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    2010 Calendar of Events, Trips and Courses 

    See past courses 2005-2008 | 2009

    January-March

    April-May

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    August

    September

    October

    GUIDED Sea Kayaking TRIPS FOR DEVOTED PADDLERS – coming in 2011
    PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND • KENAI PENINSULA • KACHEMAK BAY STATE PARK • KODIAK ARCHIPELAGO • SHUYAK ISLAND

    WINTERPOOL KAYAKING 2010

    Alaska Kayak School offerings @ Homer Community Schools Jan-Mar 2010

    1. Youth Kayaking Skills Development. Kayaking is an ideal activity for 11-18 year olds, helping develop safety awareness, confidence, motor skills for effective paddling, and tremendous fun messing around in boats. We’ll use weekly 1 hr. sessions in the pool learning all the safety and paddling skills needed to navigate a series of varied pre-set kayaking courses in small maneuverable river kayaks. Professional coaches of the British Canoe Union and American Canoe Association are the instructors. Many current National and Olympic paddlers all began their kayaking careers in pool programs like this one. This is a small step to providing a youth education program in paddling as a basis for future skills development. Besides, it’s a ton of fun. Can be taken as 5 week or 10-week session
    Where: Homer High School Pool
    When: Wednesdays, 600-730 PM, pool time 630-730 PM. Session I, January 6, 13, 20, 27 and February 3 (or continuation of session 1); Session 2, February 10, 17, 24, & March 3 & 10
    Pre-requisites: can swim and follow verbal instructions, ages 11-17
    Cost: $15 Homer Community Schools fee + $108/student for class and equipment fee per 5 week sessions, tax included. 10-week session possible for any paddler interested in more fun, training, and practice; 5% discount on 10-week session.

    2. Kayak Basics - Introduction. Learn the basics of kayaking in the comfort of a warm pool using fun, maneuverable river kayaks that enhance you skills development. Effective strokes and maneuvers, rescues and safety skills are all covered in this classic Alaskan-style learning opportunity. Winter offers the chance to “become a kayaker by spring” by taking advantage of the dark & cold winter nights to develop your balance and the efficient paddling for fun and excitement on the water next summer or your paddling winter vacation. These courses transform your kayaking skills. Professional kayak coaches are your instructors.
    Where: Homer High School Pool
    When: Tuesdays, 800-1000 PM, Session 1: January 5, 12, 19, 26 & February 2; Session 2: February 9, 16, 23, 30 & March 2.; pool time 830-1000 PM.
    Pre-requisites: can swim and follow verbal instructions
    Cost: $15 Homer Community Schools fee + $ 119/ student for 5 week/session; sales tax included; 10-week session possible for students interested in more training and practice; 5% discount on 10 week session.

    3. Beyond Kayak Basics – Improvers and Intermediate paddlers.  Build on your fundamental kayaking skills and develop refined strokes and maneuvers, balance & bracing, crisp efficient rescues, and a detailed awareness of the sport of kayaking. Strokes and maneuvers emphasized include efficient forward and back paddling, sculling draw, low and high braces, sculling for support, Eskimo rescues, assisted rescues, and development of Eskimo rolling skills. These are generic skills shared by all types of kayaking: sea, white water, surf, marathon, polo, etc. 1.5 hr. hour skills training and practice sessions in the pool each class. Professional kayak instructors are your coaches. Course focuses on British Canoe Union 2-3 star skills and American Canoe Association level 2-3 skills. All equipment is provided. Fundamental kayaking skills are a prerequisite for this class. This syllabus is a large body of skill; many students repeat the course at least once.
    Where: Homer High School Pool
    When: Thursdays, 800-1000 PM, Session 1: January 7, 14, 21, 28 & February 4; Session 2: February 11, 18, 25, 30 & March 4 & 11.; pool time 830-1000 PM.
    Pre-requisites: fundamental kayaking skills and competent wet exit with spray skirt.
    Cost: $15 Homer Community Schools fee + $ 119/ student for 5 week/session, $139 for 6 week session; sales tax included; 11-week session possible for students interested in more training and practice; 5% discount on 11 week session.

    4. Balance, Sculling, Bracing and Rolling.  You have developed your basic skills but want to have more confidence to paddle rougher waters or rivers safely? Developing your balance, sculling, bracing and rolling skills is a great way to increase your proficiency and comfort in paddling any conditions. Step by step progressions for learning these counter-intuitive skills will have you progressing towards your goals. Video analysis used in this class greatly enhances your learning and success. Professional kayak coaches are your instructors.
    Where: Homer High School Pool
    When: Wednesdays, 830-1000 PM, January 6, 13, 20, 27: February 3, 10, 17, 24, & March 3 and 10.
    Pre-requisites: fundamental kayaking skills and competent wet exit with skirt.
    Cost: $15 Homer Community Schools fee + $210/10 week session sales tax included.

    More information and Registration: Call the Alaska Kayak School, (907) 235-2090, e-mail: info@alaskakayakschool.com, or register online. Payment is required for registrations and reservations.

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    Alaska Kayak School offerings @ Homer Community Schools Mar-Apr 2010

    March-April 2010
    Pool Courses in Homer
    1. Youth Kayaking Skills Development, Wed 630-730
    2. Kayak Basics – Introduction, Tue 8-10 PM
    3. Balance, Sculling and Bracing, Wed 8-10 PM
    4. Sea Kayak Rescues, Thu 8-10 PM

    More information and Registration: Call the Alaska Kayak School, (907) 235-2090, e-mail: info@alaskakayakschool.com, or register online.

    1. Youth Kayaking Skills Development. Kayaking is an ideal activity for 11-18 year olds, helping develop safety awareness, confidence, motor skills for effective paddling, and tremendous fun messing around in boats. We’ll use weekly 1 hr. sessions in the pool learning all the safety and paddling skills needed to navigate a series of varied pre-set kayaking courses in small maneuverable river kayaks. Professional coaches of the British Canoe Union and American Canoe Association are the instructors. Many current National and Olympic paddlers all began their kayaking careers in pool programs like this one. This is a small step to providing a youth education program in paddling as a basis for future skills development. Besides, it’s a ton of fun. Can be taken as 5 week or 10-week session
    Where: Homer High School Pool
    When: Wednesdays, pool time 630-730 PM. March 24, April 3, 10, 14 & 21
    Pre-requisites: can swim and follow verbal instructions, ages 11-18
    Cost: $15 Homer Community Schools fee + $108/student for instruction & equipment fee for each 5 week session, sales tax included.

    2. Kayak Basics - Introduction. Learn the basics of kayaking in the comfort of a warm pool using fun, maneuverable river kayaks that enhance you skills development. Effective strokes and maneuvers, rescues and safety skills are all covered in this classic Alaskan-style learning opportunity. Winter offers the chance to “learn some kayaking skills by spring” by taking advantage of the dark & cold winter nights to develop your balance and the efficient paddling for fun and excitement on the water next summer or your paddling winter vacation. These courses transform your kayaking skills. Professional kayak coaches are your instructors.
    Where: Homer High School Pool
    When: Tuesdays, 800-1000 PM, March 23, 30, April 6, 13, 20; pool time 830-1000 PM.
    Pre-requisites: can swim and follow verbal instructions
    Cost: $15 Homer Community Schools fee + $ 119/ student for 5 week/session; sales tax included.

    3. Sea Kayak Safety and Rescue – Practice effective sea kayak rescues in the comfort of a warm pool. This course emphasizes safety and fun while helping you to develop a few assisted and solo rescue skills that can later be practiced outdoors. Rescues that will be taught and emphasized are: t-rescue, quick-yank recue, cowboy scramble, and paddle float rescue. A rescue competition will spice up the last class.
    Where: Homer High School Pool
    When: Thursdays, 800-1000 PM, pool time 830-1000 PM, March 25, April 1, 8, 15, 22.
    Pre-requisites: fundamental kayaking skills and competent wet exit with spray skirt.
    Cost: $15 Homer Community Schools fee + $ 119/ student for 5 week session, includes instruction and equipment fee.

    Want more information? info@alaskayakschool.com, (907) 235-2090. Register online: https://nitro.secsrv.net/~alaskaka/instruction/registration.htm

    4. Balance, Sculling, Bracing and Rolling.  You have developed your basic skills but want to have more confidence to paddle rougher waters or rivers safely? Developing your balance, sculling, bracing and rolling skills is a great way to increase your proficiency and comfort in paddling any conditions. Step by step progressions for learning these counter-intuitive skills will have you progressing towards your goals. Video analysis used in this class greatly enhances your learning and success. Professional kayak coaches are your instructors.
    Where: Homer High School Pool
    When: Wednesdays, 830-1000 PM, March 24, April 3, 10, 14 & 21
    Pre-requisites: fundamental kayaking skills and competent wet exit with skirt.
    Cost: $15 Homer Community Schools fee + $119/5 week session sales tax included.

    More information and Registration: Call the Alaska Kayak School, (907) 235-2090, e-mail: info@alaskakayakschool.com, or register online. Payment is required for registrations and reservations.

