Common Mistakes To Avoid When Paddling In The Spring

13 Ways Spring And Early Season Paddling Mistakes To Avoid

Spring is one of the busiest seasons for paddling lovers. As soon as snow melts and temperatures increase, paddlers are eager to grab a paddle and head towards the water. Spring offers amazing paddling opportunities, as there’s often great wildlife viewing, blossoming nature at every turn, and fewer crowds.

Paddling in the spring also comes with some risks. This makes it essential you do all you can to avoid costly mistakes that are all too easy to make when paddling season begins.

Before you paddle out in early spring you must check and test your equipment for safety. Remember that rivers, lakes, and coastal waters can be very different after a long winter, with more hazards than before. Ensure you always layer, bring extra dry clothes, and dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature. Since conditions can change rapidly in early spring, ensure your plan and route are flexible.

Since spring marks the start of the paddling season for many people, this means it’s also easy to make avoidable mistakes when venturing out. Knowing how to avoid these early-season mistakes will help keep you safe, comfortable, and happy while on the water in this spring.

1. Always Dress In Layers

When you dress for paddling in the spring, layering your clothing is essential. Weather is very moody this time of year, and with cooler-than-normal waters, the slightest breeze can make you shiver.

Never dress in light clothing, even if it’s a warm day. Instead, wear layers that you can easily put on and take off as the conditions change. Start with a protective waterproof outer layer, and ensure you have at least one reliable insulating layer.

2. Don’t Choose An Overly-Ambitious Route For A First Paddle

After a long winter indoors it’s normal to have lofty paddling ambitions for the spring. These ambitions can include long and perfect paddling routes in places you’ve never explored.

While you can achieve all your paddling goals with the right planning, you should start the season with less ambitious and simpler routes. Your first few adventures should be manageable and planned with caution in mind.

3. Don’t Paddle Out Before Inspecting And Testing Gear

No matter how you store your paddling gear in the winter, you must take the time to properly test it each spring. Make a spring checklist so you remember to test everything from your paddling vessel to the paddle and all the accessories you use.

Ensuring everything works properly after months of storage will set you up for success and a safe first paddle.

4. Spend Extra Time Stretching Before And After Your Adventure

Even if you are diligent about staying in great paddling shape in the off-season, your muscles still need lots of stretching. Since paddling is a full-body workout, you should spend at least 15 minutes stretching from head to toe before and after you paddle.

Stretching before you paddle significantly reduces the risk of injury, especially on cold spring days. When you stretch after paddling you can help reduce the pain you normally experience the next day.

5. Dress For The Water Temperature, Not The Air Temperature

One of the most common paddling mistakes people make in early spring is dressing for the weather outside rather than the water temperature. Spring water temperatures are just a few degrees higher than winter temperatures, which means they are very cold.

Even if you’re expecting a warm and sunny day, you’ll find yourself chilly when you’re surrounded by cold water. Dressing for the cold water temperature will help keep your body warm and safe. It will also reduce the risk of catching a spring cold that can put you out of commission for a week or longer.

6. Make A Checklist So You Never Forget Essentials

If you don’t paddle in the winter, then there’s a good chance you have gone several months without packing a paddling bag by the time spring rolls around. Even if you are a seasoned paddler, it’s very easy to forget something crucial, especially if it’s been a while since you packed your dry bag.

To ensure you don’t forget anything on an early-season paddling adventure, remember to consult your paddling packing checklist and safety checklist. This will make packing your gear a no-brainer.

7. Don’t Assume Waters Will Be As Calm As It Was In Summer

Spring may usher in a peaceful and colorful season on land, but things can look a lot scarier on the water. Rivers that are calm in late summer may be raging with water coming from melting snow and spring rainstorms.

There are also often far more hazards like fallen trees and shifted boulders. Never assume a body of water, especially a river, will offer the same paddling experience in the Spring as it did when you paddled in autumn. Instead, scope out the paddling location first before entering the water in your vessel.

8. Don’t Forget A Change Of Warm Clothes In A Dry Bag

In addition to wearing several layers and dressing for the water temperature, it’s also smart to remember a change of warm clothes when paddling in early spring. No matter how skilled you are, there’s a chance you’ll get wetter than you like when paddling.

With such frigid waters in the early spring, sometimes the only way to warm up after getting soaked is to quickly change into dry clothes. Packing an extra thermal layer will ensure you are both safe and comfortable when paddling in early spring. Don’t make the mistake of leaving these clothes in a normal backpack. Pack them and other essentials in your dry bag so they are dry when you need them to be.

9. Remember Spring Weather Changes Fast

Unlike the long warm days of summer, spring weather is notorious for its extremes and fluctuations. Therefore, you must check the weather multiple times before you paddle. If you plan to paddle for a period longer than a few hours, continue to check the forecast. This will help you avoid getting trapped in undesirable conditions far from your launch location.

10. Listen Closely To Your Body For Pain And Fatigue

It takes time to rebuild paddling stamina after a hiatus. This is perfectly natural, and it’s something you should accept rather than rebel against. Listen carefully to your body. If it is in pain and telling you “no,” then you should listen.

Paying attention to how you feel in the early spring when the season is young is a great way to avoid the mistake of needless aches and pains from paddling.

11. Be Willing To Adjust Plan And Route

Since spring weather conditions can change in the snap of a finger, you mustn’t make the mistake of making concrete plans you can’t change. Instead, ensure all your paddling plans in early spring can be shifted.

This means you can adjust the paddling location or even the time when you launch if the forecast requires a change. Having more flexibility ensures a more enjoyable and safe journey when the season is young and the weather is moody.

12. Don’t Forget Your Paddling Buddy And A Written Float Plan

It’s always a good idea to paddle with a buddy. Whether you paddle with your life partner or with a fellow watersports enthusiast, having a buddy makes paddling in the spring safer and often more enjoyable.

Since there are a few added risks in the spring, remember to write a float plan with your detailed paddling route with times. Share this information with someone on shore, and give instructions for calling for help if you haven’t returned at a certain time.

13. Never Assume PFDs And Safety Gear Still Fit And Work

Lastly, after the holidays and lazy winter hibernation, you should never assume your paddling safety gear and clothing will fit as perfectly as they did in the summer and fall. If you gained a bit of weight over the winter then you’ll need to adjust the fit of your PFD and buy some new items. Ensure everything fits well for several days before you head out on your first spring paddling adventure. This way if it doesn’t you have time to buy new stuff that fits.

Final Notes On How To Avoid Common Spring Paddling Mistakes

Spring is a period of rebirth for paddlers. It’s when canoes, kayaks, and SUP boards are taken out of storage and prepared for a long and eventful paddling season. Before you venture out in your paddling vessel this spring, however, ensure you avoid common paddling mistakes.

Remember to dress for the water temperature, not the outside weather, and always dress in layers to account for the changing conditions. Keep your initial paddling route short, so you don’t overdo it, and always stretch thoroughly before and after.