Paddling kayak is fun, but there are risks as well

I learned to paddle kayak in quite windy weather. So did my wife. She had a very good balance, so she never fell in. I did fall in enough times to get a scare. I would say that the ideal start is in calm water, with the wind blowing towards the beach (so if you fall in, you get back to the beach easily). On top of that, if you start on shallow water, where you can stand up in the water, then it is both safer and easier to get back into the kayak. In such an environment, you can enjoy and learn safely. Below is a list of some small simple first steps to practice.

• Learn to get into a kayak from the beach and from a bridge. Both are likely to be needed as you continue paddling.
• Learn to paddle forward and to turn using a sweep. This is the basic paddling needed to know, and is enough for enjoying the kayak.
• Get to know and respect wind and waves. It is important to know in advance when you have no issues at all and when you approach your limit.

With above, you can paddle, in calm waters, and that can be enough. However, if you aim to get out on deeper water, and in less calm weather, you will benefit from more control over the kayak

• Learn to turn using bracing rudder
• Learn to do a low brace
• Learn to do sideway sculling draw
• Learn to edge the kayak
• Learn to edge the kayak
• Learn self-rescue and buddy rescue with a kayak