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Make a Splash!
Kayaking is a great way to enjoy Michigan lakes and rivers
By Claire Charlton
Michigan has 11,000 lakes, and 36,000 miles of rivers and streams, making it fairly easy to find water. There's no better way to embrace this much water - and a new sport - than by spending a few hours in a brightly colored kayak."Kayaking is designed for everybody," says Kevin Hays, an independent kayak instructor from Wolverine Lake. "Kids love it and have a blast, and I've even seen 74-year-old ladies get jazzed up. It's for the young, the old and everybody in between." Kayaking also offers a phenomenal whole-body workout, even on the calmest of water. Ready to paddle? Here's what you need to know.
Gear up
The most essential piece of equipment is a
lifejacket. Matt Dalton, a certified kayak
instructor, recommends always wearing
it instead of stowing it in the
kayak. Kayak-specific lifejackets
come in a variety of colors and
styles, with a short waist for
easy movement, and run about
$50 to $125 at Moosejaw.
A helmet is important if you're in rough or rocky water. Hays says sunscreen and drinking water also are essential.
You can't kayak without getting wet, so a bathing suit is important. Your final layer should wick moisture and dry quickly. Kayaking gear is available at many metro Detroit sporting goods stores.
Some options and other must-haves:
Patagonia Baggies quick-dry shorts
for men or women, $40
Native Eyewear polarized sunglasses to
help you see the schools of fish at river's
bottom, $70-$135
Mountain Hardwear short-sleeved Wicked T, $30
Amphibious shoes for land and water. Try U.S.-made Chacos,
$70-$95
Major SPF protection. Allen Gough, visual merchandiser at
Moosejaw, loves Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunblock in
SPF 45 or 70, $10-$11 at Walgreens.
Body beautiful Kayaking can burn 400 calories an hour, even in still water, making it a great cardio workout. If you paddle correctly, your core, abs, back, butt and thighs also will benefit, says Mark Papineau, a personal trainer at Botsford Center for Health Improvement in Novi. If you don't, your arms will suffer.
To warm up, try these kayaking-specific stretches, holding each for 15 to 30 seconds, and repeating three or four times: Lie on your back and bring one knee to your chest. Wrap a towel around your foot, and straighten your leg, then switch. (Stretches the hamstrings and lower back.)
Stand and draw one arm across your chest, supporting it above the elbow with your other hand. Switch arms, and repeat. (Stretches shoulders/upper back.)
Bend elbow, and place your hand on your back between the shoulder and neck. Support lightly with other hand, then switch. (Stretches triceps.)
STAY SAFE
Increase the chance that you'll come back to kayak another day by putting safety first.
ALWAYS wear a lifejacket.
DON'T kayak by yourself unless you are experienced.
DON'T paddle across the middle of any lake. Instead, stay within 20 to 30 feet of the shore.
DON'T go over any type of dam or waterfall. Always take your kayak out of water, and walk around the obstacle.
DON'T buy a kayak willynilly. Learn the sport first, rent several different boat types, and then talk to the experts before plunking down hundreds on a kayak that might not work for you in the long run.
Explore the Huron River
In southeast Michigan, the Huron River system meanders through Ingham, Livingston, Oakland, Monroe, Washtenaw and Wayne counties, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The river is accessible, calm, scenic and great for kayaking. Several rental outfitters located along the river make kayaking an easy drive-up, paddle-away activity
Heavner Canoe & Kayak Rental in Milford has rental locations at Proud Lake and Island Lake Recreation areas. Owner Alan Heavner says 75% of his first-time customers wing it with no professional lessons, but a 90-minute intro ($65) will give you the skills you need to do it right. At Heavner, rental costs range from $20 to $41, including paddle and lifejacket.
Even children as young as 5 are able to kayak as long as it's in a controlled setting, Heavner says. He says youngsters can try it out first on an indoor lazy river or tethered to a dock, using a sit-on-top kayak that's easier to handle if it tips.
Ramp it up When you've logged a few water hours and are ready to go further, consider a multi-day kayaking trip. Gough makes an annual trek to Lake Superior's Apostle Island National Park on the northern tip of Wisconsin. Gough kayaks from island to island, camping at night, enjoying the islands' natural sandstone beauty, the ultimate away-from-it-all serenity, and the wildlife.
More resources American Canoe Association Find ACA-recommended water trails anywhere in the U.S.: www.americancanoe.org Michigan Department of Natural Resources Search recreation areas for kayaking/rentals: www.michigan. gov/dnr