before entering it. Ensure that your seat is properly placed and is stable. If this isn’t your first adventure, adjust the footpegs to the appropriate length.

If you’re bringing any gear with you, such as your lunch or a backpack, place it in the storage area before getting in the kayak.

Launching From the Shore

Launching your kayak from the shoreline is usually the easiest way to get into your kayak.

Entering

If you’re starting your kayak adventure from a slope or shoreline, it’s important to avoid dragging the kayak. Cement, sand, and even small rocks can cause great damage. Using the handles located on bow and stern (front and back) carry it to the water. An instructor or friend can help you with this. Then:

1. Place your kayak at a 90-degree angle from the shore. It’s best to launch in shallow water to limit movement, however, the hull (bottom) shouldn’t be in contact with the ground. The stern of your kayak should be facing the slope, while the bow should be facing the water.
   
   
2. Place your paddle in front of the cockpit.
   
   
3. Grab each side of the cockpit while holding on to your paddle. Place first your bottom, then your legs, one by one, inside the cockpit. Note: some people prefer to place the paddle at the rear of the cockpit and hold there while they get in.
   
   
4. If you have a spray skirt, attach it to avoid any water getting in.
   
   
5. Using your paddle, push yourself away from the shore and past any incoming waves.

Exiting

1. Paddle to the shore until you reach shallow water that allows you to easily exit your kayak.
   
   
2. Place your paddle in front of the cockpit, on the deck line.
   
   
3. Remove the spray skirt, if attached.
   
   
4. Grab the cockpit on each side close to your hips and pull your body up, bringing your feet under your bottom.
   
   
5. While you’re still holding onto the cockpit, place one foot outside of the cockpit and into the water to exit.
   
   
6. Once you’re balanced, do the same with your other foot and step out of the kayak.

Launching From a Dock

Launching from a dock can be slightly more challenging, but it does become easier with a bit of practice.

Entering

Depending on how high the dock is from the water, you might want to adjust your technique for entering and exiting the kayak.

1. Avoid dragging your kayak to the water (carry it instead) then place it parallel to the dock.
   
   
2. The paddles should stay on the dock; lay them down parallel to the cockpit and within reach of your kayak. I can’t tell you how many times I had to start over because I couldn’t reach my paddle once I was in the kayak!
   
   
3. Sit on the dock and place one foot in the kayak to keep it close.
   
   
4. With both hands on the dock, lower your bottom to the seat and stretch your legs inside the cockpit. You can also keep one hand on the dock and place the other one centered behind the cockpit. The key is to get inside the kayak as quickly as possible to avoid losing balance. If you’re part of a group, you can ask someone to keep your kayak steady while you’re entering it.
   
   
5. Once comfortably seated, you can attach the skirt if applicable.
   
   
6. Don’t forget your paddle on the dock — and go!

Exiting

The technique will vary slightly depending on the water level or the dock’s height.

High Dock

1. Place your kayak parallel to the dock.
   
   
2. Get up and put your paddle on the dock.
   
   
3. Place both hands on the dock, with your chest facing it.
   
   
4. Place one knee (choose your strongest leg) on the dock. The key to success here is to put all of your weight on the dock, leaning on it to bring your other leg up. To prevent your kayak from drifting away, try not to push on the cockpit while getting your other leg out.

Low Dock

1. Park parallel to the dock, place the paddle behind you in a perpendicular position with half of the paddle on the dock, and the other half laying across the rear of your cockpit.
   
   
2. While remaining inside the cockpit, grab the paddle from the back with both hands at hip-width apart and pull your body and legs up.
   
   
3. Slide out from the cockpit to the dock and exit the kayak.

Entering and Exiting Tandem Kayaks

Over the last 10 years, kayaking has gained popularity rapidly and beginners love the fact that they aren’t alone in a kayak.

With tandem kayaks, the techniques detailed above remain the same. However, the person going in the back seat should enter the kayak first. This person should also be the heaviest, as the lightest person should sit at the front.

Entering and Exiting Sit-On-Top Kayaks

Because you don’t need to get your legs inside a cockpit, sit-on-top kayaks are the easiest to enter and exit.

To enter, hold the kayak on each side and place your bottom on the seat, then follow with your legs. To exit, paddle until the water becomes shallow. While holding the paddle with one hand, slide your legs to one side, then stand-up and exit the kayak.

How to Get a Comfortable Seating Position in a Kayak

A lot of people ask me how to adjust their position so that it’s more comfortable. Here are my top tips.

1. Place your bottom all the way against the seat, in an upright position. Make sure you’re in a comfortable position and make any final seat adjustments if needed. Do this before you push away from shore.
   
   
2. Place your feet on the footpegs. Your knees should be slightly bent. Footpegs can be adjusted by sliding them up or down the track. It’s easier to do this before entering the kayak.
   
   
3. To allow more control while paddling, your bent knees should be tucked into each side of the cockpit. Make sure you have enough space to move them, just in case you capsize.

Basic Strokes

To a beginner, all strokes might look similar, however, experienced kayakers spend years perfecting their stroke technique to become both faster and more efficient.

Starting Position

It’s important to start any stroke by holding the paddle properly.

1. Place both hands on the paddle shaft at a position just a bit wider than your shoulders.
   
   
2. Your elbows should be bent in a 90-degree angle.
   
   
3. Some paddle blades are uniform, in which case either side can be up or down. If not, make sure that the longer edge of the blade is facing up.
   
   
4. Paddle blades might be slightly curved. Because the curved side is the one to go in the water, it should be facing you.
   
