How To Properly Prepare For A Kayaking Competition

There’s a special thrill that is felt when we come into contact with nature. Paddling against the waves while kayaking will definitely get your adrenaline running and leave you yearning for more. If you are looking for a fun way to enjoy the great outdoors, then kayaking is a great place to start. If you are aiming to become a pro, you need to play your part towards getting there.

A kayaking competition is an opportunity to compete against the big sharks and perfect your skills and confidence. These are the top 10 tips that will make you a better kayaker:

1. Be Cautious

Although kayaking can be fun and breathtaking, you should do your best to keep the excitement under control. Colliding with the waves is definitely thrilling, but not as much as approaching and overtaking your opponents. Although the goal is to reach the finish line first, always consider the other competitors. Before you surpass your opponents, study them and employ the best tactics when approaching them. Making the wrong move in the wrong place will bring it all to an end before you can prove yourself to the judges.

2. Be Prepared

Before the big day, ensure that you have everything you need. Have a list with you, checking off the items as you pack them. You don’t want to get to there and realize that you’re missing your life jacket or the main component, your paddle. If you are a pro kayaking champion, you have to be keener than most people. There have been cases of opponents damaging other competitors’ kits in the hopes of sabotaging their chances. If possible, you should store your gear in a secure place where only you have access to it, since you’d rather be safe than sorry.

3. Keep It Healthy

You can have all your gear and other essentials in check, yet have the day ruined by an upset tummy. If this happens, you’d probably never forgive yourself, so take precautions. Bathroom troubles are your worst nightmare when participating in a kayaking competition. Every kayaking competitor should keep away from foods that don’t agree with them a day before the event. It’s understandable that the anticipation, excitement, and anxiety may be nerve-wracking, especially the night before the event, but you should also keep away from beer or any alcoholic drinks. A hangover doesn’t sit well with the rocking motions of the kayak on the water.

4. Adequate Rest

It is necessary to rest your body adequately before the big event. After all, you depend on it to keep you going and hopefully emerge the winner. Eye bags under the eyes is your body’s way of telling you that it hasn’t had enough sleep. Only you understand your body, so you know how much time you need for it to be completely rested. However, the experts advise that you sleep for no less than 8 hours per night.

5. Observe Time

Imagine how frustrating it would be to wake up and realize that the competition started an hour ago. These things happen, especially if you haven’t planned for it very well. Set your alarm an hour or two before you have to walk out the door. Eat your breakfast early enough to give it ample time to digest. Take a shower to freshen up and awaken you fully, pack up your gear and give yourself enough time to get to the site on time.

6. Stick To Your Routine

Panic can be your worst enemy when it comes to kayaking competitions, or ANY competition. It is advisable that you maintain the same routine as the other training days. Keep calm, review all that you’ve learned, and focus on the fun part of the event and how easy it’s going to be now that you’ve had a lot of practice. Focusing on the negatives will only set you up for failure. Remember, sticking to the routine will enable your body to stay calm during the competition.

7. Incorporate Some Music Into It

Music is soothing, hence advisable to compile a relaxing, yet motivating playlist. Listen to it on the way to the competition. This is a vital step so be tactful when compiling the list. Music that dampens your spirit will interfere with your self-esteem so steer clear of that. On the other hand, the music shouldn’t over-energize you into thinking that this is the time to try something new or drastic, as it may spell doom not only for you, but other competitors as well.

8. Warm Up

Before the competition begins, it is advisable to perform a little bit of a warm up. This prepares your body and mind for the task ahead. Take care not to exhaust yourself though. Paddle slowly after doing some nice stretches and drink enough water to stay hydrated if it’s hot outside. Also put on some sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun.

9. Channel Your Mental Focus

Everyone has that one thing that boosts their confidence. Some socialize with other competitors, others spend time with their fans, while others scroll through their previous competition photos to remind them of how amazing they are. Find an activity, memory or view something that gets you in the mood to win.

