Safety Resources

The three golden rules are a set of rules that, when followed, will let you paddle the most efficiently and help keep you safe on the water:

1. You need to use the power of torso rotation for all your strokes.

2. You need to choose an appropriate paddling location.

3. You need to have a plan in case you capsize.

https://paddling.com/learn/golden-rules-of-recreational-kayak

Review Paddling.com's tips for getting into and out of a kayak.  https://paddling.com/learn/getting-in-and-out-of-your-kayak.

This video, produced in partnership with the American Canoe Association, takes a look at river hazards and safety on the water while canoeing—as part of your canoeing technique, you should be able to judge how a water level will impact your trip, how to identify strainers, foot entrapments and more, all of which are touched on in this video.

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For more info on river hazards, you can also head over to Paddling.com https://paddling.com/learn/river-hazards.

This video, produced in partnership with the American Canoe Association, discusses the importance of choosing the right gear for river canoeing and how to dress appropriately for the conditions you'll be paddling in.

This video, produced in partnership with the American Canoe Association, looks at how to develop good technique for paddling a canoe. Having good technique not only lets you paddle more efficiently, but it will make your time on the water safer and more enjoyable.

This video, produced in partnership with the American Canoe Association,  looks at how to paddle a tandem canoe, including tandem canoeing essentials such as getting into and out of a canoe, how to decide where to sit in the canoe and basic rescue techniques.

This video, produced in partnership with the American Canoe Association,  looks at how to re-enter a canoe from the water using a canoe over canoe rescue technique. Although there are techniques for getting back into a canoe without the help of another canoe, it's a much more challenging proposition and so this video looks at getting back in with the help of another boat.

When on the water, you need to do three basic things in your boat:

• • Go forward in a straight line

  • Stop or go backwards

  • Turn

There's a stroke for all three.

https://paddling.com/learn/basic-kayak-strokes

Review Paddling.com's basic canoe safety tips at https://paddling.com/learn/basic-canoe-safety. 

The golden rules of canoeing are a set of rules that when followed, will allow you to paddle more efficiently and help keep you safe on the water. This video, produced in partnership with the American Canoe Association,  looks at choosing an appropriate paddling location, using the power of your torso and to prepare for the unexpected.

This video, made in partnership with the American Canoe Association, explains how to get into and out of a canoe smoothly and safely, and demonstrate launching and landing at a dock, as well as on shore.

This video, produced in partnership with the American Canoe Association, discusses how to canoe and the three key strokes all paddlers should know, including the J-stroke, the draw stroke and stern draws and pries.

This video, produced in partnership with the American Canoe Association, discusses how to deal with a flipped canoe, as well as canoe rescue techniques. It also touches on the options you have in the event of a capsize, including if you should stay with your canoe, swim to shore or perform a self-rescue.