Last summer, at our family cottage on a beautiful island off the coast of British Columbia, I got hooked on kayaking. I remember the moment it happened. I was on the porch, and my five-year-old daughter, Zoe, and half a dozen of her cousins and friends, all under age 8, were clamouring for hot dogs, more ketchup, cookies and ice cream. As the sun was falling into the glassy sea, I noticed a couple of figures paddling kayaks silently through the pink and gold water toward the next bay, an arc of sand still untouched by developers. It was the vision of solitude, of peace and silence that was so captivating -- and so rare in a household filled with the joyous but noisy mumble-jumble of kids.
A refreshing perspective
A couple of days later, I rented a kayak at the tiny mainland port a mile away. A five-minute primer on kayaks from the rental store and off I paddled. I was thrilled. Seated in a kayak, I was as close to the water as I could get without swimming in it. I discovered a whole new perspective on a part of the world I thought I knew intimately. Because a kayak only needs a couple of inches of water, I could paddle in tiny bays between islands that are inaccessible to power boats. I could escape for an hour at sunset to paddle with the seals and enjoy the exquisite colours of the water and the gorgeous sight of the snowy mountain ranges on Vancouver Island.
To my surprise, it was a great workout too. When I returned to Toronto after three weeks on the island, my fitness trainer told me that my upper body was just as strong after kayaking as it was before I left -- even though I hadn't done any of the strength-training exercises he'd prescribed for me before my trip.
The first-timer's fear
While kayaking is a very beginner-friendly activity, the biggest fear most first-timers have is capsizing and getting stuck in the boat underwater, upside-down in the dark. However, a little practice on the "wet exit" will help alleviate any concerns, says Shelley Johnson, a kayaking pro and author of Sea Kayaking: A Woman's Guide (Ragged Mountain Press, 1998). Johnson recommends signing up for a lesson with an outfitter or at your local parks and recreation department; classes costs approximately $50 to $100 depending on whether they're a half or full-day.
In my case, the kayak I rented wasn't nearly as tippy as I expected. Kayaks these days are roomier, more comfortable and more stable, which is one reason why kayaking is the fastest growing paddle sport in North America. Rental fees range from $30 to $45 a day; or you can buy your own starting at approximately $1,500. A good paddle will cost an additional $150. For women, Johnson recommends a smaller, lighter kayak such as the Canadian-made Current Designs.
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