This course is for all levels of kayakers...beginners to advanced. The more you know when you start this course the further we'll take you; the less you know the fewer bad habits you'll have to break which means your learning curve will be faster than the more experienced students.
Build confidence and self-reliance by learning the boat handling and safety skills needed to deal with the winds, waves, currents, and capsizes that are part of sea kayaking. This is not one of those superficial introductory lessons--you get two full days of on-the-water instruction, and no time is wasted sitting indoors theorizing. This course is offered both on weekends and as the first two days of our Five-Day Training Camps.
Although this course is designed as the perfect starting point for beginners, the level of training goes so far beyond other paddle stroke courses that it also makes a great lesson for intermediates. In fact, this lesson is a requirement for anyone who wishes to take one of our overnight Leadership Training and Trip Experience courses regardless of their experience. Even if you've been kayaking for years and have taken lots of other classes you'll still be amazed at how much more you can learn in this course; no-one has ever been too highly skilled to benefit from this course because the more you know at the start the more we'll teach you. We guarantee that anyone who completes this course will feel it was well worth while or they will get their money back.
In this course you will learn how to perform all the paddle skills (bracing strokes, seven ways to steer in side winds without slowing yourself down, etc.) necessary to competently paddle a sea kayak without the risky limitations of relying on a mechanical rudder for steering or the kayak's stability for balance. We teach feathered, unfeathered, and Greenland style paddling technique - you choose. You will also practice: wet-exits, group and self-rescues, towing swimmers and kayaks, and will begin working on the Eskimo roll (last year over 80% of our students who took this course learned to Eskimo roll in sea kayaks, and almost all who tried it succeeded in rolling with the help of a paddle float as a training aid. Everyone benefits by going through the steps leading up to rolling...it improves bracing, steering, and forward paddling). Other topics include ways to improve the speed and efficiency of your forward stroke, preventing tendinitis in the wrists and shoulders, preventing shoulder dislocations, improve your kayak's comfort and functional fit, and equipment tips that can save you many times the cost of this lesson.
To take this course, you must be comfortable with putting your head under water and be able to swim the crawl stroke and breast stroke without a buoyancy aid--you do not, however, need to be an expert swimmer (Yes we wear PFD's [life jackets] while on the water, but you still need to be a swimmer.) You must be able to lunge out of a pool without the aid of a ladder; this requirement is critical because it is very similar to what one does to re-enter their kayak after a capsize; without this ability any form of kayaking is dangerous, and we will not be able to allow you to continue with your lesson (we do not offer a refund for those who fail this exercise...if you are in doubt, go to a swimming pool or lake with a low dock or raft and test yourself before signing up). The better your health and fitness the more you'll get out this course and the more fun you will have; if fitness is a concern for you (i.e. weight, flexibility, back or shoulder problems), discuss your limits with us before signing up. Minimum age--eighteen (no minimum for private lessons).
After completing this course, beginning students generally feel comfortable paddling as a group in sheltered waters or going on intermediate trips provided they are led by an experienced sea kayaker. However, this course alone will not prepare you to lead your own trips in exposed or tidal waters; to learn these skills and gain open water paddling experience, continue your education by going on a Kayak Academy Leadership Training & Trip Experience. Anyone who has successfully completed the Paddling Strokes & Rescue Techniques course will be eligible to advance to a Leadership Training & Trip Experience course.
"I've never learned so much in two days in my life" J.A. Seattle, WA
"Most challenging for me was learning to do wet exits and Eskimo rolls, but with your encouragement I got over my fear and that feels great." S.S. Seattle, WA
Two-day course, 8:00-4:30, on Lake Sammamish, near Seattle, Washington
Tuition: $446.00 (five students maximum)
Call us to sign up or E-Mail us for more information:
Phone/Voice mail (206) 527-1825
View the Course Schedule
© George Gronseth 2003, all rights reserved.