Kayaking Made Easy, 3rd : A Manual for Beginners with Tips for the Experienced (Made Easy Series)

by Dennis Stuhaug

Updated to reflect all the latest gear and techniques, this guide is the perfect step-by-step handbook for beginners, with sage advice on every aspect of flat-water and sea kayaking, from selecting a boat to kayak camping.

A generously illustrated handbook for beginners and seasoned paddlers, Kayaking Made Easy is brimming with advice, humor, and personal anecdotes about every aspect of flatwater and sea kayaking. Dennis Stuhaug, an encouraging and enthusiastic instructor, takes a step-by-step approach to introducing kayaking gear, strokes, maneuvers, and the complexities of long-distance navigation.

More information at:
 Amazon Canada   or  Amazon US

The Bombproof Roll and Beyond

by Paul Dutkey

Paddling on the edge - the ability to hold the kayak level or on edge using knee pressure, to maintain balance using body lean, and when needed to shift weight forward or backward are the skills fundamental to even simple maneuvers such as bracing, upstream ferries, and the Eskimo roll. The Bombproof Roll and Beyond! is an introduction to edge control and balance for paddlers from the beginner to the most expert. Author Paul Dutky shares his whitewater experience to help paddlers master those techniques that will enable them to surf, to playboat, and to run even the most challenging whitewater safely and with confidence.
A paddler, outdoor author, and ER physician, Paul Dutky wet his first kayak in the tumblehome creeks of Tennessee. After paddling extensively in the Southeast for many years, he took his game to the state of Washington, where he now resides in Bremerton and continues to explore the region's waterways.

More information at:
 Amazon Canada   or  Amazon US

The Kayak Companion

by Joe Glickman

Joe Glickman, a two-time member of the U.S. National Marathon Kayak Team, teaches beginners the basic techniques for all kinds of kayaking - sea, touring, and recreational. For more experienced kayakers, he offers expert advice on how to navigate in all kinds of waters and weathers. And kayakers of every skill level will appreciate Glickman's candid assessments of the various types of boats; how to read a compass; troubleshooting in lousy weather; and how to deal with lightning, big fish, and marauding powerboats.

As Glickman discusses kayaking techniques, he interweaves stories of his own adventures as a kayaker, including such magical moments as the time when he saw a magnificent moon rise over New York City's Jamaica Bay and the day he almost made a fatal error during a ferocious 12-hour blizzard in Montana.

More information at:
 Amazon Canada   or  Amazon US

Introduction to Paddling: Canoeing Basics for Lakes and Rivers

by American Canoe Association

Written by the American Canoe Association and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Introduction to Paddling is an easy-to-understand guide to flatwater and river paddling. Based on an earlier work by the Ohio DNR, Flat-water Paddler, this amply illustrated book tells beginning paddlers everything they need to know, from appropriate clothing to the parts of the boat, from correct strokes to proper safety concerns. Good for instructors and those who like to teach themselves, this book is an important resource for those who like to paddle or want to start.

More information at:
 Amazon Canada   or  Amazon US

Kayak: The Animated Manual of Intermediate and Advanced Whitewater Technique

by William Nealy

Anyone who kayaks--or would like to--will get a laugh out of Kayak: The Animated Manual of Intermediate and Advanced Whitewater Technique. Author William Nealy draws on his 12 years of whitewater experience to combine instruction and kayaking philosophies with his offbeat sense of humor. Through animated diagrams, Nealy explains intermediate paddling techniques, different types of Eskimo rolls, river rescue, and running a river at flood stage. The chapter on hydrotypography ("the art of using watery features to your maximum advantage") provides an excellent tutorial on river dynamics. The book's animated style is especially useful for illustrating the dynamics of eddies, ledges, holes, and other river features. Despite the humor, safety is Nealy's primary message in Kayak.

More information at:
 Amazon Canada   or  Amazon US

Sit-on-Top Kayaking : A Beginner's Guide

by Tom Holtey, Mike Altman

In just 96 pages this paperback introduces the beginner to their craft, its features, and the equipment needed to best enjoy the sport. It covers all the basic strokes and entry techniques. The book then goes on to discuss conditions that kayakers face while paddling: from wind and waves to oceans and fresh water. An easy read, it is graced with over 60 illustrations, charts and checklists. It gives the basics of touring, fishing, camping, surfing and diving; route planning, rescues, signals and even putting a kayak on your car. Finally, it addresses where to find sit-on-tops nation-wide.

More information at:
 Amazon Canada   or  Amazon US

Basic Essentials Solo Canoeing, 2nd (Basic Essentials Series)

by Cliff Jacobson

For a generation the Basic Essentials series has been as much a part of the outdoors experience as backpacks and hiking boots. Information-packed tools for the novice or handy references for the veteran, these volumes distill years of knowledge into affordable and portable books. Whether you're planning a trip or thumbing for facts in the field, Basic Essentials books tell you what you need to know. Discover how to choose the right type of solo canoe, customize your solo canoe for peak performance, perform various braces and ferry strokes, pack and portage for camping expeditions and maintain and repair your solo canoe.

More information at:
 Amazon Canada   or  Amazon US

Whitewater Paddling: Strokes & Concepts

by Eric Jackson

When a kayaker perfects fundamental strokes before attempting to tackle whitewater, he is rewarded with efficiency, simplicity, control, and speed. Expert kayaker Eric Jackson provides detailed lessons on 16 such strokes, each illustrated in step-by-step photos of EJ in action on flat water and in the rapids. Each section includes advice on the early correction of common paddling mistakes, warm-up and practice drills, as well as how each lesson combines with others to improve technique.
Eric Jackson has been a member of the U.S. Freestyle Team since 1993 and the U.S. Slalom Team since 1989. He was the top U.S. finisher in the 1992 Summer Olympics, World Freestyle Champion in 1993, and will compete in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

More information at:
 Amazon Canada   or  Amazon US

CIG to Canoeing and Kayaking (The Complete Idiot's Guide)

by Canoe and Kayak Magazine, Dennis Stuhaug

Filled with nearly 100 photos and illustrations, this must-have guide-written by the foremost paddlesports experts-gives the aspiring canoe or kayak adventurer everything he or she needs to know before taking the plunge. Inside, discover how to choose between buying a canoe or a kayak, understand paddling techniques and strokes, and find out how to plan a trip and choose an outfitter or guide.
The Editors of Canoe & Kayak Magazine oversee the leading paddlesports publication in the United States, and the #1 resource for canoeing, kayaking, and the full range of paddling sports. With over 80 years of combined direct experience within the paddlesports community, Canoe & Kayak's editors are regularly called upon to provide expert commentary on paddling-related techniques, equipment, destinations, health and fitness, and conservation.

More information at:
 Amazon Canada   or  Amazon US