Whitewater Kayaking Tips

Team Dagger, some of the most renowned whitewater kayakers in the world, have posted some very helpful how-to blogs about getting the most out of your Dagger whitewater kayaking experience.

Check them out below (and check back as more get added!)

Carrying Your Kayak / by Anna Levesque
I never thought much about carrying my kayak because it was something that my peers in the sport have always expected of me. 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.
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Paddling Longevity..Extending Your Whitewater Shelf Life / by Chris Gragtmans
Ultimately, all of our abilities and styles are different, but these are the rules that I have learned through the school of hard knocks. I have gotten every one of these things wrong at least once in my life, and learned from the consequences. I hope that this write-up helps you to cut out that step in the process, and continue paddling hard for as long as possible.
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First Descents For Everyone! / by Andrew Holcombe
The nice thing about first descents is that they can come in many forms, shapes, and sizes. A first descent does not have to be some crazy hard river in the middle of nowhere in some remote foreign country. It can be as simple as being on a river no one in your group has done before or finally checking out that creek in your backyard you’ve always wondered about.
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Playboat Outfitting / by Christie Glissmeyer
It can be very frustrating when you are out on a wave or in a hole and you are sliding around or falling out of your playboat every time you throw a move. Read more.

Being Environmentally Responsible / by Chris Gragtmans
We as kayakers can still make every effort possible to reduce our impact on the consumption of our world’s finite natural resources, and the pollution of our air, land and water. Read More.

Create a Carrying system for a Nomad or Mamba with only 1 cam strap / by Scott Ligare
This system is ideal to rig up if you come to an unexpected locked gate a mile or two from the river or anytime you need to carry your boat down or up a long road. Read more.

Tips and Tricks for the Dagger Green Boat / by Chris Gragtmans
The Green Boat doesn't like to be floated. You need to be skipping, planing, boofing, and carving down the river. You'll be able to boof up and over more stuff and punch bigger holes than you ever have before. Read more.

Fitness Tips to Start the Season / by Brad Ludden
The best way to start your season is by being physically prepared. There are a few key things that you can do to make your transition off the couch and onto the water as smooth as possible. First things first. CLEAN UP YOUR DIET! Read more.

Workout Tips That Win Races / by Tao Berman
People often think that because I consistently win races I’m more genetically gifted than my competitors. I’ll let you in on a secret, unfortunately for me that is not the case. There are a lot of very talented athletes and the only way to beat them is to train harder and smarter.Read More

Preparing for that Mega Trip / by Lizzy English
This article has a list of tips on going on those dream excursion. How to prepare, and what to keep in mind. This article has general advice to know for any major hauls, but discusses the Middle Kings in particular. Read more.