With more than 12 million people taking part each year, kayaking is one of the fastest-growing outdoor activities in the U.S. today. Participation in this fun and exhilarating pastime has grown nearly 20% in the past few years. Kayaking is the perfect book to teach these new paddlers the essential skills and techniques they'll need to get out on the water. The experts at the American Canoe Association will provide readers with practical guidance on gear and equipment selection, nutrition, fitness and stretching, water trail etiquette, and safety and survival skills; basic paddling techniques for flatwater, river and whitewater, and sea kayaking, as well as instruction on more complex maneuvers and rolls. Kayaking also includes the Quick Start Your Kayak DVD. This DVD reinforces the basic safety information and rescue techniques found in the book. It also features videos of kayaking strokes and maneuvers, making it easier to learn the proper technique.

Grab your paddle and enjoy Illinois' beautiful rivers. This comprehensive guidebook--the only one for Illinois--features 64 trips on 33 rivers. Rivers covered include Cashe, Des Plains, Embarras, Fox, Galena, Mackinaw, Middle Fork, and Spoon. This is the ultimate guide for canoe or kayak enthusiasts of all abilities.

Completely updated, Canoeing & Kayaking Florida, 2nd is the most comprehensive guide to the best of Florida's unique streams, springs, creeks, and rivers. Engaging and concise yet filled with carefully selected details vital to any successful Florida paddling adventure, Canoeing & Kayaking Florida spares readers encyclopedic fluff in favor of practical, no-nonsense information. With expanded regional maps and revised river maps, Canoeing & Kayaking Florida is simply the best and most informative Florida paddling guide available. Florida has a lot of sand, but it also has a lot of water--and not just for drinking. It's only natural that native Floridians and transplants alike paddle and ply the waterways of this waterway-rich state. Of course, Florida's native Indians and subsequent settlers used the creeks, streams, and rivers long before the first plastic kayak or fiberglass canoe took to this watery paradise. In the early 1970s, the state of Florida established a canoe trail system, which was born out of paddlers discovering the many destinations here. For various reasons, this state-sanctioned canoe trail system lost momentum. Building on the state's efforts and adding their own discoveries, paddling enthusiasts Elizabeth F. Carter and John L. Pearce brought together the rich and varied streams, creeks, and rivers of Florida. Together, they penned the original version of portions of this book, A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to the Streams of Florida, Volume I. Their book covered the north central part of the state as well as the panhandle. This was followed by A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to the Streams of Florida, Volume II, written by Lou Glaros and Doug Sphar. Their book covered the southern half of the state. Paddling grew steadily in Florida due in part to these excellent guidebooks, establishment of paddling clubs, positioning of outfitters on rivers, and population growth. More people explored new waterways, not only in new kayaks made of varied plastic but also ultra-lightweight canoes easy to paddle and transport. More recently, a rise in the use of recreational kayaks has led to a rebirth of paddling's popularity. In 2004, Molloy worked on a new consolidated paddling guide to Florida and refloated previously covered rivers, checking access points, and floated new waterways to highlight newer opportunities for Florida paddlers. Several new wilderness streams were added to the book. In the new 2007 edition, Molloy and Elizabeth Carter added a few more streams, and revised the maps for easier use. For over 20 years, Menasha Ridge Press's Canoeing & Kayaking Florida has provided the essential information needed to paddle the waterways of the Sunshine State.

Spanning the 200-mile stretch of the Florida Keys, this field guide to the entire island chain highlights 50 paddling adventures, many for canoeists as well as kayakers. Trips include short paddles suitable for beginners and children, half-day trips as well as day-long and overnight excursions.

Kuhne describes the different types of kayaks and their specific uses, as well as basic and advanced paddling techniques, conditioning, trip planning, and safety. Special sections on navigating river currents and avoiding hazards make this book an excellent resource for beginning kayakers. 144 drawings.

An 8-week program to get fit and have fun. Kayaks are great for recreational paddling, but did you know that you can also use your boat to get fit, tone your muscles and develop endurance? Kayaking for Fitness shows how anyone of any age or fitness level can use kayaking to get a great full body workout, or as a low-impact complement to other sports like running or cycling. Couch potatoes to serious competitors are invited to join coach, marathon paddler, and Canadian Downriver Racing Champion Jodi Bigelow as he guides kayakers of all levels to greater health, increased energy and full body fitness. Kayaking for Fitness offeres a comprehensive 8-week program to get fit fast, with kayak workouts tailored for beginner, intermediate and advanced paddlers.