|
The sport of canoeing and kayaking has boomed in the past 10 years and women have participated in the growth of this sport in amazing numbers. There are many reasons for this growth in a sport that many of us first participated in at summer camp many years ago.
One of the most compelling reasons for the growth of this sport is the increased awareness of the environment and our natural resources. Women are just as involved in enjoying the outdoors now as men are. One sees growing numbers of women taking up most of the outdoor sports such as camping, hiking, cross country skiing and of course, paddling.
Another reason for this growth among recreationalists is that the equipment now on the market is being produced in lighter and lighter materials. Boats are now made of rotoformed plastic, kevlar and fiberglass that greatly reduces the need for exceptional upper body strength in order to move and carry boats. The old style canoes, often made of wood and canvas or aluminum, were bulky and awkward for a person to carry any great distance. And even more importantly, to even lift onto a vehicle for transporting to a body of water on which to paddle.
Paddling is also a skill that really knows no gender. It doesn't take brute force to paddle in most cases. A man or a woman can develope good paddling skills and by the use of finesse, have an enjoyable trip down most lakes or streams. In the case of whitewater, there is a certain amount of over all fitness that is needed but again, a lot of the paddling is based on skill and finesse and a knowledge of the particular qualities of the kayak or canoe. In most cases, it only takes a few sessions with a good paddler to learn the basics and then it is a matter of going out and paddling on your own. There are many groups, from the WMCA to the Applacian Mountain Club that provide classes and trips where both men and women can learn how to safely paddle either a canoe or kayak.
The initial outlay of money can vary from a few hundred dollars (even less if one goes to swap sales or scours the want ads) to several thousand, depending on how fancy one wishes to be. This puts paddling sports within a reasonable spending range for most people.
Again, there are the teaching groups like the Appalachian Mountain Club and the Sierra Club that run trips, often utilizing livery/rental services. Many small boat shops have what are known as "demo days" where you can actually get into different boats and see how they feel on the water. If you develope a rapport with a group of other paddlers, you can always try out their boats. Each type of boat has different characteristics and different uses. Some people do not feel secure in a canoe because of its height above the water. The same person may feel more at ease in a kayak which sits low in the water with one's center of gravity actually in the water. Each person eventually finds a boat that fits her needs.
Paddling is a wonderful sport. Almost anyone can find a body of water near their homes to spend a short time "messing around in boats" to quote the Water Rat in "The Wind in the Willows". And as the Water Rat says, there is nothing at all like messing around in boats.
| 
