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Course's and Swimming

  • 21-06-2010 02:01PM
    #1
    Wile E. Coyote
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,558 ✭✭✭


    I was looking at www.canoe.ie and thinking about doing a course to get into kayaking. They only seem to start with the lvl 2 kayak skills. Can anyone advise if you have to do a lvl 1 course first or can you jump straight into lvl 2 without ever having been in a kayak before?

    Also, swimming. I can swim but I'm not exactly a very strong swimmer. Would it make a difference seeing as I'd be wearing a life jacket anyway?


Comments

  • #2
    pmccormack
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 157 ✭✭pmccormack


    Hea, you can go straight to Level 2 you dont really need to do level 1 as it is more of a discovery cert. Level 2 will be fine for a complete beginner who has never kayaked before.

    As for swimming the most important thing is to be happy enough in the water you dont need to be a great swimmer once you could swim about 15-20 feet u will be fine, you will be wearing a PDF (Lifejacket) so it make swimming easier as you will be floating when in the water.

    Hope this helps
    Paddy
    www.irishcanoekayak.com


  • #3
    Chuchoter
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,305 ✭✭✭Chuchoter


    I jumped into level 2 after never doing formal level one and I'm fine (actually my test is this week, I'm actually so nervous!). You don't need to be a good swimmer, but you have to be really comfortable with water, like you can't panic if you get stuck under the water or anything.


  • #4
    pmccormack
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 157 ✭✭pmccormack


    Dont be nervous im sure you will fly it if you have been out paddling regularly with the course you have been on.

    Good luck

    Paddy
    www.irishcanoekayak.com


  • #5
    TaraLo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22 ✭TaraLo


    Wile E. Coyote wrote: »

    Also, swimming. I can swim but I'm not exactly a very strong swimmer. Would it make a difference seeing as I'd be wearing a life jacket anyway?

    I was the exact same in september when I started and to be honest I'm still not all that strong at swimming but it really didn't make a difference.
    I made myself nervous about it at first but after a few swims(a few of many :rolleyes:) I got over it and I was grand.


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