Kayaking Sessions Summary

Below is an outline of our Sessions 1-4 for our Kayaking lessons. Click on any one of the Session links to see more details about what we will cover during the session.

Session 1 will cover:

1. Sit up tall at the stroke's catch (beginning) and release (end) positions.
2. The paddle motion should be continuous, like swimming, with no jerking.
3. Have a soft grip on the paddle with the pushing and pulling hands at all times.
4. The upper hand is about nose height through most of the paddling motion.
5. On the stroke, keep your chest parallel to the paddle shaft by rotating your abdomen and hips about 40 degrees, & making an 85-degree paddle arc.
6. At the end of the stroke quickly let your upper shoulder drop and relax.
7. Do an emergency stop by back dragging the paddle next to your hips.
8. Steer and turn the boat with 3 different paddle strokes, not the rudder.
9. Balance the boat with hip swing, low brace, and high brace.

Session 2 will cover:

1. Do a 4-way boat safety check of hatches, hull bottom, screws along the gunwales, and bulkheads - flotation chambers.
2. Do a 4-way equipment adjustment for: leg length, backrest, steering tension, and spray skirt placement.
3. Enter the boat using a paddle brace when sitting, squatting, and standing.
4. Push away from the dock or shore with a high brace or pivoting with the hull.
5. Demonstrate 4 basic drills that will continually improve your paddling.
6. Perform the 5 essential skills necessary to use equipment at other outfitter locations.
7. Under power, turn the hull 50 degrees in 10 strokes using the kayak heart stroke.
8. Successfully deploy the paddle float; describe 4 ways to exit a spray skirt.
9. Apply crank speed and glide to go at least 50 meters in 6 - 9 complete strokes.

Session 3 will cover:

1. The paddle motion is continuous, not broken into jerky pieces.
2. Have the blades (paddle tips) enter the water at the same speed the boat is moving.
3. Have the blades (paddle tips) enter the water with a knifing motion that produces little splashing of the water.
4. Once your paddle enters the water and you are fully "connected", simultaneously push with your upper hand while rotating your abdomen as if you are pushing the water past the boat.
5. Your head and nose height remain unchanged throughout the stroke.
6. Following the stroke you recover by quickly relaxing your extended upper shoulder and then gently letting that arm drop toward the water and then pick up speed just as your paddle enters the water.
7. When paddling continuously for more than 10 minutes, practice the use of recovery cycles of 50%, 30%, and 10% in order to preserve energy and propel the boat under power.
8. After 30 minutes of continuous paddling, practice energy conservation (in your shoulders and arms): leave your arms straight longer on the drive, pivot your hips more, and trace an imaginary horizontal figure 8 with your paddling hands.
9. This fluid stroking motion allows the boat to glide through the water, without being upset by abrupt body movements.

Session 4 will cover:

1. Warm up slowly and safely in the first 6 minutes of paddling.
2. Travel over 50 meters in six strokes and receive a concentration score of at least 15 out of 20.
3. You are aware of 10 good drills for preventing frequent novice mistakes.
4. Using 20% recovery, paddle 2.5 miles around the Lake in less than 50 min.
5. Know and follow approved rules of the road for navigating waterways.
6. Understand what to bring & how to fully pack a boat for an overnight outing.
7. Can do a self-rescue, buddy rescue, and partially submerged boat rescue.
8. Are able to chart a course with different wind, current, and tidal conditions.
9. Can safely transport a boat on a vehicle rack.