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    Soldotna Community Schools

    1. Kayak Basics for Adults and Youth
    Learn the basics of kayaking in a 3-hour pool kayaking skills training session using river kayaks in the comfort of a heated pool. Topics covered include selecting a kayak, kayak fit and posture, safe carrying and launching, the paddle, safe capsize and recovery, hypothermia cold-shock and clothing, group dynamics, and strokes and maneuvers (forward, back, stop, spin, turn, rudder, balance and bracing, simple towing and basics of rescues). These are generic skills shared by all types of kayaking: sea, white water, surf, marathon, polo, etc. Regardless of your interest or experience in kayaking, these fundamental skills will improve or awaken the kayaking skills you already have. Professional kayak instructors are your coaches. Course covers British Canoe Union 1-2 star skills, American Canoe Association level 1 and 2 skills. This is an ideal course if you’ve never had kayaking instruction. All equipment is provided. Course taken as a single session, with follow up instruction in the “Beyond the Basics” course offered Saturday afternoons.
    WHEN: Saturdays
    DATES: January 9, February 6, March 6 & April 3
    TIME: 9 AM - 12 p.m.
    WHERE: So Hi Pool, Soldotna
    FEE: $80+tax/person/3 hr. session.
    Registration: Alaska Kayak School (907) 235-2090,P.O. Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603. info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online  registration).
    ** See reservation policy below
      
    2. Beyond Basics
    – Intermediate Kayaking Skills
    Build on your fundamental kayaking skills and develop refined strokes and maneuvers, balance & bracing, crisp efficient rescues, and a detailed awareness of the sport of kayaking. Strokes and maneuvers emphasized include efficient forward and back paddling, sculling draw, low and high braces, sculling for support, Eskimo rescues, assisted rescues, and development of Eskimo rolling skills. These are generic skills shared by all types of kayaking: sea, white water, surf, marathon, polo, etc. 3-hr. hour skills training and practice sessions in the pool each class. Professional kayak instructors are your coaches. Course focuses on British Canoe Union 2-3 star skills and American Canoe Association level 2-3 skills. All equipment is provided. Fundamental kayaking skills are a prerequisite for this class. This syllabus is a large body of skill; many students repeat the course at least once.
    WHEN: Saturdays
    DATES: Jan 9, Feb 6, Mar 6 & Apr 3
    TIME: 1230-330 p.m.
    WHERE: So Hi Pool, Soldotna
    FEE: $80+tax/person/3 hr. session.
    Registration: Alaska Kayak School (907) 235-2090,P.O. Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603. info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online  registration).

    3. Touring & Sea Kayak Safety and Rescue Skills.  Learn and practice assisted and self-rescues for touring and sea kayaks in the comfort of a warm pool. Experienced sea kayakers can pick up hot tips from professional sea kayak instructors and coaches, while less experienced paddlers, particularly recent Alaska Kayak School students can develop a variety of rescue strategies that will give them confidence once spring and summer sea paddling starts.
    WHEN: Saturday
    DATES: Apr 3
    TIME: 1230-330 p.m.
    WHERE: So Hi Pool, Soldotna
    FEE: $95+tax/person/3 hr. session
    Registration: Alaska Kayak School (907) 235-2090,P.O. Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603. info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online  registration).
    ** See reservation policy below

    4. Cold Water Safety and Paddling Fun in Alaska – FREE LECTURE @ Soldotna Sports Center. Get ready for the coming paddling season. Learn about the risks of paddling in cold water and how to enhance your safety while paddling in Alaska. Understand the effects of cold water on human physiology and health. Learn how to dress for a quality swim in Alaskan waters. Show and tell of cold water clothing and safety gear. Learn about safety features of kayaks, canoes, personal flotation devices, dry suits and paddling suits. Develop a float plan and learn how to use it. What’s the best approach to introduce your kids to the joys of paddling? The Alaska Kayak School has been teaching paddling skills in cold water for 11 years on the Kenai Peninsula as American Canoe instructors and British Canoe Union kayak coaches. This is a lecture and a question and answer session on practical matters for Alaskan water safety.
    WHEN: Tuesday
    DATES: April 20
    TIME: 7-8 PM
    WHERE: Soldotna Sports Center
    COST: FREE – NO ADMISSION OR REGISTRATION FEES.
    More information: alaskakayakschool@gmail.com, 907.235.2090

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    Alaska Kayak School offerings @ Service Pool, Anchorage

    The Alaska Kayak School has been offering comprehensive kayak education programs for over 10 years. Our pool kayaking education has simply raged during the last 8 winters in Homer, Seward, Soldotna & Anchorage; these programs are conducted according to safety and risk management standards of the American Canoe Association and the much larger British Canoe Union. Take advantage of the skills and experience of instructors and coaches with thousands of hours of teaching in Alaska for Alaskans. Hundreds of happy paddlers roam the Alaska’s waters each summer having developed safety awareness and skills through the Alaska Kayak School’s programs. We teach transferrable skills common to all disciplines of kayaking that help any kayaker take their skills to the next level. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to develop or improve your kayaking skills over the winter and be ready to enjoy effective and safe kayaking at your own level next spring and summer. See you at Service High School Pool this winter, hope you don’t miss the (chance to) boat (with us).

    Winter offers the chance to “become a kayaker by spring” by taking advantage of the dark & cold winter nights to develop your balance and efficient paddling for fun and excitement on the water next summer or your paddling winter vacation. The skills you can develop over a winter in the pool are transferrable to any environment specific training such as sea kayaking instruction, river kayaking instruction and kayak surfing. These courses transform your kayaking skills. Professional kayak coaches are your instructors.

    More information and Registration: Call the Alaska Kayak School, (907) 235-2090, e-mail: info@alaskakayakschool.com, or register online. Payment is required for registrations and reservations.

    1. Youth Kayaking Skills Development – Paddle Power. Kayaking is an ideal activity for 11-18 year olds, helping to develop safety awareness, confidence, and motor skills for effective paddling. Plus it’s tremendous fun messing around in boats. We’ll use 2 hr. sessions in the pool for learning the water safety and paddling skills needed to navigate a series of varied pre-set kayaking courses in maneuverable river kayaks. Professional coaches of the British Canoe Union and American Canoe Association are the instructors. Many current National and Olympic paddlers all began their youth kayaking careers in pool programs like this one. This is a small step to providing a youth education program in paddling that forms the basis for future skills development. Besides, it’s a ton of fun.
    Where: Service High School, Pool, Anchorage. All kayaking equipment provided, participants just need a bathing suit.
    When: Saturdays, 12-2 PM
    November 14, December 12, January 16, February 13, March 13
    Pre-requisites: can swim and follow verbal instructions, ages 10-16.
    Cost: $80/session, check/cash discount $75
    Pre-registration: Pre-registration and payment are needed to reserve spots in the program, late registrations possible on a space-available basis.
    Registration: Alaska Kayak School (907) 235-2090,P.O. Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603. info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online  registration).

    2. Kayak Basics.  Learn the basics common to all kayaking disciplines in the comfort of a warm pool using fun maneuverable river kayaks that enhance you skills development. Effective strokes and maneuvers, simple rescues and safety skills are all covered in this classic Alaskan-style learning opportunity.  Cold water awareness, wet exits, posture, effective use of the body for safety and power, forward paddling, stopping, back paddling, turning, spinning 360º, and intro to balance and draw stroke plus the stern rudder are all on the menu. This is a very fun introduction peppered with games and effective drills for kayaking skill development. Professional instructors and coaches are your guides to learning this rewarding sport that is so apropos for Alaska residents. All equipment provided, but if you have your own PFD, please let us know and consider using it.
    Where: Service High School Pool, Anchorage
    When: Saturdays 3-630 PM November through March; NOTE time change in April: 11 AM - 230 PM
    November 14, December 12, January 16, February 13, March 13, April 10 & 24.
    Pre-requisites: can swim and follow verbal instructions
    Cost: $110/session, $105 check/cash discount
    Registration: Alaska Kayak School (907) 235-2090,P.O. Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603. info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online  registration).

    3.  Beyond Basics – Skills development and refinement. You have developed and confident wet exit and have moderate control of a maneuverable river kayak, and you want to develop more effective skills such as a core-based torso action for forward paddling, and disconnecting the actions of upper and lower body for crisp turns and maneuvers.  In this action-packed class, you will review wet exit and basic safety procedures, practice deep water rescues, refine the stern rudder, draw stroke, sculling and bracing, and play a bunch of great games to enhance your skills development and learning. Includes a primer on balance and bracing, which is a class in and unto itself. All equipment included, but if you have your own PFD, please let us know and consider using your own.
    Where: Service High School Pool, Anchorage
    When: Sundays 11 AM – 230 PM; Saturdays 330-700 PM in April
    November 15, December 13, January 17, February 14, March 14, NOTE: Change of day and time in April; April 10 & 24.
    Pre-requisites: Confident wet exit with a skirt, basic skills (see no. 2 above).
    Cost: $110/session, $105 check/cash discount
    Registration: Alaska Kayak School (907) 235-2090,P.O. Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603. info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online  registration).

