Hello everyone,
I’m new to Padding Forum and just getting started here. I’d love to learn more about how things work in this community and how to make the most of it.
Could anyone share some tips for beginners? For example:
Looking forward to being part of this community and learning from you all. Thanks in advance!
Depends on what your interests are. Canoe? Kayak? Surfski? Whitewater? Flatwater? River and lake? Coastal touring? Fishing? Total newbie? If the latter, the discussion forums may not suit you – there are permanent sections on the site under the “Learn” tab with intro information on initial topics like how to choose a boat, safety practices, technique tips, etc.,
The forum threads change every day and you can only tell (or guess) what the topic is by the lead title the OP posts, though they are sorted into categories like “paddlers place” (general conversation), “canoes”, “kayaks”, “advice”, etc.
You could post your first thread start undeer “advice” with some details on what you are hoping to learn here. It helps a lot to identify your geographic region and level of prior boating experience, if any. It’s a pretty casual set up and you kind of get out of it what you put in. Generally friendly and helpful crowd here so don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Start at the top and work your way down the list. Follow the topics that interest you. If you find a perspective that you like or info that interests you, direct message that person to express your interest. Treat others the way the way you would like to be treated.
The two general headings are good for discussion.
If you click on a user’s profile you can send them a PM via email. Sometimes groups of paddlers will post get-togethers here, much much less common than it was several years ago.
You forgot the “drysuit vs wetsuit” debate. Otherwise, all good. Lol.
-sing
moe is a bot
Had some inkling that might be the case (the stilted syntax suggested AI) but I usually try to err on the side of being “welcoming”.
Hey everyone, thanks for the welcome and all the helpful advice.
Just to clear things up – I am definitely not a bot. I am genuinely new here and still figuring out how the forum works. Really appreciate the pointers about the “Learn” section and the advice category.
For context, I am mainly interested in kayaking and usually paddle in your local rivers,lakes and coastline. I am still a beginner so I am hoping to pick up tips on safety, technique and maybe even connect with paddlers nearby.
Looking forward to joining in more discussions here
Safety- you can increase it by: wearing a pfd, dressing for immersion (water temp), and picking venues that match your skill set.
Rescues can and should be practiced. Along with swimming. Learning to roll can open up new paddling venues. If you can’t roll and haven’t practiced getting back into your boat then limit yourself to places where you can swim the boat back to shore safely.
All that seems like common sense to me and can be found in threads.
I think if you are looking to improve your form, increase your speed or efficiency or tackle more extreme environments then some instruction, mentoring, or coaching can help you reach your goals. Paddling can mean many different things to different people. Folks on here can help if you have questions.