Private Kayak Lessons & Instruction Classes in the San Juan Islands

Yes the price for the lesson includes access to equipment. Kayaks and equipment can be purchased from us after instruction period.

If you are asking the question the answer if likely yes! We highly recommend kayak lessons for anyone who has ambitions of sea kayaking. There are a lot of dangers most people are unaware of until they take a class and most of these dangers can be mitigated with specific techniques.

Kayak lessons cost $350/day for private instruction.

You can roll a kayak in a number of different ways. Most people roll their kayak with their paddle but you can also deploy a paddle float and stick it on the end of your paddle for increased buoyancy.

You can can back into a sea kayak in manner different ways. These include but are not limited to:

• The cowboy re-entry
• The vault re-entry
• The scramble re-entry
• The paddle float outrigger re-entry
• The re-enter and roll
• The storm roll (with assistance of paddle float)

You can turn a sea kayak using the following techniques:

• Forward sweep stroke
• Reverse sweep stroke
• Edging/weighting the kayak to one side
• Alternating paddle sides and directions

You can move a sea kayak sideways using the following techniques:

• diving draw stroke
• sculling draw stroke

You can paddle your sea kayak backwards using the following techniques:

1. Lean all the way back
2. Place paddle into the water as far back as possible
3. Push/pull you paddle forward while performing a sit up
4. Continue the sit up into a crunch and push as far forward as possible
5. Repeat on the other side

The most powerful sea kayak stroke blends the use of all muscle groups in your body. You want to focus on locking our your arms somewhere between 90 and 180 degrees at the elbows and then focusing on driving the power from your core and torso. You should be engaging your arms, shoulders, upper back, lower backs, obliques and core all at the same time.

Capsizing and hypothermia are the two greatest dangers while sea kayaking. It is important that you have the skills necessary to reenter your kayak and perform proper kayak maintenance to avoid these dangers!