    4.  Balance, Sculling, Bracing and Rolling.  You have developed your basic skills but want to have more confidence to paddle rougher waters or rivers safely? Developing your balance, sculling, bracing and rolling skills is a great way to increase your proficiency and comfort while paddling in any conditions. Step by step progressions for learning these counter-intuitive skills will have you progressing towards your goals. Video analysis used in this class greatly enhances your learning and success. Professional kayak coaches are your instructors. Course is limited to 6 students. Suggested reference material: Performance Video DVD: The Kayak Roll (we sell it to students for $25)
    Where: Service High School Pool, Anchorage
    When: Sundays, 330-630 PM November to March; NOTE: Time change in April, 11 AM – 2 PM.
    November 15, December 13, January 17, February 14, March 14, April 11 & 25.
    Pre-requisites: pre-registration and payment, a confident wet exit with a skirt, beyond basic skills, or permission of instructors. This is not a course for first or second time students of Alaska Kayak School Programs.
    Cost: $130/session, $125 cash/check
    Registration: Alaska Kayak School (907) 235-2090,P.O. Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603. info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online  registration).

    5.  Kayaking Skills Supervised Practice Sessions. You have taken some Alaska Kayak School pool training courses recently and just want some time to “mess around in boats” with a little support from the Kayak School team in Kayak School kayaks and gear. This is a chance for a kayak rental with gear for you to take some to time to socialize and practice the skills you’ve been trained in – also known as skill consolidation. Really, it’s the msotest and funnest part of the winter pool activities, and this is a 3 hr. session for your fun and entertainment. You will share the pool with the rolling students who will be doing submersion studies in the one end of the pool. Pre-registration required just like for a class, it’s so we can save you a boat.
    Where: Service High School Pool, Anchorage
    When: Sundays, 330-630 PM
    November 15, December 13, January 17, February 14, March 14, April 11 & 25.
    Pre-requisites: pre-registration and payment, a confident wet exit with a skirt, basic skills. This is a program for current students, not a chance to old students or non-students to rent boats and mess around.
    Cost: $50/session, $45 cash/check
    Registration: Alaska Kayak School (907) 235-2090,P.O. Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603. info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online  registration).

    6. Sea Kayak Safety and Rescue Skills.  Learn and practice assisted and self-rescues for sea kayaks in the comfort of a warm pool. Experienced sea kayakers can pick up hot tips from professional sea kayak instructors and coaches, while less experienced paddlers, particularly recent Alaska Kayak School students can develop a variety of rescue strategies that will give them confidence once spring and summer sea paddling starts.
    Where: Service High School Pool, Anchorage
    When: Sundays, 330-630 PM; April 11 & 25.
    Pre-requisites: pre-registration and payment, a confident wet exit with a skirt, basic skills or beyond, or permission of instructors. This is not a course for first or second time students of Alaska Kayak School Programs.
    Cost: $125/session, $115 cash/check
    Registration: Alaska Kayak School (907) 235-2090,P.O. Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603. info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online  registration).

    7. Supervised skills practice during open pool.  Alaska Kayak School students can rent kayak, paddle, skirt, PFD and helmet to practice during open pool sessions @ Service, which usually start after 1 January each year. This year the sessions will be Tuesday nights 7-830 PM or Wednesday nights 8-930 PM, the Muni has not made a decision yet, so stay tuned.
    Where: Service High School Pool, Anchorage
    When: To be announced
    Pre-requisites: pre-registration and payment, a confident wet exit with a skirt, basic skills or beyond, or permission of instructors. This is not a course for first or second time students of Alaska Kayak School Programs.
    Cost: to be announced
    Registration: Alaska Kayak School (907) 235-2090,P.O. Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603. info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online  registration).

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    Winter Weekends in Homer, 2009-2010

    First Scheduled: October 31 & November 1 - Halloween Sea Kayak Weekend
    Winter Sea Paddling Fun - Homer & Kachemak Bay

    Download this program info as MS Word or Adobe Acrobat

    Welcome• What is it about? • Fees • What might you learn? • Tidal Play Spots on the Spit• Group Size • Car Pooling & Lodging • Other AKS program news for 2009-2010

    Hi all you paddling fans and Alaska Kayak School students and Alums -

    Halloween 2009 is the first in a series of winter paddling weekends that will be offered in Homer for Alaska Kayak School students that have taken outdoor courses and shown some interest, aptitude, and development of skills for sea kayaking in Alaska. Watch the AKS calendar and your emails for future winter paddling dates in Kachemak Bay.

    What is it all about? Warm up to winter paddling !!
    As you know, in Homer sea kayak students of the Alaska Kayak School paddle year round, and we have for the last 11 years. Our activities are well documented in our videos, published by KayakJournal.com, editions 1, 2, & 4, as well as on YouTube at watermama67's channel. These weekends offer a chance to paddle in Kachemak Bay, based on the Homer Spit. Days are short, and we'd be meeting around noon, selecting the best venue given the conditions and paddling as a group either Saturday and/or Sunday; if it blows easterly, we paddle on west side of the Spit, if it blows westerly, we paddle on the East side. If moderate weather, winds are forecast, which is common, we can even do a night paddle, which is super fun.

    Fees
    1) Instruction + kayak + dry suit and other accessories: $85/day* or $150* for the weekend
    *Local sales taxes apply, 7.5% in Homer.
    We can accommodate you if we have a dry suit and kayak in your size, please call or send in a registration form with your needs.

    2) Instruction + kayak only (includes skirt, paddle, and PFD, helmet, etc. id needed):
    $70/day* & $130* weekend
    *Local sales taxes apply. Please contact us to see if we have a kayak to suit you.
    3) You have all your own gear **– $45/day*; $80* for the weekend
    ** Gear list - sea kayak with 2-3 bulkheads, waterproof compartments, deck lines, & surf toggles; dry suit, PFD, skirt, paddle, helmet, helmet liner, gloves, extra clothing in dry bags, warm clothing, etc. as per the BCU 3 star syllabus, contact us if you need more details here.

    What might you learn? Other than the fact that sea kayaking is year round fun in Homer ?
    Winter clothing and paddling skills: paddling in wind & waves, paddling sea kayaks in moving water, possible introduction to surf, rough water paddling skills, towing, navigation, group dynamics and leadership and whatever presents itself in relation to the conditions.

     

    Winter 2009-2010 Paddling Schedule

     

    10thAnnual New Year’s Day Paddle & New Year’s Spring Tides

    January 1, Friday, , mid-day tide High 21.71’ @ 1426 hrs.

    Sunrise 1003 hrs.  Sunset  1617 hrs.

    January 2, Saturday, mid-day tide High 21.79’ @ 1514 hrs.

    Sunrise 1003 hrs. Sunset 1618 hrs.

    January 3, Sunday, mid-day tide High 21.79’ @ 1604 hrs.

    Sunrise 1002 hrs. Sunset 1620 hrs

     

    February Eve Spring Tides

    January 30, Saturday, mid-day tide High 21.99’ @ 1418 hrs.

    Sunrise 921 hrs.  Sunset 1720 hrs.

    January 31, Sunday, mid-day tide High 22.26’ @ 1506 hrs.

    Sunrise 1719 hrs.  Sunset 1620 hrs.

     

    March Eve Spring Tides

    Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium

    San Francisco, California

    26-28 February 2010

    www.ggsks.com

     

    Spring Equinox Tides

    March 20, Saturday, mid-day tide High 15.67’ @ 1822 hrs.

    Sunrise 0808 hrs.  Sunset 2021 hrs.

    March 21, Sunday, mid-day tide (?) 14.21’ @ 1912 hrs.

    Sunrise 0805 hrs.  Sunset 2024 hrs.

     

    Easter Sunday Paddle

    April 4, High tide 14.36’ @ 1936 hrs.

     

    Last Winter Paddling Weekend of 2009-2010

    April 17, Saturday, mid-day tide High 17.04’ @ 1730 hrs.

    Sunrise 0645 hrs.  Sunset 2128 hrs.

    April 17, Saturday, mid-day tide High 15.99’ @ 1816 hrs.

    Sunrise 0642 hrs.  Sunset 2131 hrs.

    Tidal Play Spots on the Homer Spit. There are 2 tidal play spots on the Homer Spit, both are lagoons that fill on big tides and drain as the water drains following high water. If Poseidon and the Zephyrs cooperate there can be some nice (or nasty) surf conditions on the west side of the Homer Spit. When surf, even small surf, interacts with the falling tide streams, we get some fun standing breaking waves, great conditions to work on your sea kayaking skills. See KayakJournal.com no. 4 for the Beluga Slough tide race video, available from Penstock Productions, PO Box 7007, Asheville, NC 28802, penstock@mac.com.

     



    Group size is limited to 6 participants. We have invited those of you we feel are up to this activity, if you have friends that have good skills, please run it past us first before inviting them, we've had some safety issues in the past with "friends" that were said to have the skills for our invitational weekends.



    Car Pooling and Lodging. If you get together and car pool, plus consider using our kayaks (ask for the kayak only rental fee) and bring all your other gear (contact us for a list of stuff you need), you can drive down to Homer as teams in 1-2 vehicles to save on your carbon footprint. The Driftwood Inn has a big house with lots of rooms and creature comforts that rents for $285/night, it is centrally located and walking distance to all your needs (including the beach). They also have smaller rooms, reasonably priced. The Pioneer Inn has large rooms with bath and living room and kitchenettes for $50 !!/night.

