Kayaking is one of the most exhilarating water sports out there, but it’s not without its risks. One of the most common hazards is capsizing or flipping. If you’re kayaking in rough waters or battling strong currents, capsizing can occur even when you’re an experienced kayaker. But don’t panic! Flipping over is a natural part of kayaking, and getting yourself back up again is all part of the fun. In this article, we’ll show you how to unflip yourself in a kayak and get back on track in no time.
1. Stay Calm
The first thing to do when you flip over in a kayak is to stay calm. It’s important not to panic as you need to conserve your energy and focus on flipping the kayak back up. If you panic, you’ll risk getting tangled up in your kayak or your paddle, making it even harder to get back upright again.
2. Hold Onto Your Paddle
Once you’ve flipped over, the first thing to do is to hold onto your paddle. It’s essential to grab onto the paddle with both hands as this will help you stay connected to the kayak and keep it from drifting away in the current. If you lose your paddle, things can quickly go from bad to worse, and you’ll have a harder time getting back up again.
3. Position Yourself
Once you have hold of your paddle, try to position your body as close to the kayak as possible. This will give you more leverage when trying to flip the kayak back upright. You can do this by putting your hands on the cockpit rim, then tucking one knee underneath your chest while extending the other leg out straight.
4. Flip the Kayak
To flip the kayak back upright, use a rolling motion. Push down on the side of the kayak using your knee while pulling up on the paddle. This will create a rolling momentum that will gradually flip the kayak back upright. Be sure to keep your body in a tight position and keep your weight over the kayak to help keep it stable.
5. Re-Enter Your Kayak
Once you have successfully flipped the kayak back upright, you can now re-enter the kayak. To do this, move yourself to the back of the kayak and place your hands on the cockpit rim. While keeping hold of the paddle, use your knees to raise your body up and over the kayak. Once you are in a kneeling position, slide your backside into the cockpit while keeping hold of the paddle. Now all you have to do is bring your other leg over and sit down.
6. Empty Your Kayak
Once you’re back in your kayak, it’s likely that some water has seeped in. Before you start paddling again, you need to empty out the water. To do this, you can use a bilge pump, a sponge, or simply tip the kayak upside down, so the water comes out.
Kayaking is an exciting and fun activity, but it’s essential to know how to unflip yourself if you capsize in your kayak. Remember to stay calm, hold onto your paddle, position yourself, use a rolling motion to flip your kayak, re-enter the kayak while keeping hold of the paddle, and empty water from your kayak before setting out again. With these tips, you’ll be able to tackle the waters with greater confidence and safe in the knowledge that you can get yourself out of any sticky situations.