to old to start

[sibo]

I know you could never be to old to start kayaking well 110 may be a bit old lol, but how far do you think a person can go starting at say 30 (not that i turn 30 next month lol)
Just wondering who else started at this age.

[Jim]

My dad started at 55.
Now 69. Paddles grade 3 quite comfortably, but is more into sea kayaking now. Never get's phased by conditions and we have paddled some trips in conditions that most people wouldn't bother to head out in (you have a different perspective when you are camping rather than day tripping and will have to deal with adverse weather sooner or later if you are going to finish by the last day everyone has off every time...). He also quite happy in canoe and has done some good multi day river trips with white water thrown in.

30 definitely isn't too old to start, you probably haven't lost much flexibility yet so shouldn't have much trouble mastering the full range of techniques including rolling. Another thing though, with maturity comes stamina (perhaps not at 30) and a much better idea of when to spot your own limits. And we don't completely lose our ability to learn once we pass 20 - I had to do a course with an exam at the end last year at the ripe old age of 35 (I think) and passed it, I have also (hopefully) learned to drive over the last couple of months. Learning is easier when younger but still possible at 30. To be honest I've been in shock since I passed 30, I never expected to get this far.

[shanclan]

I started at 43 and after four years I am solid G3 and happy at G4. My hope is to get solid at G4 and happy on G5 before the big 50, which is very achievable. Being of a certain age, I am equally happy with the coaching beginners, the messing about in open boats and my painfully slow progress into playboating. That being said, whitewater is addictive and you do find yourself with a rat to feed, albeit a glossy, slightly tubby one that is used to a soft life indoors.

IMHO you don't have to be particularly fit to boat well on white water because you can progress technique, co-ordination, flexibility, psychology and river running skills before fitness becomes anywhere near a limiting factor. As people have said, you do have a better natural level of stamina (or a better ability to pace yourself) when you get older, but with all that paddling, the fitness will just come along when you are ready for it...

I started with my son, which was a big motivator. Totally different learning styles which helps.

[Jon Wood]

A friend of mine started at around the age of fifty.
He also stopped smoking, learnt to swim and got himself a driving licence.
The road trips to the river were often more exciting than the paddling.
At that age, he reached Div 2 in slalom within a few seasons, was on trips to the Alps, bit of WWR and became an accomplished sea paddler. Now retired & near the coast he's taken up surf yakking.

[SwamP]

but how far do you think a person can go starting at say 30 (not that I turn 30 next month lol)

Most of my boating mates are in their 40's. Many of them got into the sport well into their 30's. Result? Exploring Scotland's best rivers on all runnable grades, every weekend. Age never comes in to it.

What I would say is they do tend to get annoyed at themselves more and do tend to analyse things more....but by pointing that out you can pre-empt such crazy behaviour. Have fun!

[jmmoxon]

I know a couple of people who started after 40 & have been paddling grade 4/5 for the last few years - Donald Bean started when he retired!

Mike

[Kayak-Bloke]

Although I'd been sea paddling since 12 I didn't get introduced to whitewater until I was 35. The only advice is the earlier you start the less fear you have!

15-20 Invincible and indestructible.
20-25 You know you may pick up a few bruises but hey that's part of the fun.
25-30 You go through phases of wanting to look at things more and consider real consequences.
30-35 You know the risks and have would rather avoid stuff that might batter you.
35- onwards: "You want me to run what!? Are you insane?" "Send one of the young blokes and see what happens...."

[chykensa]

OK, so I only sea kayak, and honestly have no interest in chucking myself down a wild river in the hills (big respect to those that do BTW!), but I began only 16 months ago at the age of 49, and am thoroughly addicted now. Most of my kayaking is on the rivers and (mostly) south coast of Cornwall, and I do agree that I can pace myself much better now. I think I am more in touch with my body and its requirements (I had some serious back problems last year, so am a bit more aware of not over-doing it!).
Most of my kayaking buddies are the same age as me or older - it certainly seems to be an older mans sport now. The vast majority of 'proper' sea kayakers I see around the coast are also in their 40s or 50s, so this is borne out.
As a teacher I know that after a certain age the human brain changes its chemistry, making it more difficult to learn, but it doesn't lose that capacity all together. As a pupil learning a new set of skills, sure, I need to go over things a few more times, but I don't get out there and suddenly think "now, which paddle do I need to put in the water next?".
My advice is just go for it - no matter how old you are. There is something in this sport for everyone, and the only way you'll start enjoying it is by getting out on the water!

Andy

[SimonMW]

I just started kayaking last week at 34. I don't think you are ever too old to learn. Sometimes as we get older and do not learn new things or stay active then things may be harder to take on, but with constant practise it is easy to get into the swing of things.

In fact I think kayaking may well be better suited to older people simply because technique and skill overrides brute force and ignorance. It is funny what we in the west consider to be old sometimes!

[Yakdiver]

I started kayaking late in life, bought a sit-on-top when I was 49 and 10 years later passed my BCU star 1 and now just bought a sea kayak and loving every bit of the sport, I only wish I had done it a lot earlier.

