Open canoeing

The open canoe is an infinitely diverse craft, being used today for anything from day trips to full-on expeditions over weeks in remote wilderness areas. Canoes can be used on any body of water, from crystal clear lochs to faster flowing rivers. 

From family trips to solo expeditions, this paddling activity is very versatile and available to anyone of any age and any ability. Canoeing also involves less equipment than some of the other paddlesport disciplines. 

The middle of the boat tends to be the best place to sit and balance the boat. But play around with it: sit in different places in the boat and see how it responds with not only you, but with someone else in the boat as well. Knowing the boat's balance will help you position yourself right and stop you falling out!

Begin with small, quick strokes to get the boat moving. Once you feel comfortable and have control, make your strokes larger to build up the speed and power. As a beginner, take the time to explore what the different strokes do. 

Once the paddle is behind you, it's no longer moving you forward but it can help point the boat in the direction you want to go. Like a sailboat, your paddle at the back of the boat acts as a rudder. Play around with this stroke while your speed is slow and fast. Build confidence as this is important to learn.

Believe it or not, paddling and the control comes from the core as well as your arms. Keeping your posture upright and your core tight while you paddle will generate the most power in your strokes and move the effort from your arms to your centre. 

Once the boat is moving, let it go with the flow. Frantic paddling will just lead to you becoming exhausted. Relax and enjoy the movement of the canoe through the water, take in the sights and breathe in the fresh air. 

Know where you're going, have a plan and a back-up plan. Navigation on the water in a canoe is important to learn. To understand the rivers, lake trails and canal routes, you need to know the limits of what you're comfortable paddling.