Hey, I have at present no kayak experience. I am looking to get into the sport as i have just moved nearby to a lake, and would like to add it to my fitness training. I am a pro squash player.

What can anyone suggest: Beginner Kayak? How much to spend? Where to start?

Appreciate the help, Burkey.

Hi Burkey,
Start doing kayaktrips with a kayakschool, try as many boats as you can and find out which one suits you best; take advice form the instructors; then buy a second hand of your favorate kayak (playboat or creeker of allround); practise a lot in whitewater and on flatwater (the lake); If you like the sport you automaticly focus on a better kayak to improve your skills
... and then you've catched the 'kayak-virus' and never want to stop kayaking and buy better boats and do bigger tricks ...

Join the club, man!

Hi
try and join a club and they will help you find your kayaking feet. then who knows where you could go from there.

have fun

[color=cyan:c933655b86]Hi Burkey,

You may have noticed that this site is mainly orientated towards whitewater kayaking and canoeing. If your aim is fitness and you don’t have the time or inclination to start something like whitewater kayaking, then I would strongly recommend something like a K1. A long fiberglass or carbon boat used mainly for marathon or sprint kayaking on flat water. This depends on the design of the boat. These boats, depending on the design, are capable of running up to class 3 water.
A sprint boat:
www.canoesa.org.za/Media/pix/HighRes/ShaunRubensteinRSA.jpg
White water action in K2's:
www.canoesa.org.za/Media/pix/HighRes/Umko2006DayTwoAction.jpg
www.canoesa.org.za/Media/pix/HighRes/Umko2006BiggsPretorius.jpg

Another flat water alternative is the so called ‘surf ski’. This type of sit on top craft is used mainly in the surf and for offshore racing. Handy if you live near the sea. Both types of boat are fast and one paddles with a fairly high stroke rate which is good for a cardio work out.

A surf ski:
www.canoesa.org.za/Media/pix/HighRes/ClintPretorius.jpg

Not sure if running rapids was your intention but this would add some risk of injury... Not good for a pro squash players' career.

Good luck and enjoy the water.. [/color:c933655b86]

yeah, im not sure ww kayaking is exactly what your looking for. if you just want to do laps on the lkae near your house, look into buyinga see kayak or surf ski. WW kayaking is awesome, but not necesarily a chance a pro squash player wants to take. If you are interested in ww, clarify and ill give you some more info.