    If you can't make this weekend, we'll miss you. But don't worry, there will be more winter sea paddling weekend fun here at the Alaska Kayak School in Homer ... If you do want to come down for the Halloween Spring Tides, please send a registration form (see below) or call 235-2090 for more information.

    Register online: Alaska Kayak School (907) 235-2090,P.O. Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603. info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online  registration).

    Other Alaska Kayak School program news:
    • Winter pool schedules for Homer, Service, & Soldotna are done, look for them on our website here:
    • Weekends in Halibut Cove in May already scheduled, stay tuned for the line up
    • ACA Day Trip Leader Assessment Course, already scheduled for mid-May, stay tuned
    • 2010 Kachemak Bay Immersion Sea Kayaking Skills Symposium scheduled for Memorial Day weekend in Halibut Cove, based on Right Beach, We’re leaving the industrial barge basin for good !!
    • ACA Level 4 & 4 Coastal Kayak Training and Coastal Kayak Instructor Development Workshop
    • BCU and ACA Level 3 and 3 star training weekends all summer of 2010 in Kachemak Bay
    • Kachemak Bay 4-night/5-day instructional tours focusing on navigation & tidal planning are scheduled for spring tides each month of the summer.

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    Sea Kayaking Skills Training Weekends @ Halibut Cove

    30 April-2 May, 7-9 May, 21-23 May
    These sea skills training weekends are the “cat’s meow” of spring sea kayak training. We camp in scenic Halibut Cove for the weekend to enjoy the natural beauty of Kachemak Bay State Park and to gain easy access to this stunning training site. In this scenic natural setting, you can develop or tune your sea kayaking skills in anticipation of a busy summer’s paddling.  These weekend training sessions are the perfect follow-up to the winter pool training sessions. If you’re a more experienced & skilled paddler, this is a chance to have a coach help you tune and enhance your skills. If you are newer to the sport, this is a chance to learn and practice fundamental skills outdoors in a stunning natural setting. You are coached at the level of your skill. We follow the skills progressions of the American Canoe Association and the British Canoe Union, so get ready for some serious fun and learning in a stunning setting. Saturday is a day for strokes and maneuvers; Sunday is a day for rescues and recoveries. Saturday night lecture on sea kayak navigation and trip planning.
    We provide: All kayaking instruction and equipment can be provided.
    You Provide: Water taxi fees ($85rt), all camping gear, food and water + personal supplies.
    When: Friday-Sunday; 30 Par-May 2, May 7-9, or May 21-23
    Sample Itinerary: Friday – leave Homer Spit on water taxi and make camp in Halibut Cove: Saturday – Kayak strokes and maneuvers; Sunday – Sea Kayak rescues and towing, late afternoon pickup for water taxi ride back to Homer Spit.
    Where: Halibut Cove, Kachemak Bay, Alaska
    Times: Meet on Homer Spit ready to depart on water taxi, 430 PM Fridays, & return to Homer Spit by 6 PM on Sundays.
    Fees:
    • Instruction and all gear $145/1 day & $275/2 days
    • Instruction & kayak or dry suit $125/1 day, $ 240/2days
    • Instruction only $100/1day, $190 2/days
    • Homer Sales tax applies, 7.5%.
    • Water taxi to Halibut Cove - $85 rt payable to Mako’s Water Taxi, tax included.
    More information: Contact info@alaskakayakschool.com, (907) 235-2090, (online  registration).

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    American Canoe Association Day Trip Leader Assessment 

    Friday 7 May through Sunday 11 May

    Perfect for would-be guides and any individual interested in developing trip leading skills in mild conditions, i.e., winds 10 knots or less, waves 1.5 ft. or less. This is not only appropriate for guides and trip leaders, it is an ideal course for anyone interested in the nuts and bolts of sea kayak trip planning. This 4-day course in an all-inclusive skills training and safety education program emphasizing effective strokes & maneuvers, rescues and recoveries, sea kayak navigation, trip planning, & leadership. American Canoe Association membership and other fees apply if you want to get the Trip Leading certification. This is not an instructor course; it is a trip-leading course. A written exam is required for the certification.
    What is provided: all instruction by ACA instructors. You can save some $$ if you have your own kayaking gear, including dry suit, sea kayak and all safety accessories, please contact us for a complete gear list.
    You provide: water taxi fee (or your own transportation), camping gear, your own food and water, and personal clothing, kayak and gear if you have it. Contact us for a detailed equipment list.
    When: Friday May 7th through Tuesday, May 11th
    Course Schedule (new):  Friday May 7th, meet on Homer Spit for water taxi departure at 3:30 PM; Saturday May 8th – introduction and sea kayak strokes and maneuvers; Sunday May 9th – sea kayak rescues and strokes and maneuvers review; Monday May 10th – sea kayak navigation, trip planning and leadership strategies; Tuesday May 11th – Leadership scenarios, written exam and debriefs, water taxi back to Homer Spit by 6 PM.
    Where: Halibut Cove, Alaska
    Pre-requisites: Fundamental sea kayaking skills and confident wet exit with a skirt.
    Fees:
    • Instruction & Gear – 4 days, $525 or $495 cash/ck discount
    • Instruction and Kayak - 4 days, $420 or  $400 cash/ck discount, in case you have your own dry suit
    • Instruction and Dry suit - 4 days, $420 or  $400 cash/ck discount, in case you have your own dry suit
    • ACA membership, $40/person is required to participate
    • $25/person certification fee required if you pass the course
    • * Homer sales tax, 7.5% applies to instruction and equipment fees
    For details on this course from the American Canoe Association Website click here <http://www.americancanoe.org/site/c.lvIZIkNZJuE/b.4511319/k.A4B4/Coastal_Kayaking.htm>

    More information: Contact info@alaskakayakschool.com, (907) 235-2090, (online  registration).

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     Whittier Whiplash Sea Kayaking Skills

    Weekend 5-6 June 2010, Whittier, Alaska

    Sea Skills Training & Tuning, Saturday, 5 June
    Rescues, towing, and touring, Sunday, 6 June

    Introduction and Summary
    Spend a weekend in Whittier, Alaska, in early June developing, tuning, and practicing effective sea kayaking skills under the guidance of certified Coastal Kayaking instructors of the American Canoe Association and coaches in the British Canoe Union. Program consists of 1 day of skills instruction in flat water and a day trip in Passage Canal on Sunday, weather permitting. The flat water skills will help you to develop your basic skills including strokes, maneuvers, and rescues, and the day trip will help you to develop your trip planning skills and the application of the skills you learned or honed the day before on a sea kayaking day trip. If the weather shuts down the day trip, the second day will be a day of intermediate skills training with lots or rescue skills and scenarios thrown in for good measure. This will be a fun weekend full of opportunities for sea kayaking skill development leading to becoming a competent independent paddler, hope you can join us.

    Fundamentals training and tuning. Learn or practice @ safety features and design of kayaks and kayaking equipment, fit to boat, wet exits, and paddling without a rudder, turning and spinning the kayak, back paddling, stopping, ruddering, moving sideways, edging, balance and bracing, and simple rescues (assisted and solo).  All equipment can be provided, or get credit for having your own gear. All equipment can be provided including: sea kayak, paddle, skirt, PFD, dry suit, and more. You provide your own clothing, food, water, and other necessities. An equipment list will be sent upon registration.
    When: Saturday 5 June 2009, 9 AM – 5 PM
    Where: Passage Canal, or some other nearby body of flat water as necessary to achieve the goals of the course.
    Pre-requisites: Can swim, follow verbal instructions, and are willing to capsize, or willing to demonstrate a wet exit.
    Cost: $158/person + sale tax (3%) w/ credit card, check/cash discount $150/day + 3% sale tax; partial credit given if you provide your own gear (contact us for details).
    Registration: Alaska Kayak School, PO Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603, (907) 235-2090, info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online  registration).

    Rescues, towing and touring. Learn and practice solo and assisted rescues and towing, while touring on a day trip in Passage Canal (weather permitting). The goal is to do a day trip in which you can apply the skills learned or tuned the day before, and add a series of rescues and towing skills to your paddlers’ tool box in the context of a day trip. This day will include a short trip planning primer and a series of rescue scenarios in addition to practicing paddling in conditions in open water. Also included are wildlife watching practices and ethics. The bad weather option for this day is a day of rescues and towing with scenarios in flat water. All equipment can be provided.
    When: Sunday 6 June 2009, 9 AM – 5 PM
    Where: Passage Canal, or some other nearby body of flat water (if needed).
    Pre-requisites: Fundamental Sea Kayaking Skills instruction in the last 6 months.
    Cost: $158/person + sale tax (3%) w/ credit card, check/cash discount $150/day + 3% sale tax; partial credit given if you provide your own gear (contact us for details).
    Registration: Alaska Kayak School, PO Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603, (907) 235-2090, info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online  registration).