[TechnoEngineer]

I started at 37, and wished that I'd started years ago. This thread reminds me of a pair of paddlers at the Kayakathon, the full boat name below is "Chelsea Coffin Dodgers". Made me smile ;)

[SimonMW]

For a moment there I thought those were exhaust pipes at the back of that boat!

[dan-gilbert]

Surely though there are some great advantages to starting out when you are a bit older, such as having a job which means you can have the money for kayaks and kit, and also youll more than likely have a nice warm and reliable car to get you to and from the rivers. So I don't think that it would be that bad starting at an older age.

Dan

[scottdog007]

Too old to start !

I´m 45 and have just lost my virginity :-)

[Adrian Cooper]

Anyone who thinks 30 is possibly to old to start anything is already lost. Give up now before you become disappointed.

I started at 38.

[chriscw]

I started paddling properly in my late 40s. Kayaking and Canoeing are good sports for older people who like the outdoors. As a coach I am quite happy introducing older people to paddling and many of them do take to it and enjoy it, as do many younger paddlers who I also introduced to the sport.

[garya]

They didn't think so... ;-)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... -knot.html

Sorry its old news... boom boom.

[Strad]

I can't see why people into their 40s, 50s and 60s+ shouldn't try new things as long as they respect they may not bounce as much. I've been paddling since I was ten, I'm now 42, but I have just booked up my first wakeboarding lessons because I fancy giving it a go. (I have a feeling kitesurfing will be coming sometime soon especially as I like flying big kites anyway - although a surf kayak may have to come first! )

Too old? Pah!

[jamesl2play]

To the OP: what do you mean by how far can you go? if you set yourself realistic goals you can achieve what ever you want. You might not make say the GBR team for 2012 but there is plenty of other stuff to do. I started racing catamarans when I was 47, I was crap at it. Started Mtn biking at 50 and I reckon I can give a reasonable account of myself, not racing of course. Now gone back to paddling and bought my first plastic boat at 56. I would rather pop my clogs in the seat of a kayak than a chair in a nursing home so if you see me dribbling on the course at Cardiff please wipe my chin as you pass, thanks,
Too old yeah right.

[rich gunton]

New a chap who started at 35 and was expidition paddling class 4 and 5 stuff like the Humla karnarli right up until he was 45, when he injured his neck and went back to ski mountaineering. He did have one huge advantage over most lots of money which enabled him to do these sports for six months of the year. its all about dedication, commit 100% and go where you want with it.

[eeonz]

I know that it's an advert, but its a good example.

[buck197]

Started at 52 and now 5 years later am comfortable on class 3 and do some class4. Body rotation is not as good as it used to be but just get out and do it.

[janet brown]

Body rotation is not as good as it used to be but just get out and do it.

Brian: totally agreed: main problem is not being able to look downriver from pointing upriver in a smal eddy: found I got good at turning 180 on eddy lines to see what came next though!

Janet

[Andy B (of MCC)]

A lady in my old club started paddling when she retired, aged 60.
She was having trouble getting out throught the break down at Woolacombe one year in her solo kayak, so she jumped at the chance of going in the Topo Duo - we then surfed waves with faces which were longer than the Duo by a good few feet!
Even after an accidental cartwheel and a long swim back in, she still wanted to go out for more.

That was over 10 years ago, and she's still paddling now.

Andy

[W5RAY]

I paddled when I was a kid for a little while but moved on to other sports after gaining my 2* - this was in fibreglass kayaks! Gosh!!!
After competing in many different sports over the years like football and ice hockey I found myself competing in race karts but after a number of years and as the big 40 was approaching I decided to slow it down a bit and took up golf - needless to say (although a skillful sport) it lacked the adrenalin buzz I had become used to, so I bought myself a kayak, joined a club and after a shaky start, haven't looked back. Now 3 years later I am well into it, on my way up the coaching ladder, helping out at the club, paddling white water in both kayak and canoe, even doing a bit of playboating (my 180 flip flop is awesome!:-) and slalom paddling (Div 3).
It's a great feeling to be on the river in either canoe or kayak - don't hold back - get stuck in it now! You won't regret it!

Ray

[janet brown]

.....joined a club and after a shaky start, haven't looked back..... Ray

You weren't that bad, Ray! Although......there was a certain swim on the Dart, not so much at the start of your paddling career. lol.
Love to Bracken!
Janet

[Kelvin]

A friend of mine started sea kayaking at 55, moved into whitewater and is paddling grade 4 in his sixties.

[Dug]

Although I'd been sea paddling since 12 I didn't get introduced to whitewater until I was 35. The only advice is the earlier you start the less fear you have!

15-20 Invincible and indestructible.
20-25 You know you may pick up a few bruises but hey that's part of the fun.
25-30 You go through phases of wanting to look at things more and consider real consequences.
30-35 You know the risks and have would rather avoid stuff that might batter you.
35- onwards: "You want me to run what!? Are you insane?" "Send one of the young blokes and see what happens...."

Damn according to that I'm nearly a middle aged kayaker already!

[stabi]

That picture made me chuckle, the name coffin dodgers is GENIUS lol..anyhoo im 30 and iv not started yet but am going to just want to get as much info as possible,iv played Roller derby for the past two years and need a sport that ill enjoy that wont kill my body. After a fractured coccyx,being strechered off to the hospital and two injured knee's enough is enough. xx