Join us for this comprehensive paddling series that begins in a heated pool and finishes up with a day on the open water. The pool enviroment is great for making those mistakes. For the beginner there is a thorough exploration of kayaking. Lots of time will be spent making sure that students are comfortable in the boat and in the water by doing wet exits; working on the strokes that are necessary for going forward, turning, and moving sideways; learning the moves that help prevent a capsize; discovering how to rescue oneself or another paddler in the event of a capsize; and finally students will coalesce all of these skills into an Eskimo Roll. The expereinced paddler will move through the strokes with an eye towards honing existing skills and making them as efficient as possible. It is all too easy to lapse into bad habits, and without a personal coach, often you don't even know that you have lowered your own technical standard - why do you think the best athletes and olympians have coaches?
With this strong foundation of paddling skills learned in the pool, participants then spend a full day on the ocean applying what they learned in real conditions and learning how to deal with variables such as wind, waves, tides and currents.
Even for those of you who just want to learn to roll, this is the best approach. The name "Paddling SERIES" was chosen because of its aptness to the program. Kayaking is really just a "series" of strokes, concepts, and techniques that are all bound together by several common elements, all of which come together in the Eskimo Roll. It's a lot easier to orient the body, arm, and paddle positions right side up and then take it upside down!
2022
2022 Indoor Pool Kayak Paddling Series: We will be offering this program at the Riverton Community Center in Portland. The price includes one weekend session (6 hours of pool time) and a FREEl day on open water. The open water day will begin at 9am and will be held at H2Outfitters’ base on Orr’s Island.
Riverton Community Center - Portland, Me
MAY: Sat. 5/21 (2:30 - 4:30pm) & Sun. 5/22 (1:00 - 5:00pm) & Sat. 5aturday, 6/4/22 (open water day)
Price: $295 per person which includes the six hours in the pool (focused and personal instruction) and the FREE day on the open water at H2Outfitters’ location on Orrs island to put it all together. Kayaks and equipment provided.