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    Kachemak Bay Instructional Tours

    - Multi-day sea kayak camping courses
    •Personal Skills • Trip Planning • Navigation and Decision Making
    June 11-14, July 1-4, August 7-11, & 21-25**
    ** You don’t see the dates that work for you? Contact us for availability, (907) 235-2090

    Course Outline: Spend 3-4 nights and 4-5 days learning how to travel in a sea kayak in Kachemak Bay State Park, on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. Learn and practice chart and compass skills, interpretation of marine weather, prediction of sea conditions, and the interpretation and prediction of tides and currents. Use these skills to develop trip plans that integrate the factors affecting your progress on the water, and practice decision-making while executing your trip plans in a dynamic tidal environment in a scenic marine park. The goals of this course are to help you develop independent sea kayak traveling skills for sea kayaking safely in Alaska. Realize savings by registering early and by providing your own sea kayak, paddling gear and/or dry suit.

    Sample Itinerary: *
    Day 1 – Meet in Homer – select your sea kayak and other paddling gear, practice packing your own sea kayak, water taxi to the launch point in Kachemak Bay State Park and camp. Evening weather check, review trip plan for day 2.
    Day 2 – Navigation and trip planning session, tides and currents, marine weather, go for an afternoon paddle to develop and practice personal sea kayaking skills, and test your trip panning. Evening debrief and review of trip plan for Day 3. Camp.
    Day 3 – Make a trip plan for day 3, pack sea kayaks and move to camp no. 2. Evening debrief and review of trip plan for day 4. Camp.
    Day 4 – Make a trip plan for day 4, pack sea kayaks and move to camp 3. Evening debrief and review of trip plan for day 5. Camp.
    Day 5 – Make a trip plan for day 5, pack sea kayaks for the day and move to pick up location for water taxi return to Homer, or paddle back to Homer. After-trip debriefing.
    * 3-night/4-day trips will have a slightly modified itinerary, that will vary slightly from the sample above.

    Pre-requisites:  Previous sea kayaking skills training, fundamental sea kayaking skills including control of sea kayak without a rudder in light winds (<10 kts. and small waves (1-2’), simple assisted rescues, & camping skills.

    We provide: All instruction, leadership, sea kayaks and sea kayaking gear (Kokatat dry suits, skirt, paddle, PFD, pump, boat compass, and other safety gear, + dry bags to pack your food and camping gear. ** Tents, rain tarps and some camping gear can  be provided for a modest fee, call or email for details.

    You provide: Your own food, camping gear, personal clothing, personal first aid kit, cooking supplies, and water taxi transportation to and from Kachemak Bay State Park from and back to Homer, approximately $85/person rt with our preferred water taxi Service, Mako’s Water Taxi, based on the Homer Spit. More specific equipment lists will be provided upon your registration and reservation confirmation.

    Fees: You realize some savings by providing your own sea kayak and/or dry suit. You can receive a 2.5% discount for paying with cash/check, and a 2.5% for registering and paying 30 days before the start of your tour. The sea kayak you provide must have deck lines, 2-3 waterproof compartments, and grab handles on each end. The dry suit you use must have functional waterproof seals.

    Kachemak Bay Instructional Tours

    4 nights-5days

    3-nights-4days

    June 11-14, July 1-4,

     

     

     

    Instruction and Paddling Gear

    $675

    $575

    sales tax

     

     

    $50.63

    $43.13

    Instruction

     

     

    $575

    $475

     

     

     

    $43.13

    $36.25

    Instruction and Drysuit

     

    $625

    $525

    or Instruction and Kayak

     

    $46.88

    $39.38

     

     

     

     

     

    Registration, Reservations, Cancelation Policy and Refunds:
    a. More information and registration: (907) 235-2090, alaskakayakschool@gmail.com
    b. Register online:
    c. Reservations & early registration discounts – A 50% deposit is necessary to hold your reservation, final payment is due no later than 15 days before the tour. A 2.5% discount is available if you pay cash or check; an additional 2.5% discount is available if you register and pay in full 30 days before
    d. Upon completing your registration, you will receive and informational packet including equipment and recommended clothing lists, details of the tour, terms and conditions document, liability waiver and personal responsibility statement, confidential medical form, skills syllabi a list simple recommendations to enhance your symposium experience. T&C, waiver, and med form must be returned to finalize your reservation.
    e. Refund Policy
    Cancellation <7 days before the event, 5% refund
    Cancellation 8-14 days before the event, 25% refund
    Cancellation 14-21 days before the event, 50% refund
    Cancellation 22-30 days before the event, 25% refund
    Cancellation More than 30 days before the event, $50 processing fee
    f. Travel insurance - We strongly recommend you purchase travel insurance to cover your losses in the event of an unplanned cancellation.

    Registration: Alaska Kayak School, PO Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603, (907) 235-2090, info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online  registration).

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    Sea Kayak Training Weekends Summer

    Homer and Kachemak Bay – All skill levels

    Sea Kayak Skills Weekends – Develop sea kayaking skills at your own level, novices to advanced, flat-water to open & rough water training: strokes & maneuvers, rescues, navigation trip planning, equipment and kayak demo, the foundations of sea kayaking.  Flat/calm water skills training/review day followed by a day trip, probably water taxi assisted.  Another option involves more flat-water skills and rescues on second day of skills or paddling w/o water taxi support. This is a weekend scaled to your needs as a developing sea paddler. Novices-Advanced paddlers.
    Where: Kachemak Bay, and nearby flat water lake
    When: June 18-20, July 3-4; July 7, July 10-11; generally 9 AM – 5 PM, but depends on tide and your needs.
    Pre-requisites: Are willing to capsize and can follow verbal directions,
    We provide all instruction and kayaking gear, including dry suit, helmet, kayak, paddle etc.
    You provide all personal clothing, your own food and drinking water, and water taxi as needed. Water taxi $85/pp rt in most cases.
    Fees: $155 + sales tax per person/day, $5 off for cash/check
    $300/person + tax for 2 days; group rates for 4 and 6 persons.
    Options:  You can make your weekend into a kayak camping course, please ask for details.

    Registration: Alaska Kayak School, PO Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603, (907) 235-2090, info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online  registration).

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    Sea Kayak Safety and Rescue

    – Homer and Kachemak Bay – All skill levels

    Sea Kayak Safety and rescue – Develop sea kayaking rescue skills at your own level, novices to advanced, flat-water to open & rough water training: strokes & maneuvers tuning + effective and adaptable solo and assisted sea kayak rescues and towing, plus many other useful safety techniques.  Follow with an adventurous day trip in Kachemak Bay for a 2-day skill-builder.
    Where: Kachemak Bay or local flat water lake, call for directions
    When: 23 June, 18 August; generally 9 AM – 5 PM, but depends on tide and your needs.
    Pre-requisites: have fundamental sea kayaking skills and Are willing to capsize and can follow verbal directions,
    We provide all instruction and kayaking gear, including dry suit, helmet, kayak, paddle etc.
    You provide all personal clothing, your own food and drinking water, and water taxi as needed. Water taxi $85/pp rt in most cases.
    Fees: $155 + sales tax per person/day, $5 off for cash/check
    $300/person + tax for 2 days; group rates for 4 and 6 persons.
    Options:  Follow a day of rescues with n adventurous day trip in Kachemak Bay, ask about the 2-day options.

    Registration: Alaska Kayak School, PO Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603, (907) 235-2090, info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online  registration).

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    Sea Kayak Open Water (Surf) Level 3 Training Weekends - Homer

    Open Water Paddling • Strokes • Maneuvers • Rescues • Planning

    Sea Kayak Level 3 Open Water Training Weekend – You have developed your flat-water sea kayaking skills and want to develop open water paddling, rescues, navigation, and better trip planning skills. This is a wind-wave, open sea, surf and fast moving water paddling program with a focus on environmental planning and adaptive paddling skills for different conditions. IN this course, strokes and maneuvers are developed and practiced in conditions, rescues and recoveries are applied in dynamic settings, and you practice integrated use of tide/current/weather/chart/compass to make detailed trip plans. Can be taken as a 2 or 3 days course. ** SURF NOTE: When the surf forecast is appropriate, the Homer Spit is a wonderful sea kayak surf-training site. Surf training may be possible if conditions are favorable, keep your fingers crossed.
    Where: Kachemak Bay
    When: June 25-27; July 10-11, August 14-15; September 4-6, & 17-19; October 16-17. Generally 9 AM – 5 PM, but 10 AM – 6 PM also works
    Pre-requisites: Have fundamental sea kayaking skills and are willing to capsize and can follow verbal directions in fast moving water, want to learn to paddle sea kayaks in conditions safely.
    We provide all instruction and kayaking gear, including dry suit, helmet, kayak, paddle etc.
    You provide all personal clothing, your own food and drinking water, and water taxi as needed. Water taxi $85/pp rt in most cases.
    Fees: $155 + sales tax per person/day, $5 off for cash/check
    $300/person + tax for 2 days; group rates for 4 and 6 persons.

    Options:  Open water training can be followed by day trip across the bay and back, or a water taxi assisted rough water day. Ask about some options.

    Registration: Alaska Kayak School, PO Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603, (907) 235-2090, info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online  registration).

