Its very important to know your boat, get a little lingo, and know what your gear is for, and how it should fit.
Obviously, number one is your kayak. It is probably made out of fiberglas or some blow molded polymer. It has a front (bow) and a rear (stern). The big opening (where you put your butt) is called the cockpit. Inside the cockpit there are many items to keep your lower body in contact with your boat, these include the foot pedals, thigh braces, (maybe some) hip braces, your seat, and a back brace. These all help keep you snug in your boat, and help give you more control over the boat’s position in the water. You may also have some floats in your boat (usually placed in the stern). These help give the boat more buoyancy, especially after some water has accumulated in the boat.
Looking on the outside, the top of the boat is often referred to as the deck. Usually the front and rear of the boat has loops that can be used to tow or lift the kayak (there are called grab loops.) Also, some kayaks have a drain hole in the rear (make sure your plug is secure before you put the boat in the water.)
When selecting a boat, you need to consider your size, your skill level, and your river intensions. Typically, the bigger a person is, the larger the boat they required (for adequate buoyancy.) If your intention is to run rivers and cut through large rapids, you’ll want a longer, slimmer river running boat. If you just want to dart in and out of holes, turning tricks and hot-dogging, you’ll want a shorter, flatter-hulled, play boat. Finally, as a beginner, you’ll want a relatively stable, symmetric boat, whereas some more advanced boaters may prefer the less stable, more edgy, play boats.
Now that you know your boat lets take a look at you. Hopefully you are wearing a helmet. This will protect your brain from all those neat rocks that you can’t see under the surface of the water. You are probably also wearing a Personal Floatation Device (PFD) or life vest…this really comes in handy when you are swimming. Depending on the weather, you might be wearing a paddle jacket. Sometimes the rivers are cold, and paddle jackets keep you fairly dry yet allow good shoulder mobility (a key to successful paddling.) Your next piece of gear should be your skirt. Most skirts have a neoprene ring this fits around your abdomen and keeps water from entering your boat. It is best to wear the skirt fairly high up your torso, but keep it under your PFD. The last bit of wearable gear is your shoes. Hopefully you have an old pair of Tevas or Water Sandals. You’ll be carrying your kayak over rocky ground (not a lot of fun in bare feet), and if you happen to swim, those sandals will save the bottom of your feet from any pointy objects as well.
Finally, you have your paddle. The typical paddle is approximately 6 feet long. It has a shaft and two blades. The blades are typically offset about 45 degrees for easier paddle strokes. Hopefully your paddle is light, but made out of a stiff material, that will give you powerful strokes. You’ll also want to have tough material for your blades since they frequently slap rocks and other rough stuff.