Snastiuralaactive leisure by the water all year round

An independent guide to active leisure by the water. We sell and rent nothing and run no tours or races; not affiliated with the former website on this domain. If you are in danger on the water or on the ice, call 112 (or your local emergency number).

Beginners

Your first kayak or SUP outing

Your first outing on the water should be short, calm and easy to follow. The aim is not to get somewhere far away but to get a feel for the boat or board, see how the water behaves and come back to shore in a good mood.

A good first outing looks modest: a quiet day, a gently sloping shore, a life jacket and a short loop along the water's edge. Everything else can come later.

— Editor's note

What you will need

  • A kayak or SUP with a paddle, and a life jacket that fits
  • Clothes for the weather and a change of clothes in a dry bag
  • Drinking water and sun protection
  • A charged phone in a waterproof pouch, with 112 (or your local emergency number) saved
  • A companion, or someone on shore who knows your plan

  1. Choose the day

    For your first time you need warm weather, light wind and no thunderstorms in the forecast for the whole day. If in doubt, it is better to postpone.

    A clear morning with flat water is better than a hot midday when the wind picks up.

  2. Choose the place

    A quiet lake or bay with a gently sloping shore, where boats and boards are allowed, will do. Avoid fast currents, shipping lanes and areas near dams.

    If there is a sign on the shore prohibiting swimming or going on the water, find another spot.

  3. Get your gear ready

    Check your life jacket, paddle and that your bag is watertight. Wear clothes you do not mind getting wet and comfortable water shoes.

  4. Share your plan

    Tell someone close to you where you will be and when you will be back, and agree to call each other after the outing.

  5. Warm up and practise on shore

    A few minutes of warming up and some practice strokes on land help you remember the movements before you are on the water.

  6. Push off and practise

    Get into the kayak or kneel on the board right by the shore. Try paddling, turning and stopping in shallow water before you go any further.

    On a SUP, it is best to spend the first few minutes on your knees: you get a feel for the board without the risk of falling.

  7. Do a short loop

    Move along the shore, starting into the wind, and stay within easy reach of the shore. Take breaks and keep an eye on how you feel.

  8. Come back and debrief

    Come ashore slowly, change into dry clothes and think about what went well and what is worth repeating next time.

Common mistakes

  • Putting the life jacket in the boat or on the board instead of wearing it
  • Drifting far from shore with the wind and then exhausting yourself on the way back
  • Not checking the forecast and getting caught in a thunderstorm or a strong gust
  • Going out on the water alone without telling anyone your plan
  • Taking your phone without waterproof protection
  • Overestimating your strength and making your first outing too long

Other options

  • If you do not have your own boat or board, start with a session supervised by an experienced friend
  • If you are afraid of deep water, swim in a pool first and get used to the water
  • If the weather is not right, swap the outing for a walk along the shore
  • If you want company, look into amateur interest clubs and find out about their safety rules

Checklist before your first outing on the water

  • The day's forecast is checked: no thunderstorms or strong wind
  • Going on the water is allowed here, and the shore slopes gently
  • Life jacket on and fastened
  • Phone charged and in a waterproof pouch
  • Someone close to you knows where you are and when you will be back
  • Return time decided in advance
  • Dry clothes waiting on shore
  • Gear

    Life jacket, layered clothing, sun and cold protection, dry bag, first-aid kit and ice gear, with no brands.

  • Technique

    Getting into a kayak, the paddle stroke, falling off a SUP and climbing back on, wind, weather and moving on ice.

  • Questions

    Answers to common questions about water, ice, gear and clothing for time by lakes and rivers.

Sources

  • Public safety memos of Russia's emergency ministry (EMERCOM) on behaviour near water
  • Editorial materials of the Snastiurala guide

Where and when you may swim, paddle a kayak or SUP, or go out on the ice is set by local rules for each body of water, and these rules differ by country and place. Before heading to the water, check the current requirements and the warning signs on the shore.