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    2010 Kodiak Sea Kayaking Skills Clinics by the Alaska Kayak School, August 18-24

    “Dress for immersion” and learn, tune and boost your sea kayaking skills in small classes with professional sea kayak instructor and coach, Tom Pogson, from the Alaska Kayak School during the 3rd week of August 2010. The student to coach ration will be kept to a maximum of 6:1 for level 1-2 courses and, and 4:1 for level 4 courses. Dry suits will be provided (and required) for all students, and other essential items can be provided on a space available basis. The courses will run on 6 days, inclusive, from Wednesday, August 18th, through Tuesday, August 24th. Courses will be filled on a first come first served basis; the clinics we will offer be chosen by you, the paddlers – Democracy in Action! The schedule will be on August 18 – ½ day workshop, on August 19 – 24, all day workshops. Check the menu below and review the pre-requisites in the course descriptions to pick some training that is appropriate for your skill level and your goals.

    Menu of courses - please see course descriptions below for course content & pre-requisites:

    1. Fundamental (level 1-2) Sea Kayaking Skills for adults and youth (14-18 yo).
    2. Intermediate Sea Kayaking Skills, level 3 skills
    3. Family Sea Kayaking Skills, level 1-2 skills
    4. Open Water Sea Kayaking Skills, level 4 skills
    5. Sea Kayak Navigation and Trip Planning, level 2-3 skills
    6. Coastal Navigation and Trip Planning, level 4 skills
    7. Introduction to Sea Kayak Rescues and Towing, level 2-3 skills
    8. Open Water Sea Kayak Rescues and incident management, level 4 skills
    9. Introduction to paddling in moving water (tidal streams) level 4 skills
    10. Introduction to the surf zone, level 4 skills
    11. Coastal Kayaking Day Trip (level 2-3 skills) in calm conditions
    12. Coastal Kayaking Day Trip (level 4 skills)

    COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

    For copies of the American Canoe Association’s Coastal Kayaking Levels Syllabi see the American Canoe Association website here: http://www.americancanoe.org/site/c.lvIZIkNZJuE/b.4511319/k.A4B4/Coastal_Kayaking.htm

    1. Fundamental Sea Kayaking Skills (level 1-2) for adults and youth (13-18 yo). Kayak safety features and equipment design and function, safety awareness, safe capsize, effective posture, safe use of the body, launching and landing, simple strokes and maneuvers (forward, back, turn, spin, stop, move sideways), group awareness, cold water safety, and introduction to solo ands assisted rescues. 7 hrs. Pre-requisites: can swim and follow verbal instructions, willingness to capsize and learn.

    2. Intermediate Sea Kayaking Skills (level 3). Technical performance of strokes and maneuvers in protected waters, small waves and light (force 1-2 winds). Effective use of the body for power and maneuvering, edging, different kinds of turns, variations on rescues, introduction to towing, hydrodynamics of sea kayaks in wind and waves, importance of skegs, rudders and sea kayak hull design for control when paddling in wind, and an introduction to tides currents and marine weather. Pre-requisites: no exceptions. Safe effective capsize with a skirt, basic knowledge and understanding of equipment, group awareness and cold water safety.
    3. Family Sea Kayaking Skills (level 1-2). Similar to no. 1, but tailored to parents that are willing to learn along side their pre-teen and teenage paddlers. Emphasis on games and competitions, fun and enjoyment in protected waters and no wind. Pre-requisites: Parents and your own kids (12-18 yo) only. Can swim and follow verbal instructions, willingness to capsize and learn. 20% discount for youth paddlers in this program, adults pay full price.

    4. Open Water Sea Kayaking Skills (level 4). This is not a flat or calm water course, this is a course to learn the application of level 3 skills to paddling in winds up to force 4 (11-16 knots), fully developed, 3-4’ seas with whitecaps and breaking waves in open water in Force 4 winds, aka sea state 4, reading water, and understanding the interaction between weather, tide, current, and coastal landforms. Also covered in this course are: group awareness and leadership in conditions, performing all level 3 strokes and maneuvers in conditions defined above, including solo, assisted rescues and towing in conditions. If you are not a proficient level 3 sea kayaker, this course probably won’t be very fun, and will likely produce a mixture of uncertainty and fear, never a good combination for a fun learning experience. Launching and landing through depending on mild (1-3’ surf) may be tackled depending on the venue and abilities of the group. Pre-requisites: level 3 coastal kayaking skills, no exceptions. A safe shoulder protected roll in flat water is an advantage, but not essential, however an effective and quick flat water self-rescue is a must-have skill.
    5. Sea Kayak Navigation and Trip Planning (level 2-3). Chart and compass skills, rules of the road, estimating time and distance, tides and currents, marine weather, and making sea kayaking trip plans are the basis for the 1-day introduction to planning sea kayaking day trips in light winds, small crossings with little or no tidal stream current (less than 2 knots). The class consists of a morning spent on land learning and practicing chart and compass skills and making a trip plan that will be played out by all participants in the afternoon. Pre-requisites: The ability to paddle a sea kayak in open water in light winds and small waves, willingness & the ability to paddle in a group.
    6. Coastal Navigation and Trip Planning, level 3-4 skills (level 4). You have skills to paddle in open water in sea state 3-4 (winds 10-16 knots), sea state 3-4 (waves 2-4’), and want to learn how to plan sea kayak trips in more exposed environments (1 hr. between easy landing zones), longer crossings (more than 2 nautical miles) with 2-3 knots of tidal stream current. This class consists of a review of fundamentals and an expansion of your knowledge of tides and currents, marine weather, chart and compass skills, group awareness, and introduction to tidal vector planning. Morning spent in a classroom setting using the above concepts to make a trip plan followed by an afternoon paddling on a trip to test out your planning skills. Pre-requisites: Level 4 coastal kayaking skills and fundamentals of sea kayak navigation. This is not a course for learning kayak control and maneuvering skills, it is a class for learning, practicing and developing navigation skills for conditions with winds up to force 4, tidal streams 3-4 knots, crossings over 2 miles, and landing zones 1-2 hours apart.

    7. Introduction to Sea Kayak Rescues and Towing (level 2-3). You have level 2-3 coastal kayaking skills and want to expand and/or practice the many variations of solo and assisted sea kayak rescues and towing. This course goes far beyond the simple set of solo and assisted rescues that are normally taught in conjunction with multi-purpose skills and recues courses such as course like or similar to Fundamentals and intermediate skills (items 1 and 2 above). This is a very active class, but we spend a little time on land discussing a bit of theory. You can expect to play lots of wet games and be in and out of the water and back into the sea kayak most of the day. Pre-requisites: To enjoy this course, Coastal Kayak level 2-3 skills are required. It is not our intent to focus on maneuvering skills, rather it’s a solid 7-8 hours of rescues, recoveries, and towing (to get warmed back up after all the wet work).
    8. Open Water Sea Kayak Rescues and incident management (level 4). You have level 4 coastal kayaking skills and want to expand and/or practice the many variations of solo and assisted rescues and towing in open water conditions. In addition, we will explore what to do when rescues “go bad” and you need to explore plans B to Z. Pre-requisites: Level 4 Coastal Kayaking Skills.

    9. Introduction to paddling in moving water, i.e., tidal streams (level 4). You have level 3 coastal kayaking skills and want to explore the tidal stream environment in a sea kayak. You will learn and practice the application of level 3 skills to moving water, learn about tidal streams, tidal constants, hydrology of moving water, eddy turns, peel-outs, ferries, spinning the kayak, rescues, towing, etc. all in moving water. In a nutshell you end up practicing all the level 3 skills in tidal stream currents of up to 4-5 knots in a relatively safe location. This course requires a specialized venue where these skills can be learned and practiced and we’ll need to travel and our timing will coincide with the tidal stream schedule – gaps between the islands at Anton Larsen as the week wears on, and Spring Tides increase in magnitude seems reasonable. Pre-requisites: Level 3-4 Coastal Kayaking Skills.


    10. Introduction to the surf zone (level 4). You have sound level 3-4 Coastal Kayaking skills and want to expand your comfort on the ocean and learn how to maneuver a sea kayak in surf so you can launch and land safely and/or “get into” the tremendously fun activity of sea kayak surfing. Learn about the dynamics and hydrology of the surf zone, the origin and quality of waves, develop a sound set of safety skills for using a sea kayak in surf, then this is a course you will benefit from. We may have to travel and find the conditions needed to introduce you to the surf zone: safe beach with spilling (or tubing) waves 1-3 feet high. If conditions are more aggressive than that, we may have to “play” in the soup if we can access a safe venue. Pre-requisites: Level 3-4 Coastal Kayaking skills, no exceptions.
    11. Coastal Kayaking Day Trip (level 2-3). You have developed your level 2-3 skills and want to spend the day paddling on a scenic day trip in calm-ish water to tune or learn a few more level 2-3 skills in the context of a trip. This will be a 6-8 hour day trip in light winds and small waves or calmer conditions. Pre-requisites: Coastal Kayak level 2-3 skills.
    12. Coastal Kayaking Day Trip (level 4). You have recently taken level 4 training or have level 4 skills. This will be a day trip with plenty of exposure and excitement, wind maybe 11-16 knots (force 4), waves 3-4 feet (sea state 4), tidal streams of 3-4 knots, crossings of 2 miles of more, surf landings and launching in up to 3’ surf. If you haven’t developed level 4 skills, this is not a trip for you, consider level 4 training courses or the level 2-3 coastal trip. Pre-requisites: Level 4 Coastal Kayaking Skills.

