| In a word, canoeing is awesome. It is an outdoor adventure, a competitive sport, and a method of travel. It can be intense and challenging or leisurely and relaxing. Best of all it is a perfect way to explore and experience the natural world. There are a few things you should know if you are interested in canoeing but have never tried it, or if you have very little experience.
1) Canoeing is easy. The basic strokes come quickly with practice, and manoeuvering a canoe is very intuitive. Just start out in safe waters with the assistance or guidance of an experienced paddler and you will be set to go. If you don't push yourself too hard you will find it to be as relaxing and enjoyable as a leisurely stroll.
2) The next thing you should know is that canoeing can and likely will be a lifelong activity. You will never run out of things to learn or places to go with the canoe. You will find that canoeing will always be able to provide with either a thrilling challenge or a relaxing pastime, it simply depends on where and how you want to do your paddling. Regardless of your age, ability or experience, canoeing has something to offer you.
3) Finally, yes, canoeing can be dangerous. No matter what paddling conditions you are facing, you need to always consider safety. In truth, canoeing is probably statistically safer than driving a car, but there are specific dangers and hazards that you should be aware of. We don't want to scare you away from canoeing, just to remind you to use common sense. If you have never done a thing before it is a good idea to learn from those who have. This includes flat water, moving water and white water paddling, open water crossings, committing to a route or destination, trip planning and navigation, paddling with beginners or children, and much more. Always exercise caution.
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Should I seek Paddle Canada (CRCA) certification?
Although paddling instructors at Northern Ways are always nationally certified by Paddle Canada, it may not be necessary for you to seek certification. First, most certification-granting paddling schools and courses are highly discretionary and proprietary, even at the professional level. A certification course might not be what you expect and sometimes isn't what it is claimed to be. More importantly, certification costs extra money, money that might be better spent on more instruction time. The moral of the story is that experience is the most important achievement you can have. Some people such as teachers and outdoor educators are required to have a specific level of certification. We can provide complete certification courses.
Some organizations and businesses will tell you that you must take their paddling or certification course if you want to be a safe and/or responsible paddler. We generally disagree with that approach. We do strongly feel that you should learn under the guidance of an experienced paddler and that you should do everything you can to understand the type of paddling you are doing before you set out. That said, we also acknowledge that most paddling courses and clinics are about making money for the ones who are providing the course. If anyone ever tells you what you must or most not do in order to learn how to paddle be wary. We can tell that the one thing you must do is practice. You can learn about paddling in an hour or two, but you learn to paddle by doing it over a long period of time. When you learn from us we work specifically on your objectives and provide you with a thorough assessment of your skills at the end of the course.
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