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Articles for Beginners

This is a selection of Wavelength articles designed to meet the needs of beginning kayakers. Find more skills for all levels of experience here.

 

Starting out:

Equipment:

Strings Attached - by Neil Schulman / April-June 2008

• Getting Started: The "Day Bag" - by Alex Matthews / April-June 2008

• Choosing a PFD - Mercia Sixta talks with Alan Wilson April/May 2003

• Selecting a Kayak by Andree Hurley April/May 2003

• Renting or Buying a Kayak by Chris Ladner April/May 2003

• Composition Basics by Chris Hudson August/September 2002 

• How to Choose a Paddle by Graham Ketcheson April/May 2001

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General skills:

• Skillset: The 3 Golden Rules - by Alex Matthews Winter 2008

• Getting In and Out of a Kayak - by Alex Matthews Summer 2007

• The Solo Kayak Carry Winter 2007

• What Can Go Wrong On the Water - Story and photos by Lyn Hancock April/May 2004
  

• Launching Your Kayak by Michael Pardy June/July 2003

• Taking a Kayak Trip by Elle Andra - Warner April/May 2003

• Lifting and Carrying Kayaks by Linda Cain April/May 2003

• Rigging Your Paddlefloat - by Vadim Kin April/May 2003

• Staying in Your Boat by Christianne Wilhelmson April/May 2003

• Becoming a Better Paddler by Shawn Baker April/May 2003

• Loading Your Kayak by Ed Day February/March 2002

• The Learning Curve by Lilian Alessa December/January 1997

• A Controlled Environment by Mark Ring December/January 1997

• Expect the Unexpected by Howard Rossman December/January 1997

• Towing 101 By Dan Lewis April/May 2006
  

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Navigation:

Navigation: The ABCs of reading charts - by Adam Bolonsky. Fall 08

• Using Charts by Timothy Sprinkle April/May 2003

• How to Navigate by Paddle-siting by Jacqueline Windh April/May 2003

• Paddling Tidal Passes by David Pinel April/May 2003

• Learning from Earth and Ocean by Karen Charleson February/March 2003

• Paddling with GPS - Part 2 by Michael Schmidt  June/July 1999

• Paddling With GPS-Part 1, by Michael Schmidt April/May1999

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Rescues:

Skillset: The Scoop Rescue - by Alex Matthews / April-June 2008

• The “Bow Tip Out” Assisted Rescue - by Alex Matthews Fall 2007

• The 'Scramble' Self Rescue by Alex Matthews April/May 2006

• Assisted Rescues - Story and photos by Alan Wilson April/May 2004

• Big Picture Rescues - by Alex Matthews April/May 2004

• Learning to Self-Rescue by Dan Lewis April/May 2003

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Strokes and paddling skills:

Finding Your Edge - by Dan Lewis/ April-June 2008

• Forward Sweep With Edging by Alex Matthews Spring 2007

• Paddling Forward by Alex Matthews Spring 2007

• High Brace Lean Turn Winter 2007

• High Brace - by Alex Matthews October/November 2006

• Low Brace by Alex Matthews August/September 2006

• Sculling Draw - by Alex Matthews June/July 2006

• Going Straight by Dan Henderson April/May 2001

• Effortless Paddling by Adam Bolonsky April/May 2001

• The Fundamentals of Good Paddling, by Dan Lewis April/May1999

• Back to Basics- Paddling Technique, by Kevin Mansell August/September 1998