Kayak Skills Refresher Course

COURSE OVERVIEW

• Equipment, clothing and safety
  • The must haves and could haves and why it matters
  • Weather, statistics and us
• Strokes
• Stable edging for turns
• Wet exits and re-entry
• Towing
• Maneuverability: How to get from here to there most efficiently and how to handle the boat in changing circumstances
  
• Surf landings
• Chart use from level of water
• Choosing wisely
• Repairs

REGISTRATION, PAYMENTS & CANCELLATIONS

Payment in full is required at the time of registration.

Full refunds will be made for all cancellations that occur 60+ days out. A refund of 50% will be provided for cancellations that occur 30-60 days prior to start of course.

There are no refunds for cancellations within 30 days of start date. Course will go ahead regardless of weather. Please dress appropriately.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

DAY ONE

On Land

Introduction:
Who we are and why we are here

Details:

• Let’s look at gear
• Strokes and paddles (types and why they matter)
• Traveling as a group
• Traveling as a group in traffic
• Wet-exit and re-entry solo and with help

In The Water

Drills:

• Forward stroke 30-60 mins
• Forward sweep 30-60 mins
• Combinations 30-60 mins
  Break 15 mins
• Reverse sweep/back-stroke 30-60 mins
• Free paddle 1-1.5 hours
• Clean gear
• Q and A

DAY TWO

On Land

• Review of day 1 on land
• Q and A

In The Water

• Stroke review 1 hour
• Combination drills 1 hour
• Edging 1 hour
  Break
• Draw Stroke 1/2 hour
• Side-slip 1/2 hour
• Free paddle 1 hour
• Clean gear
• Q and A

DAY THREE

On Land

• Q and A
• Wet-exit and re-entry solo and with help
• EVERYONE dry-land demo wet exit and re-entry

In The Water

• Strokes, edging, combos 1-2 hours
• Games: tag, kayak polo 2 hours
  Break
• Free paddle 1 hour
• Wet exit with re-entry

DAY FOUR (optional)

On Land

• Q and A
• Review of days 1-3

In The Water

Getting Out In It
We will go to places with some action in them either strong currents or significant swell and blow-back and spend the day working on our skills there. Chart usage, skills utilization

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Michael has been involved in paddle sports all his life. He grew up paddling on the Atlantic where he spent summers paddling and sailing open boats on the ocean and bays and winters in canoes on rivers. In the mid-80’s, he moved west and became a certified class 5 and open water instructor.

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