First 5 Steps to Kayak Like a Pro 

Here's a solid "How to Boof" video I made: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-B5eoEN_Mf8s.html Buying a Dagger Kayak online? Please use this link: rb.gy/pv8h8k Need outfitting materials? Use this link to find what I use on Amazon: rb.gy/7xc70c

As a very old and long retired pro. #1 paddle with people that are more skilled than you and learn as much as you can. #2 catch every eddy you can, once you can do that in a class of water you are ready to move up to the next level of difficulty (fitness and efficiency are key as rivers get harder). #3 don't rush to get into harder levels if you are not ready, fast way to get hurt or worse. #4 learn to paddle slalom and all the skills associated, the skills translate to actual river running more than sitting in holes and waves (if you can't make significant moves in rapids you will not be safe the harder the water gets). The best paddlers in the world have backgrounds in slalom, the Jackson grew up learning from EJ who was a multi year US slalom team member, Aniol and his brother raced, Nouria was on her national team multiple times, go further back than the legends were all super technically skilled paddlers (other pros can see it in every stroke). Finally, take a swiftwater rescue course from reputable trainer, learn how to run safety for any situation. Hard rivers require a high degree of skills for individuals, and as a group as well. Mastery comes with practice, but you need to practice the right things with good form. Common thought is it takes 10 thousand hours, equates to 5 years of a full time job, for mastery, but only practicing bad habits and sloppy technique and you will master bad habits and sloppy technique.

you touched on the number one thing that helped me, and that is to attack aggressively, all the features, don't float afraid. When you attack into something you naturally do many of the things that keep you upright, and you'll be in a better mindset for when you do need to roll. That and attack every feature down an easy river, every hole, every boof, every seem, and just play away. Once your stamina increases, the rivers become this giant playground of fun, and progressing feels easier, when you have already rolled 25 times just playing. Then when you need it, it doesn't even require thought it is automatic. Love your videos.

So much good stuff in this list! Thanks for sharing. Pasting up on rocks and "boofing" into and out of eddies is such a vital one, as is staying uncomfortable - stagnation is easy for all of us! But most of all agree about freestyle - the single best thing for safety and skill.

a lot of great points! I have a friend who paddled when he was in high school, stopped kayaking, grew up, had a family and has gotten back into it some 20 years later with me once I started kayaking. He is about 15 years older then me and when I started kayaking I kind of took everything he said as gospel since he had done it "forever", but the more we paddled the more I learned he does a lot of these bad habits, only using arms, very defensive paddling, not making proper plans, HE does push out of his comfort zone but it ends up also being out of OUR skill zone which has gotten us into trouble a few times where if things went different one of us might have even drowned. I almost let this scare me out of the sport and that was the last straw for me realizing that I need to get better for myself to keep enjoying this awesome sport. The better you get a kayaking the more fun you will have. started approaching kayaking like I have for other sports in the past. learning how to engage core and freestyle have BY FAR been the best things for my river running and rolling. Another great thing has been joining my local club going to events meeting paddlers who are actually way better than me and learning from them. I paddle with a different friend a lot more now that does all of these things you mentioned and shares that want to get better with me and we are always trying to learn something and improve whenever we paddle! after two years of paddling I have become pretty comfortable in class 3 and have been paddling a few class 4 rapids making my own plan scouting lines and following through on them which has been huge for my confidence as a paddler. changing my mindset and improving my metal game has been a huge part of my progression. Realizing that if I develop my skills any rapid especially as u get to higher class rapids don't have to be "I'm gonna die scary" they can be "holy shit that is stout but I'm ready and excited to crush it!" and that is when kayaking becomes rewarding and one of the best sports 🤘

speaking straight out of my soul! thansk for putting this together in such a short and consequently easy to show video!:)

Amen on the freestyle! Big supporter of that

I would like to add that for tip 3, (Stay Uncomfortable) he mentioned when class 2 gets easy, move to class 3, when class 3 gets easy, move to class 4 and so on. While it is good to improve, if you want to paddle with newer paddling friends, or would rather go to a closer but easier river, *just use a smaller or less stable boat!* it will help yo dial down your skills without the adding risk of a higher level. Edit: this is LibertyAdventures on a different account btw

Freestyle for the win

Happy birthday. Nothing helped me more than working on core strength, and learning some freestyle. I would add, work class II, and III harder. You can push a given level up a little.

100% agree with the Freestyle. Id say #1 Paddle with people better than you to learn skills #2 Make your "easy" river "challenging" by catching every eddy, adding complex/compound lines to your routing rather than standard lines #3 Practice highly technical skills in low consequence environments regularly. Whether that'd slalom boating (money may be an obstacle), attainments (you don't need a longboat, although that is a fun boat to add to your quiver), or even finding a good flatwater venue to learn the movements before adding dynamic water #4 Freestyle boating, grab a playboat, you don't need to be a master player, but they're a great addition to the quiver for a soul surf, or working on technical moves. Bonus, as you're learning tricks you'll be making your roll bombproof and increase your spatial awareness at the same time #5 Fitness, both physical and mental. Physical is easier (go to a gym, go on runs, multisport backgrounds of people who move their bodies tend to thrive), Mental however is different. Take a swiftwater rescue course which will help you read water and learn to manage risks (helps #2 for venue selection), engage a challenge yourself mindset. Putting yourself in a dangerous position and stepping into a different class of whitewater is often confused with challenging yourself. Make easy moves more challenging, push yourself to go for one more surf, hike that drop until you clean the line, wake up early and be the first one on the water, pick your A-Line & B-Line and have a plan in place rather than just following a friend (scout that drop! And paddle fast to the front of the group so you don't slow the crew if you want bonus challenge), go do an attainment, even if water is low find a place to practice skills rather than write the day off, etc... Lot's of good advice out there!

I need a foam block!! ❤lol

"we all make mistakes and that's why we love each other" I was banned from the fb group kayak georgia because I made a mistake (kayaking down a river when it was higher than I thought). They didn't like seeing my carnage video and got mad at me for it, and then I was banned. I wish they were more understanding and supportive. They certainly don't all love me for my mistakes. Anyway, this is a good video.

agree with everything you said, one thing I would add is to paddle with people who are better than you. You'll learn a lot just following them down the river!

Some say stick to 1 boat for everything to know it well and progress, others say right tool for the job - creeker, half slice, playboat, slicey boat as a quiver for example. What do you think is the optimum number / type of boats for rivers to improve without watering down time spent in a particular boat, or does that not apply because of the crossover from paddling a bunch of different boats.

Boof the World! 🤘🏻💪🏻🤘🏻

Yes, freestyle. Everyone needs a playboat in their quiver.