Adventure, Outdoor, Park, trails and beaches
To write this article, I had the chance to participate in a paddleboard clinic with Nature’s Edge Tourism. I will tell you about my experience!
By Kenza Zaoui
Adapted by Bonjour Manitoba
I didn’t grow up near the sea and although I can swim, I’m not particularly comfortable in the water. But fortunately, I was able to forget my fear:
– doing an aquatic activity for the first time on a lake where the current is calm is much more reassuring;
– we are equipped with a life jacket and an extendable “leash” that attaches to one of our legs which makes us connected to our boards at all times.
– the instructor, Lesley, is extremely positive and encouraging.
Lesley has always loved water sports and she decided to get her paddle instructor certification in 2018. Her company, Nature’s Edge Tourism, offers introduction and advanced flatwater paddleboard clinics and tours all over the province.
An introductory paddle lesson lasts approximately 2.5 hours. It starts with Safety 101: precautions to take, the importance of the life jacket, board-specific terms, how to get up and sit on the board, and how to get back on the board if you fall in the water. Everything is carefully explained, from the advice to the equipment.
There are two types of boards: inflatable boards (Isup, which is the blue board in the foreground in the photo below) and rigid boards (orange and green in the photo). I had the chance to test both and I will explain the difference a little below! Nature Edge Tourism uses boards from the Cascadia brand, which is a Canadian brand.
Then we take one paddle per person. They are extremely light because they are made of carbon fiber. We make a big circle in the grass and practice the different movements: forward, backward, turn, turn around, stop. A small strategically placed sticker lets you know which way to place the paddle.
The students then prepare their own boards by installing the fin and attaching the leash.
You can grab the board by the handle, the paddle gets stuck between the arm and the board and off you go, heading for the beach! You must enter the water at the side corner of the beach and paddle out in a seated position. This is the safest place and manner to enter the water since the rest of the beach is a designated swim zone. It is highly discouraged to paddle in a swim zone.
First impressions? It’s hard at first to know which direction we are going. I’m on the inflatable board which is extremely light and seems to follow the wind and the current. While sitting in the center of the board, I practice my forward paddle strokes to head in the direction of the rest of the group and join them.
The dreaded moment comes next: you have to stand up on the board, getting up all at once, without losing your balance and staring straight ahead so as not to fall. It’s less difficult than I thought, I didn’t fall (or at least not at that time…). On the other hand, be prepared: once standing, your legs will shake for a few minutes until you start paddling forward and get your equilibrium. It’s a bit difficult to stay stable.
Everyone standing up, we take advantage of the expanse of the lake which we cover almost entirely, crossing paths with other kayakers and a pleasure boat. It is very pleasant to see the lake from another point of view than on the shore.
We now repeat in real conditions the paddle movements learned on the grass which take on a whole new dimension. And then, after about half an hour on the water, we return to dry land for a break. Water, a snack, and new movements are taught to us. And we’re back on the lake!
I then exchange the ultra-light inflatable board for a rigid board. It is much more stable and easier! Indeed, the wider the board, the more stable it will be. Similarly, the thicker it is, the more stable it will be. That said, I got a little too caught up in the game, paddled merrily… and fell backwards in the middle of the lake. No big deal, the water was good! Lesley paddles over to check on me and helps me perform a self-rescue (how to get back on the board).
The first piece of advice is not to be afraid! The life jacket and leash will protect you and a fall in the water does not hurt. The second piece of advice, if possible, is to try both types of boards to see which one suits you best.
In terms of gear, there’s a great list on the Nature’s Edge Tourism website: swimwear or quick-drying gear, towels, sunscreen, hat, bathing shoes if you have them, sunglasses with a cord so you don’t lose them and a spare outfit (just in case…)
Are you ready to try paddleboarding?
A visit to Manitoba means travelling through Treaty 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 territory and communities signatory to Treaties 6 and 10, the original lands of the Anishinaabeg, Anish-Ininiwak, Dakota, Dené, Iiniwak, and Nehethowuk and the homeland of the Métis Nation. Its ongoing existence is thanks to these ancestors and their present day relatives who continue to love and care for the land.