Whilst few genres of the sport ever involve more than one person in a kayak at a time, kayaking is most definitely a team sport. Whether for safety or fun, there are very few days that I am not on the water with my friends and I can honestly see and feel the difference in my kayaking when I am out on the water with people that challenge and encourage me. In light of this and the start of the new year, here are some of my top tips on being a better kayaking buddy.

Be motivated It’s hard to get good at something if you don’t do it a lot and it can grow tiresome to forever be the motivator in the group. Take the initiative, check the forecasts, make the plans and bring the stoke to your crew!

Try new things Monotony and stale skills will set in quickly if you don’t try new things. Pushing yourself to try something new and encouraging your friends to give it a go is extremely good fun and I think it is the number one way to learn new things in a kayak. Please note that it doesn’t have to be next level gnarly or outlandish, hard moves on easy whitewater are the best method – hand paddling, freestyle, catching micro eddies, etc.

Be positive Whilst the best whitewater sections are only unlocked when the weather is in our favour there is very rarely a day when you can not get on some sort of water, somewhere.

Don’t be that dood! You know who I am talking about, the person that is always late to meet up to go kayaking, the person that forgets to pack their throwbag, the person that never buys a post kayaking beverage. Good habits are hard to build and bad habits are hard to break but this year instead of being late, be early, instead of being lazy, be out before the sun is up and instead of ending the year the same kayaker as you started, aim to end this year as a better kayaker and a better member of your kayaking crew.

Stay safe and see you on the water dooods!
Bren

*dood = dude and everyone is ‘dood’ to me, regardless of whether you have an innie or an outtie.