Anybody here whitewater kayak?
I kayak-surf. It's like whitewater kayaking...without shallows and rocks
Not really. Basic paddling techniques are extremely simple and even advanced techniques aren't terribly hard to learn.
It's harder to learn if you opt for a cockpit kayak (as opposed to a sit-on-top) because you will need to learn how to bail out, self-rescue and eskimo roll. I have a sit-on-top (much easier in the surf) so I don't know much about rolling, but most sit-inside folk I talk to say it's one of those things that's easy to learn but hard to master and you need to practice it whenever you can.
Additional things to consider:
Sit-on-tops are usually self-bailing. Water that gets in flows out through holes in the boat.
Cockpit boats are more stable and sturdy, not to mention lighter, but they don't self-bail (if water gets in the cockpit, you've got to bail, get a bilge pump, or get ashore and dump).
If so, are there lessons available?
There are lessons available. Most any whitewater place probably offers classes. I know L.L. Bean also offers a number of academies that include basic and advanced techniques, as well as week-long (or longer) expeditions. The classes are surprisingly cheap (<$100 a day) considering all they offer. They also have some good resources at
this page.
How much would it cost to get into the sport? (kayak and accessories)
It's one of those high-entry-cost games, but after that, the prices drop dramatically.
You'll likely spend $400-$1000 for your first kayak.
Figure another $100 for a decent paddle (don't skimp on your paddle!)
another $80 for a PFD.
$50 for a helmet
and maybe $100-$200 for accessories (spray skirt, ballast, drybags if you get a cockpit, leg straps, backrest if you get a sit-on-top, paddle tether, maybe some accessory hatches, etc).
When you're buying a boat, ask if you can "test drive" it. It's best to try and get a feel for the way the boat tracks (stays straight) and turns.
Remember that longer boats stay straighter and are harder to turn. For whitewater you'll want something shorter.
Also remember that narrow boats roll over more easily, so you'll want something wider.
And don't let anyone try to sucker you into buying an "all-around" boat. If you're doing a lot of class 1 or 2 whitewater and flatwater, don't get a longer boat just because the salesman says a short boat won't be good for touring.
The guy near me LOVES to do this. He tells people not to buy surf-specific or flatwater-specific boats in favor of boats that do neither especially well. He pulled this on me but I told him to sod off and bought a surfing boat. Only once have I bothered to take it in the bay. Meanwhile many of my cohorts in the surf struggle on their 12-foot Cobra Explorers rolling and diving in the waves wishing they had gotten something smaller.
Know what you want to use it the most for and get one that suits.
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