Carrying your Kayak

I never thought much about carrying my kayak because it was
something that my peers in the sport have always expected of me. My
understanding from the start was that I needed to be able to carry my
kayak by myself if I wanted to participate in the sport. When I first
started teaching women I held that same expectation for my students. I
remember feeling amazed at the fact that some women really struggled
with carrying their own kayaks. I wasn’t very aware of how the
different physical make-up, age, history of each student and weight of
the boat could affect their ability to carry their kayaks.

Now that I’m older and more experienced I’m more willing to admit that the boats are pretty heavy, especially creek boats, and that the ability to carry a kayak can be a barrier to entry for some people,
especially older women. I’m also more sensitive to how carrying my
boat affects my posture and my body alignment. Shouldering a 40 lbs
boat for years can create pain and misalignment in the body. For people
who come to the sport with previous injuries, carrying can be very
challenging. Unfortunately the impacts of carrying kayaks is rarely
discussed within the sport of whitewater. Mostly, I think, because
paddlers feel that it’s something they have to do to be successful.
And, it is to a certain extent, but perhaps we can soften to be more
inclusive of new and diverse paddlers.

Yes, if you’re a class IV-V paddler you need to be able to carry your own boat for obvious reasons. Fair enough. I suggest paying attention to your alignment when you’re carrying on one shoulder. Try
to keep your spine and hips as straight as possible. Don’t sacrifice
your body to keep up with others. If you know you need more time to
hike in then start earlier than everyone else. Don’t be stubborn about
switching shoulders half way. You may feel cool at the time, but as
you get older you’re body will revolt. You can also explore carrying
your boat on your head or using a pack for really long hikes on
expeditions.

If you’re a class II/III boater that paddles Rivers that have easy access there’s no reason why you shouldn’t ask for help if you need it. Double carrying your kayak is a great way to get to the river. I know that most older women I teach prefer to
double carry. I would rather they double carry and enjoy kayaking than
decide that they don’t want to kayak at all because they can’t carry
their boat and feel that it’s absolutely expected of them. One
advantage of double carrying is that it’s easy on the body. If you can
carry your boat on one shoulder, place a piece of foam, sponge or your
PFD strap between the boat and your shoulder to alleviate any pain.
And if you feel like you're struggling right now when you carry your
boat, know that it does get easier the more you do it. It build
strength and stamina that will also help you on the water.

I do push my students to carry their own boats because it gives the paddler more freedom to move around and get where they want to go without having to wait on others. It also gives paddlers, especially
beginners, an idea of what the sport entails and what level of
physical strength can be developed. However, I’m much more available
and willing to help students who are struggling. And I don’t expect
them to carry their own boats at all times. I feel like there’s a
balance I can strike between encouraging my students to carry their own
boats and allowing them to enjoy kayaking without feeling the pressure
of having to be proficient at it right away. Awareness, compassion
and understanding are key to inviting and encouraging new paddlers into
our sport. And this is one area where we can help beginners feel more
at ease.