Would you or do you paddle alone at relatively safe park 'n play spots or on flatwater? Am I correct in thinking this is a pretty reasonable thing to do? (I'm not talking about running rivers.)

yes actually thats what i do right now is park and try to teach myself on one of the lakes we have near my house. I have almost tempted to do a river by myself once but i meet some people their.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

NEVER EVER paddle alone

it is the most irrisponsible thing that you could do not only are you putting your self in grave danger (especially if your still a learner) but your putting the bystanders who might try and save you at risk.

please dont ever doit again


join a canoe club or make friends with other paddlers

Really? Even on a lake, close to shore?

I don't think there is a correct answer to your question. You just have to do what you think is right for you. An experienced kayaker can easily paddle things on his/her own, while a beginner should not. Just remember why you are doing what you are doing and let some one know where you are going and when you are coming back.

Personally I think kayaking alone is very boring. I guess I feed on other people making fun of my mistakes

Gotta agree with Skirnir its all about you.... your decision. Probably not the safest but I have run some class 4 solo and it always seemed scarier than normal so make it lots cooler for me.

I would not paddle any river or play on a river alone. There is always the potential for wood to come down that you can't see from in your boat. I actually saw it this week. We had someone taking pictures and a few boaters so we were able to signal the paddler and he got off the wave before he got creamed by a large tree.

I would play in a flat lake close to shore where I wouldn't be in the path of any motorized boats but that is it for paddling on my own.

There's actually a lot more fatality's on flat water than you'd think. It can be even more risky than whitewater. In whitewater, you know the dangers, and people set up safety for you. On a lake, people often neglect to have any safety procedures in place.

Say you're out in the middle of a lake, and a storm cell comes through, and you're alone. The water gets choppy and the waves can easily be enough to tip you over. Also waves come from all angles, so you don't see them coming. Unlike whitewater where you know when you're about to go over a wave, or punch a hole etc. If you tip over and fail your role and you take a swim, although you may be able to see the shore, it could easily be 3km or so away (look at a map, I'm sure you'll be surprised how much the distance is from one side of a lake to another in your area). And if there's strong wind and waves around, you're not going to have an easy time at all swimming anywhere. If you're on your own, nobody knows you're in trouble, so nobody is coming to help you. If boats come past, they won't be able to see someone bobbing up and down in between wave troughs, especially if they aren't looking and there's wind around whipping up spray on the water. I'm sure you get the picture. There's been many groups of people who have gone out on lakes in canoes and the weather has turned. Basically one after another the canoes begin to capsize, and many people have died this way.

You've already recognized the dangers of paddling alone on any river, and a park and play spot has the same dangers. I thought I'd just extend on one scenario which could happen on flatwater. There's also other things like wildlife (what if you accidentally brushed your hand against a poisonous jellyfish in the middle of a lake?)

I'd say if you're practising a roll in a pool by yourself that's ok. If you're in a body of water like a lake, stay in shallow where you could stand if you had to swim.

Having said all of that, you know your skill level and your limits. Don't push your limits. If you ever want to do something alone, stay well within your limits!

batman100 wrote:

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

NEVER EVER paddle alone

it is the most irrisponsible thing that you could do not only are you putting your self in grave danger (especially if your still a learner) but your putting the bystanders who might try and save you at risk.

please dont ever doit again


join a canoe club or make friends with other paddlers

It's all depending on circumstances, type of water, experience etc.

Granted, it's good advice to not paddle alone white water rivers, surf etc. but flatwater should be no problem at all if you know what you're doing, have the correct equipment, know what you're doing and, to make sure, know what you are doing.

Although I am a member of a club I live very close to a nice, shallow pond and I paddle it a few times a week to practice some flatwater fun (wouldn't call it freestyle, not yet anyway ) and do some occasional training in my polokayak. I paddle alone, usually with a pfd on, I can roll reliably and know the area. Even in wintertimes that is not a great risk, not more than going for an evening run (and you certainly don't risk being hit by a passing car!).

Other than that I agree with Pishk and KayakSA: stay safe and know your limits. However, in relatively safe conditions it cannot hurt to extend to your abilities

BTW: I do prefer to paddle with people becuase it's more fun and you learn more because you can comment on each others' moves.

Just my 2 cents,

Michiel

I have a small lake which is only chest deep near to where I live. It is virtually land locked; although it is slightly tidally affected. Living in good old rainy Britain means no dangerous sea creatures to contend with; apart from the occasional angry swan if you get to close in breeding season. I use this area for practice only because it is small, not deep & there are no unexpected currents to catch you unaware. Not surprisingly other local paddlers come here to!

However, I wouldn't dream of paddling on my own other than in the circumstances I have just described. I have to concur with the other boaters & say that in general safety in numbers is always a good thing. I remember my first proper white water experience & enjoyable as it was I also realised that to get it wrong on your own would probably have resulted in disaster. It was nice to be in company with other paddlers at my level, but also have experienced colleagues there in case of difficulties, but also give reassurance.