10. Keep Cool

There is no guarantee that things will run smooth during the competition. Kayaks overturn, paddles break, competitors surpass you, your arm gets a cramp that interferes with your ability to paddle, etc. You should never throw a fit in full view of your fans, judges, and sponsors, as it will taint your image. Keep it cool and work towards overcoming the obstacle. The smile doesn’t have to be genuine, it just has to convince your sponsors that you’ve got this!

Kayaking competitions are fun, so stay focused on that and everything else will flow naturally. Fear and panic will magnify even the smallest challenges, hence interfere with your mental focus and your chance of winning. Get some moral support from your family and friends for some hype and motivation. Remember, you’re only as good as you think you are!

14 Health Benefits Of Kayaking

Look, y’all, so being a kayaking enthusiast, I know that kayaking is plain fun for me, but have you stopped to think about how beneficial this activity is for your body and mind, both? In this article, we broke down 14 health and social benefits of kayaking so if you weren’t aware of how great it can be for you, now you know:

14 Underrated Benefits of Kayaking:

1. Cardio Workout For Weight Loss

One of the most direct and predictable benefits of kayaking is the burning of calories for weight loss. Kayaking might look nice and peaceful in pictures, but rest assured it is a lot more demanding than it appears with the constant paddling, whether it is with or against the current. The constant isotonic movements as you paddle acts as a form of cardio that burns calories and helps you to lose weight.

2. Improves Muscle Tone

In addition to burning calories, paddling during kayaking offers you the benefit of improved muscle tone. The same principle of isotonic movement applies here and the resistance from the water more or less acts in the same way as weights and resistance machines at the gym would. The best part about kayaking for improved muscle tone is the fact that pretty much all of your muscles are engaged. However, it is the arms, legs and the core that benefit most from the toning.

For a great kayak option, check out the Killer Kayak Oru kayak review.

3. Improves Endurance

If you are one of those people who cannot go up a flight of stairs without stopping about a hundred times to catch your breath, then kayaking is probably something that you should try. The slow and steady pace on still waters gives your body time to adapt to the increased metabolism and oxygen demand. This is in contrast with other workouts that do not allow slow and steady buildup of endurance. With kayaking, the slow approach ensures more long lasting endurance and exercise tolerance which is good not only for your muscles, but for the overall health of your heart.

4. Improves Joint Flexibility

One of the best benefits of kayaking: It seems that paddling in your kayak is responsible for all the benefits and improvement of joint flexibility. The constant forward and back movement of the shoulders, wrists and elbows helps to improve joint flexibility gets rid of stiffness. This also applies to a few other joints not involved in the paddling, including the hip joints and the knees. The result is the elimination of stiffness and rigidity which can not only be painful, but also debilitating in severe cases.

5. Exposure To Fresh Air

Whether you live in a leafy suburb or a pollution ridden metropolis, there is no denying the fact that nothing on earth compares to the benefits of clean fresh air. Kayaking is one of the best ways to experience this beautiful gift of nature. The fresh air helps to clear the lungs and detoxify your body by increasing the concentration of oxygen in your blood. Kayaking helps you enjoy this not only by exposing you to nature, but also by forcing you to breath deep through constant physical exertion.

6. Sun Exposure For Vitamin D

Kayaking is an outdoor activity and being outdoors means that you are exposed to the sun directly. This is a major health benefit, as it ensures that your body absorbs one of the most important ingredients in synthesis, vitamin D. This vitamin has several functions in the body, but the promotion of calcium absorption in the gut and bone formation are without a doubt the two most important.

7. Improves Mental Health

Kayaking offers the perfect combination of exertion and relaxation. It’s almost like someone joined yoga and aerobic workouts, threw in a bit of outdoor love and voila! Here, the slow and steady motion is again to thank as it promotes relaxation and contributes a lot to stress relief. Exposure to the beautiful and quiet outdoors also contributes to improved mental health. The release of endorphins during physical exertion is the icing on the cake, making this one of the very best ways to relax and free your mind from all stress.

