The $50 cost includes instruction and a spot in a stable double kayak; no wet suit is needed.

Women race in single, double and four-women kayaks but not in canoes.

Veracruz Adventures will rent you a single or double sit-on-top kayak (prices vary).

As my husband and I lugged a big double kayak down to the water, my back twisted into a familiar, painful knot.

"These big double kayaks with rudders almost never tip," Craig responded casually.

Cost: $40 per person in single or double kayaks; special rates for groups.

I could use a little advanced training about now; double kayaks are faster than singles, and one of the paddlers ahead is a powerhouse.

They competed in seven events, earning a bronze medal in the flatwater men's double kayak 500 metre race.

Bob and I shared a double kayak, which promised stability and comfort.

Another way to change the pace was to trade off between stable double kayaks and the expedition single kayaks.