i live next  to milford lake and wanted to get into kayaking? i know nothing about the sport? any advise?
539803
The lead body in the UK for canoeing and kayaking is the British Canoe Union here is a link to their website:\n\nhttp://www.bcu.org.uk\n\nIn the USA it is the American Canoe Association:\n\nhttp://www.acanet.org
1017207
Just to clarify, I'm the owner of a kayak instructional school on the Great Lakes, and a ACA certified Open Water Sea Kayaking instructor.   \n\nPaddling in a straight line (or tracking) is probably one of the greatest challengers for beginners.   The inability to track can result from a few things:  1) Poor balance in the kayak (rocking from side to side) will cause the boat to veer off course,; 2)  Extending your forward stroke too far towards the stern of the boat, which initiates a turn;  3)  Uneven paddle strokes.     \n\nThe type of boat  you are paddling can also make a difference.  Whitewater boats aren't meant to go straight...they lack a keel, and have a high degree of rocker (they are almost surfboard shaped) in order to enhance manueverabilty...precisely what you want if  you're heading downriver!    Sea kayaks on the other hand are much longer (16-17') and narrower with a pronounced keel.  They are designed to go straight, but their narrow width makes them feel unstable to beginners, which can result in edging the boat and cause it to veer.   \n\nSimilarly, I've often seen new paddlers who use a feathered paddle (one where the blades are offset at different angles) have difficulty.   This is because they get a good catch (the point where the paddle blade enters the water) with  the right blade, but don't change the blade angle when they catch on the left.   In this scenario, the left paddle enters at a slightly diving angle and sheds a lot of the power of the water off.   The result is a stronger right stroke, causing the boat to veer left.\n\nNot knowing you, your boat, or your paddle, I can only offer some advice:  \n\n1)  When you paddle, stay centered (nose over navel).\n\n2)  Use relative short strokes.    If your kayak was a clock, the bow would be 12 o'clock, the stern 6 o'clock, and 3 and 9 o'clock would be an imaginary line heading through your hips.    On the forward stroke, put the paddle blade in the water at 1 o'clock (right) and 11 o'clock (left).   Rotate your torso to drive the paddle along the boat, lifting the blade out of the water when you hit the 3-9 line.   Lift the right forearm to tilt the left blade into position for the left-side stroke and repeat the process.\n\n3)  Pick a target to paddle to, line it up with the bow, and if you start to veer off that target, use a forward sweep stroke to correct the heading of the boat.   A forward sweep is a stroke that starts at 1 o'clock and sweeps out and around to the stern to turn the boat the other direction.   You want to use forward sweeps to correct because these don't kill your forward momentum.\n\nIf this seems like a long explanation, it's because paddling skills are best experienced on the water, rather than described.   This of course only describes how to make a boat travel straight in a flatwater environment, without addressing the impact of wind on kayaks (weather- and lee-cocking), waves, current, etc.   \n\nI recommend you consider picking up a book on paddling at minimum, and consider taking a kayaking fundamentals course from an ACA-certified (American Canoe Association) instructor.   You can find out who is in your area by visiting www.americancanoe.org
4494
I would suggest visiting a local dive store (LDS) and checking: a) on any buddy lists they may have; b) any shop dives they do (typically these are free shore dives); c) any dive clubs in the area they are aware of; and d) any local charters they do. Heck, visit more than one LDS!\n\nAlso, taking an advanced class might allow you to also meet new people.
776516
5150, Limited, Sims, Lamar, Morrow are all good, lower-priced boards for beginners. \n\nHowever... have you boarded before? If not, I'd suggest you rent and try a few different boards while you find your personal preferences (likes/dislikes) and your riding style (freeboard, freestyle, etc.). While it might require extra funds in the early going, renting will help save you money in the long term, such as making the mistake of buying a board you wont like in terms of style, graphics, etc.\n\nGood luck... see ya on the slopes!\n\n:)
365388
To kayak you need:\n\nA good kayak - you need one that can take rough water and banging against rocks\nA wet suit - That water can get really cold in some areas\nA rubberized bib - sized to you to go around the kayak opening to seal water out of the boat for rolling\nA life jacket - might be most important for a new beginner\nA comfortable paddle - one that you can handle comfortably in your hands\nA safety helmet - You might hit rocks when you roll\nSome fingerless gloves - can help to keep your hands warm. The fingers missing are for sensitivity and quick movement with the paddle\n\nAnd if you have to travel any distance to the water you are kayaking on, a roof rack to transport your kayak\n\nMOST IMPORTANT - an instructor and a calm piece of water to practice the basics on till you know how to handle your new toy.
301553
Here are some outfits that will take you...\n\nhttp://www.adventuregateway.com/top-outfitters/river-runners/\n\nhttp://www.riversresort.com/new.html\n\nhttp://www.aceraft.com/rafting/whitewater.html\n\nhttp://www.new-river-rafting.com/\n\nhttp://www.rivermen.com/new_river_lower.cfm\n\nhttp://www.newriver-rafting.com/ \n\nI went down the Gauley with Class VI River Runners and had a great time (overnighted) - I know the food isn't something you'd normally remember about a white water trip with half a dozen class V's but the food Class VI River Runners gave us was excellent!\n\nHave fun and BE SAFE!!
