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So, you've decided to take up whitewater kayaking. You probably have a friend, or relative who has peaked your interest making you want to take the leap from watching to paddling. Following your new mentor may not be the best approach to getting started in whitewater kayaking however. The tendency to gloss over important lessons is one reason you should learn from a certified instructor trained to communicate everything you need to know to get started whitewater kayaking.

Some basic questions you should ask yourself before starting are:

1.) Can you swim? It's basic, but very important to your safety and development as a whitewater kayaker.
2.) Are you going to remain interested long enough to make it worth purchasing all the equipment necessary?
3.) Are you in good enough physical condition to begin whitewater kayaking? Fitness level is important in how you progress, but can be worked on before hand if you need to get in shape before beginning. The sport itself will then help you to continue conditioning yourself starting with basic lessons.

If you've answered yes to all of these questions, you may begin, and should start with lessons either at a kayak school, several day seminars offered by outfitters, or other instructional training. You can get some good information from books, and instructional DVD's if you can't find local instructors. The American Canoe Association certifies instructors in the U.S. and can help in finding instruction nearby.

Whitewater instruction doesn't start on whitewater for beginners. You should first spend a good part of a day on a lake or other calm water, just getting used to balancing a kayak, using paddles, and getting accustomed to sitting in, or on top of a kayak until you feel comfortable. Even indoor classes in swimming pools are preferable to jumping in head first. These are used to prepare you just spending some time in a position you are not normally in, and getting you used to the tippy feeling you may get in some kayaks.

Before leaving the still water of the pool or lake it is important to learn how to do a wet exit. This basic maneuver is essential, and will help you gain the confidence that will keep you from being overcome with panic, the first time you find yourself upside down in a river. A more advanced maneuver to right a capsized kayak without exiting is the Eskimo roll. For people who are fit enough, and learn quickly, a one day session may be all that is required to begin whitewater kayaking, but to master this technique requires practice.

Now that you've got your feet wet so to speak, a nice training float on a river with minimal whitewater is a good next step. Many outfitters and trainers offer this kind of trip for beginners; these trips have enough whitewater to keep you interested without scaring you away. They use stable sit on top kayaks for these trips, and are a good first river trip for beginners.

If you have decided that whitewater kayaking is for you after these first few prerequisite steps, you may want to start looking to buy your own equipment. Talk to experts in your area who know what types of waters are available locally. This should help in your equipment buying decisions. Making good choices up front will enhance your entire kayaking experience.

The best way to know what you want before you have to lay out the cash is to rent equipment the first few times, or go on guided tours that include equipment so that you may try it before you buy it. Many retailers have proving grounds nearby to let you test drive kayaks, before you buy. Do not skimp on safety if you are a beginning whitewater kayaker. A good Personal Floatation Device, helmet, and wet suit are very important to your safety and enjoyment of whitewater paddling.

By now you are immersed as it were, in your new hobby. You've taken the classes, learned to wet exit or roll, gotten some paddling instruction, and can maneuver fairly well on low class rapids. You can now hit the river, stream, or creek, but let's not over do it. Knowledge of whitewater classifications can help you to not get in over your head. There are several different scales on which rapids are rated. The International Scale of River Difficulty is probably the benchmark for this, but there are others. Be careful because they contain some ambiguity because of the constant state of change that takes place in rivers. The scales describe whitewater general characteristics, but at any given time these characteristics change. River flow from rain or snow melt, changing conditions on the banks such as fallen trees, can change the degree of difficulty dramatically in a short period of time. The following is a general overview of whitewater conditions, but again, see the International Scale of River Difficulty to accurately rate a river at a given time.

Class I - EASY - Fast water with visible obstructions.
Class II - NOVICE - Rapids with small drops, and eddies easily navigated.
Class III - INTERMEDIATE - Moderate rapid, big waves, and back eddies. You should have some experience before taking these rapids on.
Class IV - ADVANCED - High waves, whirlpools, strong back eddies. All safety equipment is required on these rapids, i.e. helmet, PFD, and spray skirt. These rapids should not be paddled alone as a group rescue may be required.
Class V - EXPERT - Long violent rapids. Only the most experienced, skilled, and fit paddlers should attempt these. Obstacles that cannot be avoided, powerful whirlpools, and strong back eddies make these rapids extremely dangerous, and rescue will be difficult even for the most skilled, highly trained team.
Class VI - EXTREME - Unrunnable rapids. Attempt at your own peril.

Concentrate on the first 2 class types of whitewater for the first few months, as you develop your skills, you will be able to tell what type of waters you can safely navigate and enjoy your new hobby as your skill and confidence levels increase.

About the Author

E.J. Seyer is a paddling enthusiast and the publisher of http://www.my-kayak-and-canoe-world.com , an online resource on kayaking and canoeing, related gear, accessories and paddling destinations. This article may be reprintable only as is and with the author bio information and live link intact.