Introduction to Kayaking (level 1) is a 4-hour clinic teaching you the essential skills needed to paddle whitewater or recreational kayaks in flat water.  For those interested in whitewater kayaking, these strokes, rescues, concepts and maneuvers should be introduced and refined on flatwater before moving out to whitewater. For those interested in recreational kayaking on easy rivers and small lakes, this introductory course will provide you with a solid foundation of strokes and rescues.

Here's a few things you'll learn:

• 5 misunderstood concepts to effortless paddling (here's a hint - if you're like most self-taught paddlers, and use your arms to power your kayak, you'll lose over 90% of your power through your shoulder, elbow and wrist joints. Paddle smarter, not harder!)
• 6 simple rescues that anyone can do in deep-water
• 4 myths to an effortless roll (Rolling is effortless without a paddle, even with a boat full of water, but 95% of paddlers fail because of one common mistake -- they try to get on top of the boat!)
• 9 essential strokes and skills you should master before learning the Kayak Roll, Whitewater or Touring classes

You'll also learn the most stable ways to enter and exit the kayak from shore, as well as how to quickly exit and re-enter a capsized kayak in deep water. A variety of self-rescues, including the Kayak Roll and assisted rescues are demonstrated throughout the class. You'll learn the basic strokes and body mechanics to paddle efficiently, comfortably and confidently in any direction on lakes and easy flat water rivers.

Accident reports studied by the American Canoe Association indicate the vicitms had little or no formal training in kayaking.  70% of all accidents happen on flat water, with no current. It appears that the simplicity of the design is often misinterpreted as an indication that the boats are simple to operate and inherently safe.  Most victims probably would not consider themselves as a "kayaker" and therefore do not seek out kayaking-specific instruction, such as how to do smooth and controlled wet exits, simple rescues that anyone can perform, reading the river or dressing appropriately for kayaking.

We believe kayaking can be fun and easy if you learn the right techniques.  It has little to do with strength or age, and much more to do with finesse, techique, and confidence learned through formal training in incremental steps. 

Prerequisites:
None

Succeeding courses: 
Essentials of Recreational Kayaking (level 2)
The Kayak Roll (level 2)
2-day Whitewater Weekend (level 3)
2-day Coastal Kayaking on Inland Waters (level 3)

Note: Level 2 is not required for Level 3, but may be beneficial for those wanting to start out at a slower pace, those simply interested in recreational kayaking, or those wanting to truly master the Level 3 course. The Level 2 course will help refine strokes and concepts in moving water and give you a significant head-start in the Level 3 Weekend course.

Meet the Instructors:
Our instructors are our greatest assets. Each of our instructors are certified by the American Canoe Association (ACA). Founded in 1880, and funded largely by the US Coast Guard, the ACA is a nation-wide not for profit organization whose role is to make paddling education and instruction standardized and more accessible to the public. Our instructors are certified to the highest levels, up to and including:

Our Guarantee:
You'll learn more in this 4-hour class than most people would learn in several seasons of informal training. We're so confident your skills will increase, that we'll guarantee it! If you don't feel more confident, more in control and more excited about paddling, we'll donate your course fees to your favorite charity, in your name!