Get ready for some serious action
As a sea kayaker you’ll be fully aware that when that lump of water tries to push your sea kayak backward, forwards or sideways you’ll will be subjected to a lot of force. So you’ll need to be be physically and mentally prepared. Your awareness and technical skills will determine every single outcome and just like the best comedy, timing is everything!
Understanding the big picture
The sea is irregular in its movement – the water flows in many different directions and is more erratic in motion. The depth of water is constantly changing – one minute a rock is visible, the next it’s covered. The water swirls around and over these hidden features and creates an apparently random water flow. There is much more exposure to wind – always a force to be reckoned with. You will be subjected to the effects of ocean swell that may have been generated thousands of miles away. The interaction of that swell with the coastline is almost infinitely variable and difficult to accurately predict in many places, but it can often be explosive and intimidating. This is where you choose to be, so you had better be ready for anything.
Tactically and technically skilled
Your mental bandwidth must be broad and agile, juggling between strategic “big picture” safety and micro survival tactics. It’s a complex environment where a small shift in sea state or wind can have a huge effect on your ability to cope. In short, you may find yourself needing to change your plan. Be alert and responsive. Know instinctively what you need to do with your body, your kayak and your paddle to achieve the outcome you desire. Possess the knowledge and the capability to put yourself where you want to be, at the right time and with an excape plan if needed.
Physically and psychologically capable
Controlling a sea kayak can become very difficult in more advanced conditions. You simply cannot muscle it – instead, you must harness the elemental forces to your advantage. Work with the wind, the water and the natural shelter offered by rocks and cliffs. Learn to read the environment and discriminate between friendly play zones and genuine danger areas. What looks innocuous right now may not be so placid when you arrive at it. Examine every aspect of future water and be ready to get out of a danger zone fast. Counter any inner fears and doubts – use reflection-in-action to bring previous success to the front of your mind. Effective mind management will raise your enjoyment levels beyond your initial expectations.
Are you a fully prepared sea kayaker?
So if you feel that there’s room for you to improve, let’s make a date to get out on the water together and start working on making your life just a little easier.