White water kayaking blends into sea kayaking in many ways. We tend to focus on the conditions we can see, but it’s also important to consider the elements that you can’t see. Playing in currents, navigating shallow passages and surfing all require you to not just think with your head, but make sure you protect it as well.
Use Your Head
You’ll find that as your skills grow with rolling, so will your curiosity to try out more and more dynamic waters. The west coast of British Columbia is breathtaking but kayakers are especially exposed to potential hazards where if we were to overturn, we want to keep our noggin safe, which is why it’s important to wear a properly rated paddling helmet.
Kayaking Helmets
Sea kayaking helmets come in a variety of shapes, sizes and features. Most are solid on top, without any openings that are common in sports like cycling. They are designed to protect from impacts in all directions and come with a variety of strap fittings to suit each head and face shape.Â
If you go on long adventures, spanning multiple days, weeks or even months, you may have a helmet with you. Besides the obvious safety features they provide, they are also excellent for keeping your head dry in winter rains. Because of their shape, stored properly, they can take up very little room if you put smaller items inside of it. I can often fit mine into my day hatch and then sit my water bottle in it, for example.Â
Concussions should be avoided at all costs…
Being active definitely comes with a greater risk of injury, but then so does sitting around doing nothing! However a hard head your partner may think you are, your skull can only do so much to protect your brain. We’ve all hit our head on something or other throughout our lives and you feel that stun momentarily. Concussions should be avoided at all costs, especially since symptoms increase in severity along with frequency throughout one’s life.
