Canoeing

How to learn canoeing?
Canoeing is quite easy - if you have practiced enough. As a beginner, you should be aware that you may get wet or even end up in the water. Therefore, new canoeists should not be afraid of water and should at least be able to swim back to the canoe. For reassurance, however, it can be said: With a little practice, safety in the boat also grows significantly. The first paddle strokes should best be made on a calm body of water and without ship traffic.

First challenges
Paddling straight is one of the first challenges for beginners. After all, it's not as easy as it looks from the shore when you're out on the water. Of course, you can teach yourself canoeing, but this is a rather laborious variant. The best way is to learn canoeing in a club. There you will quickly find like-minded people and training partners, either side by side or together in one boat.

Canoe courses for beginners
Many clubs offer canoe courses for beginners, which can also be attended by non-members. Dates and addresses can be found on the website of the German Canoe Association (DKV) at www.kanu.de. In addition, many commercial canoe schools or canoe providers also offer appropriate courses. If you want to try paddling for the first time, you should definitely visit the World of Paddling at boot Düsseldorf. There you can easily try out paddling on a river course under expert supervision. Those who enjoy paddling will immediately find suitable contacts for planning the next steps.

Can anyone canoe?
Canoeing can be done at any age. To learn to paddle independently, children should be 8 years old. Regardless of age, canoeists must be able to swim to reach the safe shore in the event of a capsize. It is also recommended that regular medical examinations be performed to eliminate undetected health risks. As an endurance sport, canoeing has positive effects on the heart, circulation and muscles. Canoeing can be done by men and women of all ages, even into old age.

Is canoeing dangerous?
Overuse injuries can occur during canoeing. These occur more often than actual injuries. The risk of injury is somewhat higher in white water. If a capsize occurs here, depending on the water conditions, bruises can occur. As a beginner, you should not take the existing dangers in water sports lightly.

Weather influences
Particularly during high water, waters that are otherwise unproblematic can present special danger spots. Special caution is also required at weirs or locks. You should also keep an eye on the weather: In summer, solar radiation and the associated ozone pollution can cause problems.