    Costs & Fees

    Full Meal Deal: $165 ($155 cash/ck) includes kayak and all sea kayaking gear (dry suit, PFD, skirt, paddle, helmet, helmet liner, gloves, etc) and instruction/leadership.

    Dry Suit and Instruction: $135 ($125 cash/ck) you have your own kayak (must have flotation in each end, deck lines, and surf toggles at the ends), paddle, skirt and PFD but need other stuff & instruction.

    Instruction and leadership only: $115 ($105 cash/ck), you have all your own gear (a complete equipment list for your clinics will be provided upon request). Additional items that you need will be provided for a reasonable fee.

    Equipment we can provide: Valley or Nigel Dennis Kayaks, Werner Paddles, Kokatat dry suits, booties, gloves, helmet, helmet liner, PFD, mariner compass, paddle float, towline, etc. Contact us for a comprehensive list. **** Note: We can provide only a limited number of sea kayaks because we will be coming from Homer on the ferry in a single vehicle, and will not have much rack space. So if you don’t have your own sea kayak, you may need to rent or borrow. We will have available 4 select sea kayaks picked to accommodate the widest range of students among the first to register for the courses.

    What you provide: You will provide your own personal clothing, food & water, your own sea kayaking equipment (if you have it), your own transportation to the kayaking sites, dry bags, extra clothing, personal first aid kits & medications, extra eyeglasses, sunglasses, sunscreen, rain gear, and any other personal items needed to participate in the clinics. Above all you provide enthusiasm to learn, ‘+). Equipment needed will vary depending on the clinic you sign up for, please contact us for a gear list once you register.

    More information and registration, contact the Alaska Kayak School:
    Tom Pogson
    907.235.2090
    alaskakayakschool@gmail.com
    www.alaskakayakschool.com/kodiak_2010

    Registration: Alaska Kayak School, PO Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603, (907) 235-2090, info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online  registration).

    ADVANCED REGISTRATION IS NECESSARY – THANKS FOR REGISTERING EARLY.

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    American Canoe Association
    Coastal Kayak Level 3 & 4 Skills Training and Instructor Development Workshop (IDW)
    Homer & Kenai Peninsula, September 6-12, 2010

    From the 6th to 12th of September 2010, the Alaska Kayak School will be hosting Dale Williams, a Level 5 American Canoe Association Instructor Trainer Educator (ITE), and we will be offering an Open Water Instructor Training (IDW) and Exam (ICE) here in Homer (with a possible trip to Seward to get more sea conditions if needed).

    This will be a diverse program and will include:
    1. ACA Level 3-4 Coastal Kayak Skills Training.
    2. Instructor Development Workshop, to prepare you for an ICE and fulfill the requirement for attending an ICE.
    3. Instructor Certification Exam, to become an instructor at levels 2-4.
    4. An opportunity for you to update your ACA Coastal Kayak certification to stay current.
    5. An opportunity to upgrade your Coastal Kayak certification from a lower level, say level 2, to a higher level, say level 3 or
    6. "Potential" outcomes for instructor candidates include: Coastal Kayak level 3 or 4 skills certification, and/or instructor certification level 2-4, depending on where you are in your development and performance.
    7. All sea kayaking equipment can be provided for a fee, and we reserve to privilege to "require" essential gear we can provide if in fact you don't have it or can't get, beg or borrow from others. (see below).

    Logistics:
    1. Most (if not all) of the program, weather permitting, will take place in Homer, will be based on a beach in Halibut Cove, giving us access to calm water, open water and tidal streams.
    2. We will be camping, but there is a yurt and we have a couple of portable camp buildings we can set up as shelters for meetings. You'd have to provide your own food and camping gear, and be self sufficient on the beach, including a tarp system you could cook under in the event of rain.
    3. The program will start on the 6th, so you'd need to be here the evening of the 5th, and to take full advantage of Dale's visit and the conditions needed, especially for the level 4 training aspect, you'd want to be here on the Peninsula and available 6th through the 12th.
    4. Update and upgrade candidates may finish the course in less than 7 days, but the longer program guarantees more time for the conditions needed for the level skills 4 training and the training/updates/upgrades for level 4 instructors and level 4 candidates.

    Requirements for Attending this Coastal Kayak Level 3-4 IDW-ICE: as a minimum, you must hold an ACA CK Level 2 award or higher. You still have time to get with Tom and get a level 2 assessment (the level 2 syllabus is attached). If you have the skills, but can't make an assessment in advance, please call to discuss the issue with Tom, 907.235.2090 (office), 907.299.0061 (cell).

    Costs of IDW-ICE:
    1) Instructor Candidates: The 7 day program for instructor candidates is $775 + 7.5% sales tax, and a minimum $500 deposit to get a reservation for the program. For savings, pay in full by August 15th, 2010, $700 + tax.
    2) Update Candidates: Instructors needing to update to stay current, $575 + 7.5% sales tax, and a minimum $400 deposit to get a reservation for the program. For savings, pay in full by August 15th, 2010, $525 + tax.
    3) Certification Upgrade candidates: Instructors wanting to upgrade their certifications to a higher level, $575 + tax. For savings, pay in full by August 15th, 2010, $525 + tax.
    4) You must be an ACA member to attend, please get your membership number in advance (you can become a member online from the ACA website: http://www.americancanoe.org/site/c.lvIZIkNZJuE/b.4343035/k.D5BB/Join_ACA.htm)

    Other Costs:
    1. Water Taxi - The water taxi to the training site in Halibut Cove will be approximately $85 with tax round trip, a discounted rate.
    2. Your own food, water, and camping gear (tent, tarp, bear-proof food storage, stove and fuel, etc.) will be your cost.
    3. Sea Kayaking Equipment needed (see attached list), includes a sea kayak that conforms to the standards for an ACA instructor in cold water, dry suit that offers protection from the effects of cold water immersion, helmet, and all other safety items needed: pump, towline, repair kit, first aid kit, extra clothing and repair kit, dry bags, shelter, etc. Contact us for a complete equipment list, or you'll receive one once you register.
    4. For $309 with tax per participant the Alaska Kayak School can provide all the sea kayaking equipment: sea kayak (Valley, NDK or North Shore), paddle and spare paddle, Kokatat Gore-tex drysuits, spray skirt, PFD, pump, towline, helmet, helmet liner, neoprene gloves, booties, etc. for a total of $300.

    Skills and Certification Requirements: Please see the ACA website for all the details.
    http://www.americancanoe.org/site/c.lvIZIkNZJuE/b.4486093/k.98B2/For_Instructors.htm
    http://www.americancanoe.org/site/c.lvIZIkNZJuE/b.4343455/k.86FB/Learn_to_Paddle.htm

    Please contact me with more questions and any other details.

    Space is limited, if you want to attend this program, register soon.

    Sincerely hope you can make it,
    Tom

    alaskakayakschool@gmail.com

    (907) 235-2090 office
    (907) 299-0061 cell

     

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    Tidal Training (Surf) Level 3 Weekend – Homer

    Tidal Stream Paddling • Strokes • Maneuvers • Rescues • Planning

    Sea Kayak Level 3 Tidal Training Weekend – You have developed your flat-water sea kayaking skills and want to develop skills for padding in tidal streams, including ferries and turns, plus dialing forward paddling and balance in dynamic water.  In this course, strokes and maneuvers are developed and practiced in conditions, rescues and recoveries are applied in dynamic settings, and you practice integrated use of tide/current/weather/chart/compass to make detailed trip plans. Can be taken as a 2 or 3 days course. ** SURF NOTE: When the surf forecast is appropriate, the Homer Spit is a wonderful sea kayak surf-training site. Surf training may be possible if conditions are favorable, keep your fingers crossed.
    Where: Kachemak Bay or Homer
    When: August 28-29, September 10-12, & 24-27, October 8-11, & 22-24, Generally 9 AM – 5 PM, but depends on tide and your needs, 10 AM – 6 PM also works.
    Pre-requisites: Have fundamental sea kayaking skills and are willing to capsize and can follow verbal directions in fast moving water, want to learn to paddle sea kayaks in conditions safely.
    We provide all instruction and kayaking gear, including dry suit, helmet, kayak, paddle etc.
    You provide all personal clothing, your own food and drinking water, and water taxi as needed. Water taxi $85/pp rt in most cases.
    Fees: $155 + sales tax per person/day, $5 off for cash/check
    $300/person + tax for 2 days; group rates for 4 and 6 persons.
    Options:  Follow a day of rescues with n adventurous day trip in Kachemak Bay, ask about the 2-day and overnight trip options. Some of the tidal training programs are best experienced on base camping adventure – ask for details.

    Registration: Alaska Kayak School, PO Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603, (907) 235-2090, info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online  registration).

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    GUIDED Sea Kayaking TRIPS FOR DEVOTED PADDLERS – coming in 2011

    PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND • KENAI PENINSULA • KACHEMAK BAY STATE PARK • KODIAK ARCHIPELAGO • SHUYAK ISLAND

    Download this info as a PDF

    Sea Kayak Tours and Expeditions for paddlers that hold a minimum of ACA Coastal Kayak level 4 awar,d and “new” BCU 3 star award (old 4 BCU star sea).

