Instruction
Basic Sea Kayaking 
Pool Based Capsize Recovery Class Sea Kayaking Skills Day
Forward Paddling Clinic Rescues for Real Surf Survival Eskimo Rolling
As Tasmania's leading retailer and promoter of sea kayaking, we feel it is our obligation to offer the most comprehensive and affordable instruction within our means. This summer will be our 13th conducting Tasmania’s most comprehensive kayaking instructional program.
All our instructors are qualified and experienced professionals who hold certificates from Australian Canoeing and the American Canoe Association. The key to our instructional program is keeping the challenges moderate so that the paddling is safe and fun.
By completing the following program whilst also participating in a few weekend tours will make you a safer and more confident sea canoeist this summer.
BASIC SEA KAYAKING
For first time paddlers and those who have never had any formal instruction. The aim of this class is to give you a good foundation in the knowledge and skills essential for safe and enjoyable paddling. Through a combination of demonstrations on land and water you will learn about: Paddling equipment, Kayak Safety, Launching & landing, Efficient forward paddling and Maneuvering a kayak.
To improve safety and participant comfort the “wet” in water elements of the Basic Sea Kayaking class is now being taught in a separate pool based Capsize Recovery Class.
Please note that wet exit skills are now a prerequisite for attending this Basic Sea Kayaking Class.
| Location | Roaring 40s Kettering Base |
| Time | 8:30am to 12:30pm |
| Cost | $90 pp or $75 with your own sea kayak |
| 2010 | 2011 |
| October 10th & 23rd | January 15th, 29th |
| November 6th & 20th | February 6th, 20th |
| December 4th & 19th | March 5th, 20th |
| April 3rd, 16th |
POOL BASED CAPSIZE RECOVERY CLASS
| Location | Kingston Swim Centre, Mertonvale Court, Kingston |
| Time | 6:30 to 8:30 pm |
| Cost | $70 pp |
| 2010 | 2011 |
| October 9th, 22nd | January 14th, 28th |
| November 5th, 19th | February 5th, 19th |
| December 3rd, 18th | March 4th, 19th |
| April 2nd, 15th |
We feel it is essential that all paddlers, no mater what their kayaking aspirations, be able to confidently manage a capsize situation. Mastering wet exit and capsize recovery techniques is easier and more fun when learning them in a heated swimming pool environment. This 2-hour pool based kayak capsize session will be run the evening prior to all our Basic Sea Kayaking lessons throughout the summer. Please note that the wet exit skills taught in this class are a prerequisite for attending the Basic Sea Kayaking class.
SEA KAYAKING SKILLS DAY
The Beyond Basics & Better Braces clinics now on the same day!
New! Each month this summer we are conducting a full day of intermediate kayaking skills fun! We will be running our ½ day beyond basics and bracing classes now on the same day. This way you can choose to immerse yourself in a full day of kayaking instruction or take classes separately over different weekends.
| Location | Roaring 40s Base, Kettering |
| Time | Starting at 9:00am to 5pm |
| 2010 | 2011 |
| November 14th | February 12th |
| April 9th | |
Combined class cost:
Non-member: $160, $140 with own sea kayak
Member: $105 / $80 with own sea kayak
Individual class cost:
Non-member: $90 pp or $75 with your own sea kayak
Member: $70 or $45 with your own sea kayak
BEYOND BASICS
| Time | 9:00am to 12:30pm |
Paddling a sea kayak efficiently in a wide range of conditions requires paddling skills specific to these long sleek craft. This clinic is about giving you two very important skills necessary for efficient paddling and effective control of your sea kayak. These skills are good “body rotation” to develop a powerful paddle stroke and proper ”edging” to maintain kayak control in adverse conditions.
BETTER BRACES
| Time | 1:00pm to 5:00pm |
The skills learned in our Beyond Basics Clinic count for practically nothing if you’re not comfortable with your balance. So this clinic is about learning to maintain balance and recover from a loss of balance. These skills are fundamental to enjoyable kayaking at an intermediate level. During the clinic you will be taught safe and effective balance recovery techniques or braces as they are more commonly called. Good bracing skills will increase your enjoyment of open water sea kayaking immeasurably! (The ultimate balance recovery stroke is the Eskimo roll. We highly recommend that all paddlers who wish to learn to roll take this bracing class before attending our pool based rolling clinics)
FORWARD PADDLING CLINIC
| Location | Roaring 40s Base, Kettering |
| Time | 2:00pm to 5:00pm |
| Cost | $90pp or $75 with your own sea kayak |
| 2010 | 2011 |
| November 20th | February 20th |
| April 3rd |
Forward Paddling is what sea kayakers do most of and yet it is a skill that we often over look or take for granted. It goes without saying that sea kayakers generally paddle for longer periods and cover greater distances than participants of just about every other paddle sport discipline. Yet the majority of sea kayakers surprisingly spend less time developing these skills than participants of other paddle sport disciplines!
This clinic will help you get more mileage from your calories by looking at your paddling posture, stroke biomechanics and boat dynamics!
RESCUES FOR REAL
| Location | Roaring 40s Base, Kettering |
| Time | 1:30pm to 4:30pm |
| Cost | $90 per person or $75 with your own sea kayak |
| 2010 | 2011 |
| December 18th | January 16th |
| Febuary 19th | |
| March 27th |
This clinic is a safe and fun way for paddlers who have practised capsize recovery in a pool or other sheltered location to give these skills a work out in less than ideal conditions. If you come prepared to get wet, we guarantee that you will have fun and learn a bit too. Using a variety of scenarios we will explore the various options available to get yourself and others out of trouble quickly.
SURF SURVIVAL
| Location | Carlton Beach Surf Lifesavings Club |
| Time | Contact us |
| Cost | $90 per person or $75 with your own sea kayak |
| 2011 | |
| January 29th | |
| March 20th |
It’s back by popular demand!
This clinic is aimed at paddlers with good boat confidence and elementary bracing strokes. The back wash zone of a gentle surf beach is a safe yet dynamic environment to reinforce and challenge kayak support strokes. With the aid of our instructor, a few hours spent in this environment can greatly assist in the development of intermediate and advanced kayaking skills.
In this clinic time will be spent teaching safe launching and landing strategies which will help you acquire the techniques needed to handle a modern sea kayak in breaking waves. It will also give you a good foundation of the skills you need to use your sea kayak safely in the surf. Please contact us for more details including abilities.
ESKIMO ROLLING
| Location | Kingston Pool |
| Time | 6:30pm start (over two evenings) |
| Cost | $300 |
| Dates | On demand (4 or more people) |
Our instructional program wouldn't be complete without it! Classes run on demand with 4 people, so please call for more information.
For advanced level sea kayaking you need a reliable Eskimo roll. Without one you should never paddle anywhere or in any conditions that you would neither be comfortable swimming or preforming a deep-water rescue. Unfortunately unless you are young, flexible and fearless learning to roll takes a bit of patience and determination. Fortunately, with good instruction most people with the desire can master the Eskimo roll. We limit classes to just 4 participants.
