First 5 Steps to Kayak Like a Pro

[@AlexBarham]

Here's a solid "How to Boof" video I made: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGbIoHiElLKZbtU Buying a Dagger Kayak online? Please use this link: rb.gy/pv8h8k Need outfitting materials? Use this link to find what I use on Amazon: rb.gy/7xc70c

[@smuir6104]

you touched on the number one thing that helped me, and that is to attack aggressively, all the features, don't float afraid. When you attack into something you naturally do many of the things that keep you upright, and you'll be in a better mindset for when you do need to roll. That and attack every feature down an easy river, every hole, every boof, every seem, and just play away. Once your stamina increases, the rivers become this giant playground of fun, and progressing feels easier, when you have already rolled 25 times just playing. Then when you need it, it doesn't even require thought it is automatic. Love your videos.

[@AlexBarham]

Nailed it. Thanks for the kind words!

[@MatthewBrookKayaking]

So much good stuff in this list! Thanks for sharing. Pasting up on rocks and "boofing" into and out of eddies is such a vital one, as is staying uncomfortable - stagnation is easy for all of us! But most of all agree about freestyle - the single best thing for safety and skill.

[@AlexBarham]

Thanks Matt!

[@HerbalTeabag]

a lot of great points! I have a friend who paddled when he was in high school, stopped kayaking, grew up, had a family and has gotten back into it some 20 years later with me once I started kayaking. He is about 15 years older then me and when I started kayaking I kind of took everything he said as gospel since he had done it "forever", but the more we paddled the more I learned he does a lot of these bad habits, only using arms, very defensive paddling, not making proper plans, HE does push out of his comfort zone but it ends up also being out of OUR skill zone which has gotten us into trouble a few times where if things went different one of us might have even drowned. I almost let this scare me out of the sport and that was the last straw for me realizing that I need to get better for myself to keep enjoying this awesome sport. The better you get a kayaking the more fun you will have. started approaching kayaking like I have for other sports in the past. learning how to engage core and freestyle have BY FAR been the best things for my river running and rolling. Another great thing has been joining my local club going to events meeting paddlers who are actually way better than me and learning from them. I paddle with a different friend a lot more now that does all of these things you mentioned and shares that want to get better with me and we are always trying to learn something and improve whenever we paddle! after two years of paddling I have become pretty comfortable in class 3 and have been paddling a few class 4 rapids making my own plan scouting lines and following through on them which has been huge for my confidence as a paddler. changing my mindset and improving my metal game has been a huge part of my progression. Realizing that if I develop my skills any rapid especially as u get to higher class rapids don't have to be "I'm gonna die scary" they can be "holy shit that is stout but I'm ready and excited to crush it!" and that is when kayaking becomes rewarding and one of the best sports 🤘

[@AlexBarham]

Right, staying uncomfortable doesn't mean you should be taking huge risks. Focus on that steady progression, and finding new learning opportunities.

[@ShaneKayaks]

Amen on the freestyle! Big supporter of that

[@beenwithalowercaseb19]

yooo, shane

[@AlexBarham]

Truly the most forgotten, most obvious, way to get better.

[@lordofnothing.]

speaking straight out of my soul! thansk for putting this together in such a short and consequently easy to show video!:)

[@AlexBarham]

Sure thing! Kind of got frustrated watching this get more complicated instead of less.

[@_-random.goblin-_]

I would like to add that for tip 3, (Stay Uncomfortable) he mentioned when class 2 gets easy, move to class 3, when class 3 gets easy, move to class 4 and so on. While it is good to improve, if you want to paddle with newer paddling friends, or would rather go to a closer but easier river, *just use a smaller or less stable boat!* it will help yo dial down your skills without the adding risk of a higher level. Edit: this is LibertyAdventures on a different account btw

[@AlexBarham]

Hey Liberty!!! This is definitely true to a point, but will only work for a little while.

[@CharlesWynnWygal]

100% agree with the Freestyle. Id say #1 Paddle with people better than you to learn skills #2 Make your "easy" river "challenging" by catching every eddy, adding complex/compound lines to your routing rather than standard lines #3 Practice highly technical skills in low consequence environments regularly. Whether that'd slalom boating (money may be an obstacle), attainments (you don't need a longboat, although that is a fun boat to add to your quiver), or even finding a good flatwater venue to learn the movements before adding dynamic water #4 Freestyle boating, grab a playboat, you don't need to be a master player, but they're a great addition to the quiver for a soul surf, or working on technical moves. Bonus, as you're learning tricks you'll be making your roll bombproof and increase your spatial awareness at the same time #5 Fitness, both physical and mental. Physical is easier (go to a gym, go on runs, multisport backgrounds of people who move their bodies tend to thrive), Mental however is different. Take a swiftwater rescue course which will help you read water and learn to manage risks (helps #2 for venue selection), engage a challenge yourself mindset. Putting yourself in a dangerous position and stepping into a different class of whitewater is often confused with challenging yourself. Make easy moves more challenging, push yourself to go for one more surf, hike that drop until you clean the line, wake up early and be the first one on the water, pick your A-Line & B-Line and have a plan in place rather than just following a friend (scout that drop! And paddle fast to the front of the group so you don't slow the crew if you want bonus challenge), go do an attainment, even if water is low find a place to practice skills rather than write the day off, etc... Lot's of good advice out there!