Hope this helps.

Pete46;)

I think if your on flatwater and within swimming distance of the shore and you have a competent roll playying in flatwater should be absolutely fine, just make sure you are up to it, if you have any doubt at all that your up for it dont do it.

Hi there,
I think what makes paddling alone dangerous is the fact that you might end up in a situation where you can’t help yourself. My biggest fear is that I might hit my head on something and be unconscious. In South Africa most of the water is murky, and you can’t see what is beneath you. I paddle alone often, none other kayakers in my hometown. I must say I enjoy kayaking 100 times more when with friends.

By the way, have any of you guys heard of someone knocking himself out with a paddle on flat water? I almost did when I learned how to cartwheel. What will be the worst when you do, without friends being tipped over unconscious, or with friends helping you out but having to drink 10 bootie beers??? (from different booties)

Wow!!

10 Bootie beers! I'd need a couple of extra PFD's to keep me afloat after that little lot. Can you still get Castle lager out there;my favourite lager of all time?

You blokes obviously know how to keep your fellow boaters in line.

Pete46

Yeah Castle is still big in SA. The other day I had a few friends over at my house to watch the rugby, SA v All Blacks. Sad to say we lost, but the party made up for the dissapointment. One of my mates saw my kayak in the garage and had a brilliant idea, so he brought it out, we all had to throw some of our booze into the kayak then he fined another friend and we used my kayak as a funnel. We opened the drainage plug and out funneled the juice.

So happy they aren’t kayakers, with them on water it will be chaos

Generally I say never paddle alone, even flat water unless crystal clear could have a steel fence post under the water, u try cartwheel and land on it and ur screwed. In Australia most of the rivers and harbours etc. I've seen are murky, the only crystal clear places are the coasts but paddling alone in the surf is dangerous.

It is still entirely up to you what you do but its definitely much safer and more fun with others.

kotzejoe wrote:

One of my mates saw my kayak in the garage and had a brilliant idea, so he brought it out, we all had to throw some of our booze into the kayak then he fined another friend and we used my kayak as a funnel. We opened the drainage plug and out funneled the juice.

Reading this I'm thinking, why drink the bootie when you can funnel a boat. It's much more dramatic and has just as much sh!t in it as the bootie

... and you can put so much more jack and cola in a kayak than a bootie

Sounds good, I havnt got a drain bung though gutted!

In my eyes, a beginner or even intermediate boater should NEVER paddle alone. There are many variables which may lead to an accident and this is dramatically increased when the boater is anything but very advanced. I have paddled by myself multiple times. Twice on class III and once on class IV. I realize the dangers of this and there was close to zero percent chance that I would be putting a bystander in danger to the fact that no one was there. I am also in the water a lot quicker then most of the people in my group on most occasions and in turn find my self at the local playspot surfing by my lonesome for up to 15 minutes without anyone else in the river. The only reasons why i will take these risks is because I feel that I am far advanced enough to paddle alone and feel the utmost comfortable with both sections. on paddling the class IV I fully scouted the whole section on foot before committing and as of on the class III there is absolutely no possibility of wood. I realize that there is still a chance that I could end up in trouble and that even top boaters have died boating solo but its a risk I am willing to take. But as said prior I in NO case would suggest a beginner to boat solo even if there were people on shore.

I will bring some water to the mill (is it right in english ?!) One example : A very good paddler with that we call a B.E (in france a hight professional level diploma of wild water practice) with the ability to brings a group of 10 paddlers on a river, or in the sea to assume their security and obviously his own security, because nobody in the group get the ability, the knowlege to save him if he get into trouble... don't you think this guy won't be professionnal enought to paddle river or spot or sea or lake alone ? with a good judgment of his own capacity, eliminating the maximum of the risk, the previsible I mean, paddling rivers he knows perfectly, choosing to paddle under the river level he is used to paddle with his good paddlers friends, I mean a class II for example...
I always thought I take more risk on the road, to go to the lake by car than on the lake itself ! It's not a law, even not saying : Very good paddler, paddle alone ! It's just my opinion.

It really depends upon your skill as a paddler and how confident you feel you are. Preferably you should paddle with others, but it all depends on the stretch of river you intend to paddle and the weather conditions on that day. Ultimately its your choice!

I think paddling flatwater or park and play alone is safe. Imo you are more likely to get hurt driving to the spot to park and play.

Personally I don't mind paddling rivers or creeks alone either. I prefer to do it with others because it's safer and more fun, but like all aspects of paddling it's risk vs reward, and to me the reward is worth the risk. To many it isn't and I respect that decision too.

As far as risking bystanders on shore, during paddling season there generally aren't any in California, so no problem there.