    Why come on a guided trip in Alaska with minimum paddling skills qualifications and the Alaska Kayak School? You will paddle with others that have a common skill set and have developed their skills to be proficient in paddling open water with wind, waves, surf and tidal streams. Your leaders will be fully qualified by the American Canoe Association and British Canoe Union to lead in the conditions in which you will be paddling as well as have the capabilities to enhance your skills by coaching you to a higher level. The staff of the Alaska Kayak School has 30 years of backcountry travel experience in Alaska and 16 years leading multi-day paddling trips in Alaska. The Alaska Kayak School is the only sea kayaking company in Alaska to train and assess paddlers at the open water level and thus offer the kind of quality wilderness paddling adventure you should expect if you have spent years training and being assessed to paddle in conditions. You can expect to have a leader that has expert knowledge of Alaska’s natural history, having had a previous life as a professional biologist before becoming a sea kayak coach and instructor. The Alaska Kayak School is the only Sea Kayaking UK Expedition Center in Alaska.

    History of sea kayaking tours and guided trips @ Alaska Kayak School. For the last 11 years, the Alaska Kayak School has operated a guided trip program in South Coastal Alaska: Prince William Sound, Kenai Fjords National Park, Kachemak Bay State Park, and the Kodiak Archipelago, especially Shuyak Island. Although we don’t have any guided trips per se listed on our calendar in 2010, in the spring and summer of 2011 we will be launching a guided trip program for devoted paddlers that have trained and assessed by either the American Canoe Association (level 3 and up) and the British Canoe Union, (old 4 star sea or new 3 star and up). We are able to design and operate wilderness multi-day tours for paddlers with less training and assessment, and we currently (summer 2010) are offering 4-night 5-day instructional tours to help paddlers develop independent paddling skills, please contact us if you are in the latter category and wish to paddle with us, our specialty is the design of custom guided trips for paddlers of any level and groups with a minimum of 4 participants in a pre-set group.

    Catered and self-catered trips.

    We can provide fully catered trips, but encourage paddlers that want to use our services to save $$ and use the self-catered option. Most of you are experienced campers anyway and have your own way of doing things, have your own camping gear, and we can assist you with menu ideas and food shopping strategies (if you need that). If you want a softer adventure and want us to do the food, we’re happy to do so for a fee.

    Finest equipment and supplies

    We only use the finest equipment: Kokatat paddle wear, Werner paddles, and sea kayaks by Valley and Sea Kayaking UK (Nigel Dennis). These are companies that many devoted paddlers have gravitated to in the course of their training and assessment at some of the most reputable sea kayaking centers in the United States.

    Quality and training of Alaska Kayak School leaders and guides

    In the last decade, the Alaska Kayak School has distinguished itself by using only guides that are trained and assessed at the highest levels by the American Canoe Association and/or the British Canoe Union, level 4 instructors, 5 star leaders and level 4 coaches, all of whom also hold the necessary Wilderness First Responder back country medical certification. This is the minimum level of training and assessment for sea kayak leaders and guides as recommended by the wilderness medical industry, and both the ACA and BCU. These standards provide “minimum” levels of safety and risk management for paddling trips in wilderness settings.

    Alaska Kayak School does Sea Kayak Guide Training. The Alaska Kayak School’s capabilities to offer training and assessment in the ACA and the BCU has made us a resource for the local sea touring industry; we have trained and assessed guides for many of the local sea kayak touring companies. For the last 4 years we’ve offered the ACA Coastal Kayak Day Trip Leading Assessment Course, a suitable award for entry-level guides.

    Alaska Kayak School staff authors articles on sea kayaking and water safety. Tom Pogson, the lead instructor/guide at the Alaska Kayak School is the author/coauthor of several articles in the reputable sea kayaking magazine, Ocean Paddler: Pogson, T. 2009. Bear Conservation and Safety. OP 14:41-44, Pogson, T. 2009. Paddling Alaska - Selecting a Sea Kayak Venue. OP14:52-56, & Lampman, D. & T. Pogson. 2010. Should we go? Planning sea kayaking expeditions for committing environments. OP 19:46-51. Since 2007 Tom has been a monthly columnist for Alaska’s Coast Magazine, writing on sea kayaking safety, paddling technique, paddling with kids, etc. Some of the pieces are available on the Coast Magazine website, Coast-Magazine.com, and on the “Instruction” page of this website.

    We are writing a sea kayak trip planning guide for the region, “Williwaw Blues, a sea kayak trip planning guide for Alaska: Cordova to Kodiak”, but it’s slow going. Look for additional “chapters” in Ocean Paddler.

    Alaskan Twist to our Trips.

    I have been in Alaska for 30 years this May (2010), having been a wildlife biology grad student and field researcher for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Alaska Dept of Fish and Game, and ABR a private biological consulting firm. I am the founder of the still extant Alaska Bird Observatory (based in Fairbanks), and was the director and do-all for it's first seven years 1991-1997. I am the main author or co-author of 3 recent articles published in Ocean Paddler Magazine that relate directly to sea kayak tripping in Alaska: These articles are available from Ocean Paddler through an online subscription service from OceanPaddlermagazine.com and obviously, hard copies are available from the publisher, Richard Parkin.
    http://www.oceanpaddlermagazine.com/

    Alaska Kayak School guided trips on video

    The movie we made of our expedition to the northern Kodiak Archipelago is viewable on YouTube.com : “Somewhere in Alaska North of the 58th Patrallel”. For further insight into our trips, you can access some online trailers to videos that we helped to produce with www.kayakjournal.com, and are listed on our online video library. I have listed a few of the links here for your convenience.

    http://www.downstreammedia.net/kayakjournal/alaska.mov
    http://www.downstreammedia.net/kayakjournal/KJTV2007-09-25.mov
    http://www.downstreammedia.net/kayakjournal/KJTV2007-09-17.mov

    The complete versions of these short films are available on the DVD Kayak Journal 5: Alaska, from KayakJournal.com. Some of our other projects with Kayak Journal are available on Kayak Journal 4, a DVDs (Cold water clothing, packing a sea kayak for an expedition, quick sea kayak rescue for cold water). And one of them is available as a podcast you can view here: http://shwagger.typepad.com/kayak_journal_podcast/technique_/index.html

    Thanks for your inquiry.
    Tom Pogson, info@alaskakayakschool.com, (907) 235-2090
    Homer, Alaska

    Rough Water Sea Kayak (Coastal Kayak Level 4) Training, July 13 and 15. You have taken Coastal Kayak Level 3 training, or have level 3 coastal kayaking skills, and have practiced and developed some bracing skills, rescues, towing, and have moderate boat control in light winds. This is a course to build your skills for paddling in wind, waves, and probably current with confidence. Late afternoon launch times or water taxi will be used to find some rough water, likely a combination of open water and tidal streams. Must either have a confident self-rescue or an Eskimo roll. By permission of instructors only. Stand alone 1 day training courses designed to take advantage of the big daylight tides on these dates. All equipment provided. Save 15% if you provide your own equipment.
    When: Tue July 13, & Thurs July 15
    Where: Meeting place to be arranged, paddling in Kachemak Bay
    Times; 11 AM meeting, late tide so will be a late afternoon/evening.
    Cost: $160 card, $155 cash/ck + Homer sales tax (7.5%), does not include water taxi - if needed.
    Registration and more  information: (907) 235-2090,info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online  registration).

    Coastal Kayak Level 3 and 4 Training Weekend, July 30-31. You have taken level 2 coastal kayaking skills training or have level 2 coastal skills. This 2 day level 3 and 4 training is intended to introduce you to technical sea kayaking skills (level 3) in flat water and give you a chance to apply the skills in open water and/or tidal conditions (level 4) on day 2. All equipment provided. Save 15% if you provide your own equipment.
    When: Sat & Sun, July 30-31
    Where: Flatwater training in freshwater, open water training in Kachemak Bay
    Times; 9-5 day 1, day 2 to be arranged
    Cost: $310 card, $300 cash/ck + Homer sales tax (7.5%), does not include water taxi - if needed.
    Registration and more  information: (907) 235-2090, info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online  registration).

    Fundamentals of Paddling. Try open canoes, sit on tops, sea kayaks, and whitewater kayaks in this fun introduction to paddling. A fun afternoon of messing around in boats is a "taster" for all major paddling disciplines. Discover and learn the similarities between canoeing and kayaking. Have fun learning basic skills in a wide variety of craft. Perfect for families and groups of young paddlers.
    Where: Flatwater venue to be announced
    Times; 1-5 PM each day 2
    Cost: $65 card/person, $ cash/ck + Borough sales tax (3%).
    Registration and more  information: (907) 235-2090, info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online registration)


    Coastal Kayak Level 4 Tidal Training. You have developed level 3 coastal kayaking skills and want to build your skills in open water and tidal conditions. Big tides at this time of year provide perfect Coastal Kayak Level 4 training opportunities when coupled with the open water conditions in Kachemak Bay.
    When: August 9-11, Mon-Wednesday
    Where: Flatwater training in freshwater, open water training in Kachemak Bay
    Times; 9-5 day 1, day 2 to be arranged
    Cost: $310 card, $300 cash/ck + Homer sales tax (7.5%), does not include water taxi - if needed.
    Registration and more  information: (907) 235-2090, info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online registration)



    (907) 235 - 2090
    Homer, AK

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