[@AlexBarham]

All good advice. I specifically wanted to focus on things who have bought gear but don't know enough people to really get on Class 3 or above can do.

[@TheWoodyworker]

Happy birthday. Nothing helped me more than working on core strength, and learning some freestyle. I would add, work class II, and III harder. You can push a given level up a little.

[@AlexBarham]

Thanks Mike! Yup, even if you aren't going to paddle something harder, find ways to make it more challenging.

[@williambrazil3760]

Freestyle for the win

[@AlexBarham]

Definitely clutch!

[@sbaldwin21]

Some say stick to 1 boat for everything to know it well and progress, others say right tool for the job - creeker, half slice, playboat, slicey boat as a quiver for example. What do you think is the optimum number / type of boats for rivers to improve without watering down time spent in a particular boat, or does that not apply because of the crossover from paddling a bunch of different boats.

[@AlexBarham]

I'm a big proponent of the quiver. I can't imagine calling yourself a paddler and not having at minimum a creeker, half slice, and a freestyle boat. Becoming comfortable in each in the context where they were designed is the best way to become a solid and well-rounded paddler.

[@sbaldwin21]

@@AlexBarham thanks that makes sense to me. Possibly the people I know paddling 1 boat on everything that I can think of are young and lack the means to acquire a fleet of boats, and are robust enough to to take a half slice or full slice everywhere.

[@AlexBarham]

@@sbaldwin21 it is definitely been the "cool kid" move to half slice everything for the last few years. I think the industry really shot themselves in the foot with that one, and I've seen a lot of incidents which I just don't believe would have ended up so poorly if the paddler had been in a creeker. That said 15 years ago most paddlers only owned a freestyle boat and you'd show up to creeking festivals to see guys wearing full faves and below pads carrying spuds to the river. It all goes in cycles, but there will always be a 20-30% of the crowd trying to get away with only owning one boat. The half slice era has bumped that number up significantly.

[@chrisbeckett8842]

n+1 formula applies to boats. n=number of boats you have.

[@ChristelVinot]

"we all make mistakes and that's why we love each other" I was banned from the fb group kayak georgia because I made a mistake (kayaking down a river when it was higher than I thought). They didn't like seeing my carnage video and got mad at me for it, and then I was banned. I wish they were more understanding and supportive. They certainly don't all love me for my mistakes. Anyway, this is a good video.

[@AlexBarham]

Yeah I think that is the opposite of what should be done. Everyone should be given the benefit if doubt and an opportunity for growth. Even if it was reckless behavior excluding someone from the community probably just means they'll continue forward without any guidance

[@nikosikelianos4076]

I need a foam block!! ❤lol

[@AlexBarham]

Lol like a foot block? Again?

[@nikosikelianos4076]

@@AlexBarham we talked about one but we never figured out getting it down here

[@beenwithalowercaseb19]

agree with everything you said, one thing I would add is to paddle with people who are better than you. You'll learn a lot just following them down the river!

[@AlexBarham]

I actually very specifically didn't include this. That bit of advice has a nugget of truth, but it is also very difficult to follow through on. Most advanced paddlers do not want to spend their time on easy runs teaching beginners, so new paddlers need to learn to be somewhat self-reliant before looking for mentors.

[@beenwithalowercaseb19]

@@AlexBarham It's true that most advanced paddlers don't want to spend their time teaching beginners, but if you're pushing yourself to get better at kayaking you will run into people who are better than you. They don't have to be a pro, but if ur a class 3 paddler you'll probably run into class 4 paddlers on the river. They don't have to specifically be teaching you either. I've found I can learn a lot by just trying to follow a better paddlers lines.

[@WhitewaterOutdoors]

Boof the World! 🤘🏻💪🏻🤘🏻

[@AlexBarham]

Maybe if I win the lotto!

[@DejanSmaic]

Yes, freestyle. Everyone needs a playboat in their quiver.

[@sbaldwin21]

What are your thoughts on playboat vs full slice in terms of bang for bucks improving over-all whitewater skills?

[@AlexBarham]

Like I said, freestyle in a freestyle boat. Full slices are super fun to keep things interesting, but freestyle means freestyle.

[@sbaldwin21]

@@AlexBarham Thanks, helpful as always!

[@AlexBarham]

@@sbaldwin21 my pleasure! I usually don't make stuff like this because it seems beat to death, but if it has an impact maybe I'll do more.

[@sbaldwin21]

@@AlexBarham definitely do more. As you said it isn’t easy to regularly get out with better boaters, and it’s helpful to have general pointers for improving, whatever age and ability we’re at