I know that running solo is not a politically correct decision, but I am an old school kayaker, and my opinion in this matter bears on who I am and how i evolved into kayaking. Kayaking, along with flying, horseback riding, motorpickle riding, scuba diving, etc, are all activities with an assumed inherent risk factor. What we do to offset those risks is up to us who do these activities. It's a personal decision, and what you do yourself is not always what you would recommend for anyone else. It really depends on your skill level, what you are comfortable with, the conditions, and your equipment and responsibilities, and in some locales your attention to the law. While I always wore a helmet when riding my motorcycles, and think anyone who doesn't is stupid, I support their decision NOT to and to give Darwin a chance to be right again

A minister friend of mine who paddled reminded me as we both caught our breath one day, right after I had just rescued him again, that \"Life is not just dangerous, it's 100% fatal - everyone dies from it someday. Where and when is not always our choice, but how we get there and by which road sometimes is.\"

I was comfortable paddleing solo down section IV of the Chattooga solo. It was usually more fun with friends and safer that way at high water, but when it got to where folks I didn't know or had invited were routinely following me so I could be their safety, I even LIKED running solo. Wouldn't have run solo regularly above 2.2 or below freezing, but did it a few times at night when I could get someone to set shuttle. Also used to go in at night to salvage boats when I heard someone had abandoned one there or on III. Ran solo over 200 times and yes, I know it wasn't legal there and then. $500 fine and or up to 6 months in jail. Think the statute of limitations has run out on those runs by now.

I have also observed to others in past that running solo also was safer in some cases, as I had no one else around to talk me into doing something stupid, and I knew that I had no safety net to bet on. Can remember several occasions in which I really wish I hadn't listened to someone else telling me to \"run it on the right\" or \"the best line is over there\".

I live on a lake now and paddle 50-70 nights a year solo. Paddle in daytime 20-30 times solo a year. I always carry a lifejacket, as legally required, just almost never wear one in warm weather as I am usually sprinting when solo. Wearing one is not required in this state, which is quite frustrating to the rangers who check you. Wore one the other night when coming back with 400+ motor boats from the fireworks display 4 miles down the lake. Think I was only paddle craft out there. Yes, I do have Very bright red, green, and white lights, plus spares, so I don't get run over by go fast boats. It's not part of my job description to always set the safest example in someone else's opinion. I personally worry more about the effects of heat stroke from wearing a jacket more than I worry about drowning. I wear it in winter and I wear it on creeks and whitewater. I also carry rescue, first aid, and survival gear appropriate to the conditiions, season, and group I am with if any, even solo.

It's who I am and how I do it. No one said it was the only way or you have to follow me.

Beaverman wrote:

motorpickle riding

Dont motorised pickles rot?

I'm another old-timer and agree with Beaverman that it is impossible to make black and white rules here. Consider 2 scenarios:

Solo paddling/training by experienced paddlers on a quiet lake or canal is normally no more risky than strolling along the pavement/sidewalk (OK freak events do happen - so accept that risk).

In high risk situations, there are undoubtedly times when team paddling puts other people's lives at risk (either your buddies or the rescue services) - like if you intend to (individually) run something really hard - knowing that your buddies will probably risk their lives coming-in after you. Might it not be better in such situations to run solo so, if you screw up, nobody risks their neck for you!

People should just be responsible and take responsibility for their own actions - something which is rather unfashionable, sadly.

I dont think I'm ever gonna paddle whitewater solo (unless maybe on a artificial whitewater course, this change of heart comes from a recent swim where I did have my buddies with me but they were on the bank and did'nt know I was swimming, so what happened was me and my two buddies were paddling on the wave below the big weir on the washburn, I got on and was flushed upside down so I rolled up,albeit after a nasty impact with a rock my buddy came down checked I was alright and broke out in the eddy above me he got out his boat and I managed to break out in a micro eddy, about 20metres below him He was already walking back up to the wave, I grabbed a tree to secure myself, the current caught me and flipped me, having dropped my paddle I swam and no one knew I was swimming, I tried to shout but could'nt luckily after about 75metres my buddy realised something was wrong and got back into the river by this time I had managed to get in a eddy and was climbing onto the bank but my buddy was invaluable for recovering kit, and I fear that If I had'nt of remembered to calm down and get my feet up thing's could have been alot worse,believe me solo swimming is horibble and I wont risk it again, althugh my views about paddling solo on flat water are still the same.

I can bet that you might not be the most expierenced paddler. I have a lot to work on too. But, paddling alone can be a great feeling and it can provide a lot of relaxment and focus. I paddle about 7 times per week these days and I often train slalom alone on a class II course without a PFD or helmet. I never flip though. In addition, I paddle class IV rapids that I am familiar with alone when trying to get to good surf waves. Paddling alone is different to different people and I don't think you should completly write it off yet.

Hi I'm not the most experienced kayaker but I have a reliable roll and enough experience to make my own descisions, I will happily paddle alone on pool drop g2 and flatwater were theres big eddys and evereythings familliar, If you want to paddle alone on g6 go for it I'm not gonna stop you, but I was just givimg my thoughts on the issue, remember the name of the post \"THOUGHTS on paddling alone\".
Just my tuppence.

I think the likelihood of anyone else being any use to you if you messed up on a grade six paddle would be minimal.