There's not many things that willingly get me out of bed before dawn on a rainy winter's morning. It really is the best. Being on the water, pushing yourself, and going on adventures with great people. Not to mention that it's great exercise. I couldn't recommend it more. The kayak in that video is an older model (2003) and only cost me £170 second-hand from an acquaintance. Considering my paddle was £150 second-hand, I can't complain about the price. It's what's known as a "river play" boat. It's designed to offer a middle ground between a bigger, more stable river running boat and a smaller, more agile play boat (essentially a trick boat). So in short, yes it is designed specifically for whitewater. You can read about the different types of whitewater kayaking here. My pure river running boat cost me £600 on a clearance offer. For reference, the latest top-of-the-line boats will set you back £1500-£2000. And the profit margins are very thin for the manufacturers, so really they should be selling them for more. If you wanted to try it out though, your best bet would be to find a local club. They will have boats, paddles, and PFDs that you can try as part of the session price. And often they will have pool sessions which can be more inviting for beginners around this time of year.
thank you! we do have a little club. membership $18 per year. i am not the club-joining type, but perhaps i will make an exception. can whitewater kayaks double as placid lake/river kayaks? probably right? if so, i may just buy one of those and if i ever get around to using it in whitewater, so much the better.
There's a maxim in kayaking: we're all between swims. And the real danger beings once you're swimming. If you don't join a club, it's sage advice to kayak with others around. Because when you fall out of your kayak in an unfavourable position, being on your own makes things a lot more dangerous and difficult. You want people around who can help you. A river running kayak can also be used as a touring kayak (i.e. one made for flat or calm water). A true touring kayak will be longer than a river runner as the added length helps to maintain speed. They'll also have a skeg (a fin centered on the bottom of the boat) that keeps the boat tracking in a straight line. You can also get crossover boats that seek to bridge the gap between the two.