Tale from a participant of the Ocean Surf Kayaking Course
Kayak surfing is the best way for sea kayakers to build the skills needed in order to paddle downwind, launch and land in waves, and tour exposed coast; it's also a blast! Yet learning to surf in a sea kayak or river kayak can be a slow, frustrating way to start, so our two-day surf kayaking courses include free use of specially selected kayaks that make learning to surf easier and more fun. With the kayaks we provide, you'll spend less time swimming and more time learning to surf. You'll start off using a surfing sit-on-top kayak that relieves the fear of capsizing -- simply slide off and hop back on without the need for a paddle float or pump. These kayaks are fitted with thigh straps so you can brace and Eskimo roll them just like any other kayak. By the second day of our two-day course, students who demonstrate their ability to roll may progress to surfing in closed cockpit river and touring kayaks that we also provide at no extra cost. The kayaks we provide are unique in that they speed up your learning curve, yet the boat handling skills (catching and riding waves, bracing etc.) you'll learn with them are directly transferable to handling any kayak in any kind of waves (i.e. wind waves or tide rips in the San Juan Islands or ocean swells).
In addition to surfing and bracing technique, these courses cover surfing hazards, strategies for launching and landing, surf etiquette (rules for getting along with other surfers), and how to choose where to surf or where to land when touring exposed coasts. The combination of our state-of-the-art instruction, and the kayaks we provide assures that you will be on the fastest possible learning curve.
Even if your plans don't include trips exposed to ocean swells, playing in surf will make you a safer more confident paddler - the next time you get caught in wind waves you'll be glad you took this course. And if you dream of kayaking the outer coasts, then surfing experience is a must. So whether your goal is to cut up waves like a surfboarder or survive in surf with a loaded sea kayak, our surf courses are the way to start. You do not need to be an expert kayaker to take our surfing lesson, but we recommend that you have at least a high percentage of success with your roll when practicing.
WARNING:Kayak surfing is addictive!
You'll find all of our surf kayaking instructors share George's patient & safety conscious approach to teaching, and all are avid sea kayakers as well, so they know how to relate the things you'll learn from surfing to sea kayaking skills you'll use whenever it gets rough.
Unless otherwise noted, these courses are taught on the Washington coast at a beach about 2 1/2 hours drive from Seattle. Camping and hotels are available nearby.
$446.00 (includes two-days instructin, free use of a dry suit, kayaks, paddle, PFD, and helmet.) Four students max.
Call us to make a reservation or E-Mail us for more information:
Phone/Voice mail (206) 527-1825
View the Course Schedule
© George Gronseth 2003, all rights reserved.