So, you may have sat inside a kayak before, and perhaps held the paddle upside down, found yourself running into others or have little to no directional control. This session is intended for the amateur paddler who would like to increase their knowledge and expertise on the water. This 3 to 4 hour session will provide skills to maneuver your kayak around obstacles, how to properly hold your paddle and use it, ways to enter and exit your kayak.. and more.
Prerequisite for this class is a basic understanding about kayaking (getting in/out – how to paddle forward/stop/reverse, and stability in a kayak) – or completion of Kickstart your Kayak class. If concerned about your physical ability for this class, please read our EEC. Class size will be limited to 5, unless otherwise noted.
Training will take place at a local, quiet, protected inland lake. Before hitting the water, there will be at least an hour’s worth of classroom setting. Use of Kayak, paddle and PFD are included in the price. In this session, you will understand and practice:
How to prepare yourself for your paddle trip
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Paddler etiquette
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Water hazards
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Dressing for the conditions
Refining your paddle stroke
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Understanding what a paddler’s box is, and how to use your whole body to paddle (not just your arms)
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Learn how using different angles of the blade will change how you paddle
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Utilize a proper grip on the paddle shaft
Kayak Razzle Dazzle
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Learn how to lean – subtle body re-positioning = big results
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Defining what edging can do for performance
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Finding the balance point on the kayak
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Understanding how to move your boat sideways with draws- in/out of water
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Learning how braces provide momentary support, so you don’t fall in
Getting wet
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Discover the skill of wet exits
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Practice a how to get back into your kayak with a self rescue
Turning where you want to go –
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Low brace turns
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Stern rudder