8. Improves Aerobic Capacity

In simple terms, kayaking improves your body’s ability to adapt to low oxygen conditions without having to turn to anaerobic metabolism. This means that you have less to worry about in terms of muscle cramps and fatigue as a result of lactic acid build-up in the muscles.

9. Adrenaline Boost

Kayaking is usually done on slow moving water. However, it can be done on fast moving streams and rivers, in which case it is referred to as whitewater kayaking. This is every adrenaline junkie’s dream as it is one of the best ways to get an adrenaline boost. It has several health benefits including improved mental clarity, improved heart function and burning calories as a result of increased adrenaline in the system.

10. Improves Reflexes And Hand-Eye Coordination

These benefits also apply with kayaking done on fast moving water. In this case, you have to make fast decisions and act on them with just as much haste and agility. This is how kayaking contributes to improved reflexes, ensuring that you recognize threats and act on them quickly, even in ordinary day to day activities… one of the best benefits of kayaking!

11. Team Building And Bonding

Kayaking is never fun when done alone and is therefore one of the best ways to enjoy the company of friends, family or even colleagues. Whether you are paddling lazily through a still stream or pretty much paddling for your life in whitewater kayaking, it is bound to be a team building activity that everyone will enjoy. If you have a teenager, this is another great benefit of kayaking that will teach him or her how to work with other people in productive manner.

12. Oneness With The Outdoors

A good number of people these days spend very little time interacting with nature. In fact, for most people, the routine is home, car, work, repeat. Kayaking helps eliminate the monotony of this routine by giving you a chance to enjoy the outdoors and get in touch with nature.

13. Productive Pastime Activity

It is said that idle hands are the devil’s playthings. Therefore, instead of wasting your free time with pointless activities, you should give kayaking a try. It is more or less the ideal pastime activity with the perfect combination of health benefits and outdoor exposure that anyone can enjoy.

14. Improves Self-Esteem

Finally, kayaking indirectly contributes to your social life by improving your self-esteem. This is made possible through many different means including weight loss and toning, adrenaline boosts among thrill seekers, and the joy of overcoming different fears as with whitewater kayaking. Most underrated benefit of kayaking… after all, if an individual doesn’t have good self-esteem, they will struggle with being a confident and productive person in the long run.

Benefits of Kayaking Summary!

We listed 14 ways that kayaking can benefit you, your family, and friends! Kayaking can seem intimidating, but as long as you start out nice and easy, everyone involved can have tons of fun.

If you want to browse the best kayaks, feel free to browse our site.

Hobie Pro Angler 14 VS Hobie’s Angler 12 Option?

It’s easy to see why kayak fishing is a fast growing sport. It’s the perfect way to unwind and spend a lazy Sunday on the water with friends and family. It’s also exciting because you get to cruise around in your own little boat and there’s always the chance you’ll get to wrestle with a monster catch. If you are having a hard time selecting a fishing kayak, we have great news for you…

In this article, our Hobie Pro Angler 14 review, goes in-depth to see if it is the best fishing kayak on the market and for all the reasons we discuss below! (PS to check out this particular kayak on Amazon, you may click the ad below for more details, plus pricing):

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Hobie Pro Angler 14 Overview

The new Hobie Pro Angler 14 is the lightest, most efficient, feature-filled boat on the market today. It’s a revolutionary design breakthrough with extraordinary stability. It has everything you need to maximize your angling experience without sacrificing comfort, functionality or storage capabilities.

Whether you are drift casting, dry flying, or just exploring new salt water haunts, the boat’s super stable, standing-friendly, rotomolded polyethylene hull encourages all styles of fishing. The new Vantage seating system with Boa Lumbar support is the most comfortable seating platform on any kayak. And with fully adjustable back, bottom, height and lumbar support, you’ll find the perfect position in the Hobie Pro Angler 14 kayak.