863089
your local swimming pool. go to yahoo yellow pages to find the closest pool to your home. i went to the YMCA to learn how to swim and those classes cost my parents a fortune!! and all i learned was how to flutter kick. and i didn't even do it correctly! then i went to a nearby pool and they gave me lesson for free. and now im on the team and it's still free. i think im susposed to pay 10 bucks a month but they didn't ask so whoops. lol
1144167
for a single guy like me it looks very fun.  But I already have a great job, otherwise I would try it.  On the water, dangerous, good money, stories, what more could a guy want?
1129315
If you can get a boat out from Brora,Golspie or Helmsdale area you can get some cracking sport.I fished that area last year and we filled 10 boxes with cod and ling between 7 rods and I think only 1 trace got lost and that was due to fisherman error.\nThe boat we used was called Bonny Lass and the skipper was called Tom Macrae (sorry dont have his number but I am sure its in the phone book)
691532
I own a Heritage Feather-lite Angler, and I love it. It's great for creeks, and around the banks of small lakes or ponds www.heritagekayaks.com  let me know what you think.
406963
Where are the towns you mentioned. US? UK? and what kind of boat are you looking for? Monohull? Catamaran? Send me an e-mail or post some specifics. I am a catsailor so would have most information on multihulls. This is a pretty tight world wide community.
29230
The most popular kayak for beginners is probably "Pungo", by Wilderness Systems. It comes from 10 to 14 feet, with the 10 ft. called the Pungo 100, 12 ft. Pungo 120, etc. The taller you are the longer your boat needs to be. You can find them at most kayak stores, or request a catalog from wilderness systems online. They have a lot of choices, like colors, and special "angler" and "camper" features. Another popular model from Wilderness System is the Pamlico, which is a sit-on-top kayak, which weighs a little more. This company makes really popular beginner kayaks that have great stablity. Good luck with it.
235964
I would love to do this.  There are no lakes close by me though, but it sounds great!
492499
Excellent!  Once you get the hang of it, you're going to love billiards.  I recommend a site called Easy Pool Tutor to get you going.  It's fairly simple to navigate you around, and will get you started on all the basics:\nhttp://www.easypooltutor.com/articles.html\n\nOn the Cheese has some pointers for keeping your cue sticks in top performance:\nhttp://www.onthecheese.com/billiardstories/cuerepair.html\n\nAZ Billiards is a good all around billiards site.  Lots of information updated regularly, and good place to share tips with other players:\nhttp://www.azbilliards.com/\n\nAnd of course, my favorite, when you don't have a pool table around, you've got to keep practicing, and what better way than Yahoo! Pool.. It actually has helped my real game through practicing the angles and learning which spins will work:\nhttp://games.yahoo.com/games/front\n\nGood luck!
367570
There's some skate park off lake shore drive that i've always wanted to go to. really you can go anywhere and you'll find a good skate spot. just make sure you don't get caught.
1025947
I had an inflatable kayak when I was younger, and I hated the thing!  It was a pain in the a** to inflate and was really unstable.  I don't know how many times I fell out of that thing, and it's not because I have bad balance.  I never fell out of a regular or open-topped kayak in the 10 years since I first learned!\n\nSeriously, save your money and purchase a good, durable non-inflatable kayak if you're really interested.
312249
Unfortunately, Arizona does not have the canoeing oppurtunities of other places, since there are relatively few rivers, and most are damed or largely dry most of the time.  There are a few exceptions though:\n\nProbably the best canoeing is along the Verde River in Central Arizona.  There are several good half-day stretchs around the Cottonwood and Camp Verde with easy access to roads (like floating from Clarkdale to Cottonwood or Cottonwood to the I-17 overpass).  Short stretches are accessible in the area between Horseshoe and Bartlett Reseivoirs closer to Phoenix.  Longer multi-day stretches can be done from Camp Verde down to Horseshoe, but this is rough country (and sometimes rough water).\n\nYou can also do stretches of the Gila River above Safford (the 23-mile stretch known as the Gila Box is very nice) and around Winkleman.  Both places are really only do-able for a couple months (at most) during the spring run-off and you need to be careful about strainers (trees and overgrowth).  \n\nYou can also canoe parts of the Lower Colorado River near Yuma (above Martinez Lake) and around Parker.  From Martinez Lake, you can hire a tour-boat to take you a day or two upstream and then float down at your own pace (calm water, no rapids).  Best done in early spring or late fall, as during the summer it is too hot and the river is filled with speed boats and jet skis.\n\nOf course, some really good canoists also float the Colorado through the Grand Canyon and portions of the Salt River, but his requires special permits, very advanced skills, and a certain lack of interest in self-pereservation :).  Rafts are much better for those rivers.  Should note that even the Verde and Gila are no place for novices.