   
5. Don’t hold on too tight to the shaft, or your hands and arms will get tired fast. Maintain a firm grip but be aware that you don’t need to hold on for grim death!

Different Types Of Stroke

These various stroke techniques remain the same for all kayaks, from inflatable to wooden ones and every kayak in between.

Forward Strokes

Forward strokes are the most commonly used. They allow your kayak to move forward through the water in a straight line.

A perfect and successful forward stroke should be smooth and continuous. Slow and long strokes are a good start for beginners—speed will come with time. Forward strokes are comprised of three main movements:

1. Catch the water: Fully immerse your paddle blade on one side, dip in toward the bow.
   
   
2. Power through: Push against the shaft on the opposite side to move the blade through the water. Following the blade with your eyes will encourage your upper body to follow suit. This helps you get into the flow of the movement.
   
   
3. Release: Once the blade reaches hip level, pull it out of the water and continue on the other side. Rotate the shaft first if your blades are feathered.

Back Strokes

Back strokes (also called reverse strokes) allow your kayak to move backward. Depending on your speed, this technique can be used to stop or slow down your kayak. They’re also useful for performing tight turns.

They’re simply a forward stroke in reverse. Your paddle grip and rotation should remain the same. The stroke should start just behind your hip and finish toward the bow, at the level of your toes.

When planting the blade deep in the water behind you, try turning your upper body and shoulder in the same direction. After pushing forward on the paddle toward your toes, your upper body should turn in the opposite direction, ready for the next stroke.

Make sure you keep an eye over your shoulder to ensure that there isn’t anything in your way.

Front Sweep Strokes

If you repeat forward strokes on one side for a few times, you’ll notice that your kayak starts slowly turning.

Forward sweep strokes are similar to the forward stroke, but with a much wider angle. This makes it more efficient to turn around, and also less exhausting. Sweep on the right side and your kayak will turn left, and vice versa.

Using this tip to tip technique, you’ll start the stroke by immersing your paddle blade towards the bow. Then push it all the way to the stern, in a half moon shape. Watching the blade during the sweep will keep your torso engaged, following the same rotation and movement.

These strokes are efficient when your kayak is either moving or at a full stop.

Back Sweep Strokes

To go the opposite direction, proceed with a back sweep stroke. Start the stroke at the stern, pushing the paddle towards the bow.

Draw Strokes

Needing to move your kayak sideways? Draw strokes will do just that. These strokes can be used to pick up something in the water or gently get closer to another kayak.

1. Rotate your entire torso (chest and shoulders) toward the direction you wish to go, holding the paddle parallel to the length of the kayak.
   
   
2. Bring your paddle to a fully vertical position. Stack your hands one above the other. Place your right hand on the top of the paddle shaft and the left hand on the shaft close to the water.
   
   Your top hand should have a loose grip because the bottom one is doing most of the work.
   
   
3. Immerse the bottom blade as far away as you can from the kayak. Try to aim for a foot at least.
   
   
4. Pull the shaft towards you to draw the kayak toward the paddle.
   
   
5. Once the kayak reaches the paddle blade, twist the blade vertically while it’s still underwater then push the paddle away from the kayak to its initial position.
   
   
6. Once your paddle has reached about a foot away from your kayak, twist the blade again so that it faces you.
   
   
7. You can repeat this process until you reach your destination.

Braces

Bracing is an emergency technique used when you’ve lost your balance and are about to tip over and capsize. Two different techniques exist, with the high brace considered the most efficient recovery technique.

High Brace: Keep your paddle across your body and close to you. As you tip, stretch the blade on the side you’re tipping toward out into the water. If the blade is curved, keep the curved side face down. Then, quickly and firmly pull the blade through the water toward the end of your kayak.

Try to keep your body centered and lean toward the back of the kayak during the entire procedure, this will help you maintain stability.

For a visual guide on both, take a look here.

Capsize Situation

Capsizing might seem scary the first time around. But it doesn’t have to be dangerous. The key is to remain calm during the recovery process. Advanced technique practice will make you less nervous and can certainly help make the process smoother.

Steps to Exiting a Capsized Kayak

Getting out of a capsized kayak only takes a few seconds. If you’re practicing, make sure the water is deep enough to avoid knocking your head.

1. Bang your kayak to let others know you’ve capsized. If you’re lucky and a someone is nearby, you’ll be able to use his or her bow to pull yourself up. This technique is called an “assisted Eskimo rescue.”
   
   
2. If you’re on your own and have a skirt attached, find the ripcord—which should always be left out—and pull hard to pop the skirt open. If you can’t find the ripcord, simply grab the skirt from the side and pull it away.
   
   
3. Place your hands on either side of your hips, and push on the cockpit to push yourself out. The calmer you are, the faster you’ll get to the surface.

Advanced Capsize Technique: The Eskimo Roll

The kayak roll, or Eskimo roll, is an advanced technique used to recover a capsized kayak. It involves doing a complete “flip” and coming back to the surface. Don’t expect to be good at this without a lot of practice!

1. While tipping over, bring your paddle to a position parallel to your kayak, elbows down, and move your upper body toward the stern.
   
   
2. When fully capsized, your hips will do most of the job to get you out of the water and back into an upright position. Pull your hips from one side of the kayak to the opposite side.

This short video offers a visual explanation of the technique:

 

Summary

Kayak techniques are easy and fun to learn—the beginner ones at least! A little bit of practice should get you a long way. As a beginner, it’s a good idea to launch from a gentle slope and practice in a calm body of water.

Starting your kayak trip facing the wind allows you to let the wind push you home on the way back. Beginners will get tired fast, so it’s best to keep your expedition under two hours.