Its huge bow and stern lockers and on deck storage provide an impressive 272 kg payload. The Hobie Pro Angler 14 fishing kayak comes with the H-Rail cup holder and a horizontal rod rack. Other features include a tracing keel, a retractable skeg that improves tracking over long distances, XL padeyes, and the Lowrance-ready transducer mount.

Construction Of The Hobie Pro Angler 14 Fishing Kayak

Clearly the design and implementation came from people actually using fishing kayaks and adjusting the Hobie Pro Angler 14 kayak accordingly. Everything is where it should be: every option makes sense, from the multiple lash points for tools, to the side soft pockets, and the tackle tray storage in the center hatch.

Measuring 14 feet in length, the beefy Hobie Pro Angler 14 kayak will be ready to haul big fish. Given its huge size, you will confidently drag big fish to the deck without sacrificing stability.

You should not have to drill any holes in the Hobie Pro Angler 14 kayak. But just in case you need to, there are “boards” on each side where you can drill to insert any piece of gear. If the day comes when you don’t like your setup, just order new boards. It even is set up for a sail kit and livewell tank. There are waterproof connectors for your fish finder and a drop down transducer mount too.

What Makes The Hobie Pro Angler 14 Special & Better?

Stability

For most fishermen, stability over speed is a sacrifice they’re willing to make. Considering that much of the time spent in a fishing kayak is spent fishing rather than racing around, stability is often one of the most important features to consider.

The Hobie Pro Angler 14 offers a level of stability and utility that surpasses everything else on the market, featuring a seat design closer to what one would expect to see on a boat. The wide hull of the Hobie Pro Angler 14 provides a stable platform for standing, which allows for great sight fishing.

Designed For The Fisherman

The Hobie Pro Angler 14 is designed with the fisherman in mind. It’s already equipped with numerous features to help fishermen out, such as the rod holder and storage spot for their paddle and other things.

Perfect For All Fishing Environments

The Hobie Pro Angler 14 is the perfect fishing boat for all environments. From lakes to rivers to the open ocean, this boat knows no boundaries. You can stand and fish with incredible stability, securely store six rods horizontally and two vertically, and access your tackle with ease.

Rudder Tension Adjustment System

This allows for simple fine tuning of the rudder lines with the twist of a knob. There is a larger rudder available as an extra option, which provides tighter turning and improved tracking.

Comfort

As if the MirageDrive and H-Rail didn’t already make this kayak a top winner, the seating really takes the Hobie Pro Angler 14 to the next level. The Vantage seat has a fully adjustable seat back with lumbar support, and the whole thing collapses, making more room to do stand-up kayaking. This seat is more comfortable and more adjustable than your office and beach chairs. Maybe it’s time to move the office onto the lake!

Hand Free Propulsion

This model features the MirageDrive, a hands-free propulsion system that enables the use of your legs when propelling so that your hands are free to complete other tasks.

Pedaling, rather than paddling, makes sense because leg muscles are naturally larger than arm muscles, so they won’t be as tired when you’re boating over long distances. If you are normally happy using a paddle for propelling, then feel free to do that, but this system will make it a whole lot easier.

The pedals are connected to turbo fins, which means you can move fairly quickly and easily, even over choppy water. Primary and secondary steering handles allow the boat to be steered from either the port or starboard sides of the boat.

Utilities

The deck area incorporates every feature you will ever need on your fishing trip, like retractable rudder controls, storage spaces, a work area and drink holders, which are all at your fingertips.

Well Organized Cockpit

There is plenty of standing room in front of the seat with no annoying protrusions to get in the way. The rectangular hatch, tackle management system, H-Rail mounting system, replaceable mounting boards, and horizontal rod holder all serve to keep your cockpit well organized.

Hobie H-Rail

The Hobie H-Rail system has an all new aluminum dodecagon rail that offers a strong, corrosion resistant mounting platform to mount more gear in more places.

Storage

You do not need to carry anything like a crate or cooler with you, because there is ample storage space for everything that you need while fishing or simply kayaking in the Hobie Pro Angler 14. For dry storage, there is a huge bow hatch for storing bulky items and an 8 inch round hatch located in the stern tank well. It’s perfect for carrying a cooler or a live bait well.

