BY KRISTEN POPE
WARM WEATHER MAKES getting out on
the water irresistible. Kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding are two ways to enjoy
the water this summer. For the best, safest
and most enjoyable experience, it’s important to be prepared. Here’s what you need
to know.
Practicing on flat water is often the
best way to familiarize yourself with any
new water sport. “Getting started, you
want to try to pick the calmest water condi-
tions, such as a lake or a harbor,” says
Costco member Mark Dale, marketing
manager for Costco supplier Agit Global,
which makes Wavestorm paddleboards
and surfboards. “It’s a completely differ-
ent ballgame in the ocean.”
Venturing out on a fair-weather day can
also help newbies learn the ropes. “Pick a
calm day where Mother Nature is not trying
to be the one to teach you a lesson about
wind or waves while learning to balance,”
suggests Costco member Luke Hopkins,
president of Costco supplier Body Glove’s
water sports division, which makes paddle-
boards, surfboards and kayaks.
If you want to learn how to use a stand-up paddleboard, Costco member Matt
Zilinskas, Agit’s head of sales and business
development, suggests working your way
up from a kneeling position. “What I recommend to people … is to start out on your
knees and paddle on either side of the
board until you get a feel for the board, and
slowly work your way up to standing position,” he says.
Selecting the right equipment is key to
having a good kayaking experience,
advises Costco member Margaret Kordas,
vice president of business development for
Costco supplier Pelican International,
which makes kayaks, canoes, paddle-
boards and other equipment. She encour-
ages beginners to start with a recreational
kayak. Make sure the kayak and the paddle
are the right size, and that the kayak has
adequate weight capacity.
“If [you’re] unsure, lift the kayak to
see if it’s light, put it on the floor and sit in
it to see if you feel comfortable in it and
that it is not wobbly,” Kordas says. “Then,
on the product tag, check the kayak’s
capacity, which should be more than your
weight plus anything else you want to put
in the kayak. Most average-size adults
should start with a ;;-foot recreational
kayak. If you buy a light, stable, comfort-
able and right-size kayak, the learning
curve will be minimal.”
She suggests adjusting the seat and the
foot rests, bringing a bilge pump for sit-in
kayaks in case rain or water gets in the boat
and practicing close to shore at first.
“Don’t venture far out on the water on your
first day,” she says. “Start slowly so you can
adapt to your kayak, and respect your
physical limits.”
Being prepared and having everything
you need with you is key to a fun day out on
the water. Bring food—preferably in a
watertight dry bag designed to keep things
dry while you are participating in water
sports—as well as water, and be sure to
R
.
BE
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Kayaks and
paddleboards
keep you afloat
SPECIAL SECTION
SUMMER RECREATION
OUR DIGITAL EDITIONS
Click here for tips on leash safety with
paddleboards. (See page 10 for details.)
