Instruction

With over 6,600 miles of coastline around Alaska and 213,600 miles of coastline world wide, paddling opportunities for exploration are virtually endless.  

The vast variety of conditions and challenges you will experience along the way requires an ever-growing knowledge and intimacy of boat handling skills, navigation, backcountry/wilderness living, and the marine environment.


    
 
The Coaching Certificates I've earned through the British Canoe Union and American Canoe Association allow me to offer the greatest synthesis of instruction from both organizations.

Choose all or any of the following:
explanations of each are below
 
Instructional day trip
1/2 day introductory session
1/2 day balance and bracing beginner
1/2 day balance and bracing intermediate
Full day instructional session
2 day instructional session
4 or 5 day touring instructional courses
Rolling instruction
Private session 


  Paddlers' Realm offers escorted, guided and instructional trips for all skill levels.  Persuing instruction is not only essential to becoming an independent paddler, it also allows you to join us on increasingly more challenging and exciting trips!  Check out the Multi-day trips page for the range of trips we offer.   


A wise instructor once said, "Practice doesn't make perfect, practice makes permanent.  Perfect practice makes perfect." 

Introduction to Paddling    
6 hour session : $150/person, discounts for groups
-discuss hazards of paddling in cold water
-dressing for immersion                   
-introduction to wet exits/capsizing
-basic kayak control: moving forwards, backwards, sideways, stopping, support strokes to prevent capsizing
-rescues: self rescues and assisted rescues


Two Day Instruction: 

I am a strong proponent of starting with the 2 day fundamentals course. 
The first day is about getting acquainted with the sea kayak and discovering new body positions and concepts.
The night between offers an opportunity for you to think about your day of instruction and return with questions. 
The second day reinforces that which you learned the previous day.  

The second day is when I witness the transformation between starting to get the hang of it, and confidence in newfound skills!  
My wish is to provide you with the greatest possible chance for success when you practice on your own.
 

Fundamentals : $280/person, discounts for groups
BCU 1&2 Star/ ACA Level 1&2

Day 1

Maneuvering
-Wet exit 
-Forward and reverse strokes
-Turning -sweep stroke
-Stern rudder
-Moving Sideways -draw stroke
-Stopping
-Low brace
-Edging vs. leaning


Touring
-Properly outfitted kayak
-Transporting and loading/unloading your kayak
-Launching and landing 
-Group and environmental awareness
-Gearing up


Rescues:
Kayak assisted (help from another kayaker)
-T-rescue
-Paddling with capsize victim on bow or stern

-Towing  

 

Self-rescue 
-paddle float 
-swim to shore
-cowboy scramble


Scenarios
Some realistic situations to work through and problem solve in a controlled environment.


Day 2

Maneuvering
-Forward and reverse paddling refined
-Corrective strokes
-Turning on the move -low brace turn
-Moving sideways -sculling draw
-Support strokes
-High Brace

Touring
Depart, travel and return safely and confidently 

Rescues:
Kayak assisted expanded

-Towing
-Inside and outside scoop

 

Self-rescue
-cowboy scramble
-fundamentals of rolling


Scenarios
Some realistic situations to work through and problem solve in a controlled environment. 


Intermediate Instruction : $280/person, discounts for groups
BCU 2&3 Star/ ACA Level 2 and 3

Intermediate Instruction assumes that you are comfortable with the fundamentals curriculum.   

Day 1

Maneuvering 
-Efficient forward and reverse paddling: 
     Demonstrate torso rotation and control of kayak at various speeds.         
-Efficient turning: 
     360 with edging 
-Low and high recovery
-Sculling for support 
-Bow rudder


Rescues:

Self-Rescue
Re-enter and roll with paddlefloat

Kayak Asssisted rescues
-Eskimo rescue-  bow, stern and paddle presentations
-Yank

Day 2 

Maneuvering
-Moving sideways on the move:
     Hanging draw/ side slip, 
     Draw on the move
-Low and High Brace on the move
-Low and High recovery on the move
-Bow Pry


Rescues:

Kayak Asssisted rescues
-Unconscious victim
-Inside Scoop
-Outside scoop


Self-rescues
-Eskimo roll 
-Re-enter and roll


Scenarios
Some realistic situations to work through and problem solve in a controlled environment.


Instruction and Touring : please call or email for pricing

If you are interested in exploring and camping by kayak in Prince William Sound and other bodies of water in Alaska and throughout the world this is the course for you.

Bringing it all together on the move.
In addition to the skills in the weekend courses, camping, navigation and touring techniques are incorporated while paddling on the Sound. 


-What to bring
-How to pack
-Determining where to go
-Establishing camp
-Basic navigation and chart reading
-Identifying tidelines and campable beaches
-Safety equipment
-Group dymanics
-Paddling in ice and near Tidewater Glaciers
-Leave No Trace Ethics
                      

Private Instruction :Please Call or email for pricing

Individual or group sessions, team building, guide training:

-Rolling
-Rescues
-Bracing
-Leadership
-Paddling in conditions
-Sculling
-Journeying
-Navigation

Instructional Day Trips 

 

To get the most from your day of kayaking start your paddling experience with an introduction to the kayak and outfitting for our instructional day trip.  Instruction will then be peppered throughout the day trip.  The instructional session can be incorporated into any of the day trips offered through Paddlers' Realm.  Additional time will be required for these instructional day trips    

  • Discuss the anatomy of a sea kayak
  • Put on a dry suit and the appropriate paddling attire (helmet, PFD, sprayskirt) 
  • Practice wet exiting
  • Learn manuevering skills
  • Learn rescue techniques
  • Learn about planning and executing a day trip 

$150/person, discounts for groups
Lunch is not included on this outting.


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