Pros

The Hobie Pro Angler 14 kayak is extremely stable and almost hands free
Many built in features
The MirageDrive is fast, compared to paddling
Hobie Pro Angler 14 has 2 hidden flip-up Plano tackle boxes built in
The rudder steering can be done with your left or right hand

Cons

Its sheer size can be problematic for people trying to move around in small, cluttered bodies of water. Make sure that the massive Hobie Pro Angler 14 kayak will fit in your fishing spot before purchasing it.

Check out the Hobie Pro 14 Fishing Kayak here!

Hobie Pro Angler 14 Review Final Verdict

The Hobie Pro Angler 14 is the ultimate fishing kayak in the Hobie range of boats. In this Hobie Pro Angler 14 review, we have covered a lot of details.

Many of their kayaks have features for fishing, but the Mirage Pro Angler 14 is the only one designed with the angler exclusively in mind. Looking for an affordable, durable, lightweight, ultra-stable, built-for-anglers personal watercraft? The Hobie Pro Angler 14 is top of the line.

Enjoy the ride!

Hobie Pro Angler 12 – Is the Mirage Worth It Or Another Disappointment?

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Hobie Pro Angler 12 Overview

When you are looking into versatility, comfort and easier kayaking, and explicitly for a fishing kayak, then you will not go wrong with the Hobie Pro Angler 12 kayak. The improvements that have been made have sought to boost efficiency, comfort and durability. The storage areas have also become more spacious and accessible to allow you to have all that you need within reach at all times.

The portability of the Hobie Pro Angler 12 is also impressive, bearing in mind that it boasts all the features of a big boat. This fishing kayak is a must-have for that passionate fisherman because it has no boundaries when it comes to conquering the waters. It delivers exceptionally, whether it’s used in calm water such as a lake, or choppy waters like the ocean.

The Hobie Pro Angler 12 kayak is pioneering a new look in the kayaking world. It has a great capacity of 500lb which allows you not only to carry a lot around, but also allowing for free movement, including standing, when fishing. The hull construction is made of rotomolded Polyethylene which allows you to strongly dominate any kind of waters. Our Hobie Mirage Pro review will delve deep into its construction, storage space, and much more. Let’s jump right in:

Construction of the Hobie Pro Angler 12

The Hobie Angler 12 kayak is basically structured for one crew member whose comfort is assured by the vantage seating system. Its build is centered on the Mirage Drive with Glide Technology pedal drive system. The size of the Hobie Pro Angler 12 allows for ocean fishing and to adequately counter waves at 12 inches long by 36 inches wide.

There is also emphasis on providing a basic range of colors that fits different tastes, including yellow, dune, and the more adventurous camo. The rotomolded Polyethylene which completes the hull design increases the kayak’s versatility and efficiency.

Disappointment?

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Hobie Pro Angler 12 Overview

Construction of the Hobie Pro Angler 12

SPECIAL FEATURES of the Hobie Pro Angler 12

What makes the Hobie Pro Angler 12 kayak a state-of-the-art kayak are the outstanding features that have been improved on for the best results. The uniqueness of this majestic kayak comes with the following new features:

1. Powered By MirageDrive 180

This is basically the new pedal kayak drive which replaces the cumbersome paddle, bringing about efficiency and ease of use when kayaking and fishing. It’s powered by your legs, giving your legs a workout instead of your arms, and it’s also easier to use your legs.

enjoy the hobie angler 12 fishing kayak

2. Vantage Seating

When seating of the Hobie Pro Angler 12 was being considered in the improvement process, the main focus was to ensure the highest level of comfort for long periods on the water. The seat comes with lumbar support, as well as adjustable height on both the back and bottom. It also creates that extra space to allow you to fish while standing comfortably. To make the experience more visionary, the seat of the Hobie Pro Angler 12 can also be jacked up five inches higher to better your vision.

