Synopses & Reviews
"What a breath of fresh air! The Woman's Guides seek to provide a comfortable, friendly place in which women can challenge themselves and learn new skills. Reading
Sea Kayaking: A Woman's Guide gave me a sense of camaraderie, like being back at camp with best friends."--Dagny Scott, Contributing Editor for Women's Sports,
SHAPE magazine
Ragged Mountain Press Woman's Guides--the first book series designed for the growing number of women who are active outdoors. These comprehensive guides provide everything you need to get started and keep going. Throughout each book you'll find tips, advice, and words of wisdom from women who've done what you're about to do--learna new sport. At last: books for women who love the outdoors, written in a woman's voice with a woman's approach to learning.
"A winner! . . . Renowned outdoors and paddlesports writer Shelley Johnson will inspire readers to get paddling."--Lafe Low, Executive Director, Adventure Club of North America
In Sea Kayaking: A Woman's Guide you'll find the knowledge and skills you need to become a self-sufficient paddler. Yes, you can load a kayak on a car by yourself . . . get in and out of your boat easily--without capsizing . . . help a capsized kayaker get back in her boat . . . perform (and even learn to love) an Eskimo roll! Shelley Johnson's freshperspective and up-to-date presentation of techniques and equipment provide all the tools you need to become a confident, comfortable, capable sea kayaker!
"I was pretty hesitant about paddling a kayak out into the ocean, but after reading Shelley's suggestions for overcoming fear, I was ready to try."--Louise Allen, new sea kayaker
About the Author
Shelley Johnson is a registered Maine Guide and a coastal kayak instructor certified by the American Canoe Association. Sea kayaking editor for Canoe and Kayak Magazine, she also is a frequent contributor to Atlantic Coastal Kayaker and Kayak Touring. Shelley has taught sea kayaking and watersports safety courses throughout the United States and Canada.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
What defines sea kayaking?
About this book
Chapter 1: The Female Sea Kayaker
A good match for women
How and why they got started
Finding your own style
Chapter 2: Getting Started
Starting out right
Other options for getting started
How does it feel?
Common concerns
Chatper 3: Getting Friendly with Your Boat
Naming of the parts
Getting adjusted
Carrying your boat
Getting your boat on and off a vehicle
Getting in and out
Balance and the art of staying upright
Chapter 4: Paddle Strokes and Controlling Your Boat
Getting to know your paddle
Paddle strokes
Chapter 5: Essential Skills for Getting Away From It All
The wet exit
Gear to get you back in
The solo reentry
The assisted reentry
The Eskimo roll
Chapter 6: Your Equipment
Kayaks
Paddles
Safety equipment and accessories
Clothing as safety gear
Care and feeding for equipment
Chapter 7: Putting It All Together
Staying on course
Waves
Wind
Tides and tidal currents
Using the land: eddies in the ocean
Weather
The surf zone
Rules of the road and reality
Chapter 8: Hit the Water Trail
Navigation
Packing your kayak
A word about water trails
A low-impact vessel
Chapter 9: Tips and More Tips
Stretches for paddlers
To pee or not to pee
Paddling while pregnant
Bring along the family
Paddling with a disability
Chapter 10: Resources
Index