introductory kayaking

Introductory Kayaking

No experience necessary. Designed to make basic kayaking skills accessible, expert instructors guide your every stroke, so you gain confidence on the water, while enjoying the beauty of nature up close.

Appropriate for anyone new to paddlesports. Just bring your sense of adventure and take part in an activity you can do over a lifetime! In a matter of hours, you’ll pick up the fundamentals for exploring the lake (as well as getting a nice low-impact aerobic workout), and which also form the base needed to advance your skills.

For this introductory class, besides stroke techniques, Shoreline’s knowledgeable and experienced instructors will also teach launching and landing, nomenclature, self-rescue, water safety, and equipment tuning.

You'll learn the following skills:

• Equipment – Right Size & Type, Seating & Paddle Orientation
• Types of Strokes – Forwards, Back, Draw, Figure 8, Sweeping, Stopping
• Rescues – T-Rescue, Cowboy Scramble
• Launching, Signals, Adjusting for Wind & Current, Capsize Recovery, and more…

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What to Bring

Students should bring comfortable clothes, a bathing suit, a jacket or fleece, a towel and change of clothes, lots of sun protection, a lanyard to secure their glasses around their heads, and a reusable water bottle. Athletic shoes may be worn, or students may prefer to wear shoes or sandals that can be worn in the water (such as water shoes/aqua socks or Keen sandals).

Important: Please arrive 10-15 minutes before your class to check in.