3. Horizontal Rod Storage

Six rods can be stored (!!!) and secured on the Hobie Pro Angler 12 with the horizontal holder positions creating more space and protecting your rod tips. Security is key if the wind gets stronger while fishing.

4. Dual-Steering

Kayaking is made more convenient by this feature which allows for primary and secondary steering. It’s therefore possible to cycle from both the port and the starboard sides of the Hobie Pro Angler 12 kayak.

5. Tracking Skeg

This is an exemplary feature that comes to your your aid and covers you for long stretches out there on the water. You can adjust the skeg depending on the weather conditions to help stabilize the Hobie Pro Angler 12. If you put the skeg up, the kayak will turn into the wind. When it’s down, it will turn downwind. If you put it down halfway, the kayak will turn crosswind. The current is the same as the wind in this situation.

Hobie skegs on the Angler Pro 12 kayak - cameo

6. LiveWell Compatibility

The Hobie Pro Angler 12’s live-bait tank is not only a massive eight gallon tank, but is also designed with the angler in mind. The Livewell is basically the heartbeat of a successful fishing experience, recirculating fresh water throughout to keep your bait alive.

7. Lowrance Ready System

The Hobie Pro Angler 12 comes customary with an incorporated transducer support and pre-installed through-hull cable plugs.

Does the Hobie Pro Angler 12 Kayak Contain Enough STORAGE?

Storage is very important especially so that you don’t have to leave anything behind or rather lack certain things while in deep waters. Just in front of the adjustable seat, there is a rectangular flap that allows you to access the mesh compartment and pivoting storage. The pivoting storage further holds two tackle boxes of standard size. Just below this storage, there is another storage area that is easily accessible.

hobie Pro Angler 12 storage compartments

Check out the Hobie Cat Company go into details about the adjustable H-Bar on the sweet Hobie Pro Angler 12 kayak:

PROS & CONS

Pros

Comfort: The vantage seating is the center of comfort on the Hobie Pro Angler 12. The lumbar support and adjustability makes it very comfortable, so the experience is that much more enjoyable.
Color Variety And Choice: This is a specification that goes a long way in satisfying different preferences for different customers in varying age groups. The Hobie Pro Angler 12 is available in yellow, camo and dune.
Durability: The Hobie Pro Angler 12 kayak is known to weather all tough conditions out there on the water with minimum damage. The rotomolded polyethylene which completes the hull design is a great material that ensures the durability of the boat.
Rust-Resistant: It’s a major worry for many when going kayaking in salty waters that the boat will corrode. The Hobie H-rail, for example, comes with a rust-resistant mounting system that ensures the Hobie Pro Angler 12 kayak can go into salty waters without worries of corrosion. Tests have been done in these waters that prove this to be true.
Extra Features: There are two outstanding features, the H-Rail Horizontal Rod Rack and the H-Rail Cup Holder. These are very simple features which makes the kayak stand out. It’s convenient to have your rods out of your way and safely mounted. The cup holder ensures your drink is within reach at all times giving you that extra comfort.
Portability: The Hobie Pro Angler 12 kayak can easily fit on the back of many pick-up trucks. It does weigh over 100 pounds, so you may or may not need help lifting it and putting it in the water.

Cons

Expensive: Costly, so be prepared to fork over a few thousand dollars. However, the Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 12 will serve you for years as well as give you more than your desired results. The comfort, durability and sleekness will leave you forgetting about the price over time because it is so well made and reliable.

Hobie Pro Angler 12 Review & Conclusion

If you are searching for a fishing kayak, then be assured that the Hobie Cat Company is one of the best around and is a leading manufacturer of such kayaks. The Hobie Pro Angler 12 kayak is no exception to this and as the videos and images show, this is a highly functioning and long lasting investment. In the end, it is your call, but this is a very, very solid fishing kayak.

For tons of other options, check out our best of articles right here:

PS. The following is another look at the Hobie Anger 12!