Whitewater of the Sea

In June, world traveler Kyle Mulinder aka Bare Kiwi came out with us for a whitewater of the sea adventure. Kyle was on a Northern California Road Trip for Visit California and GoPro.  Kyle is a sea kayak guide in New Zealand and was super curious about our rock gardening adventures.  As a sea kayak guide, he is used to keeping his participants away from the rocks.  The concept of playing in close to the rocks in areas that other sea kayak guides avoid intrigued him about our trip.

Kyle had a blast on the trip and shared that it was the highlight of his Northern California Trip and thinks it is one of his top 5 adventures worth doing globally.  WOW - considering the stellar Northern California road trip and his adventures.  Here is a link to the video and write up about Kyle's Northern California Adventure.  The video is fun and inspiring.  We were at the end of his road trip and whitewater of the sea is toward the end of the video and blog post.

Check it out and let us know what you think.  We also encourage you to follow Bare Kiwi's Adventures on Instagram.  He definitely knows how to peg the fun meter.

A Semester in Sea Kayaking

How about a semester course in sea kayaking?Or a sea kayak specialty weekend clinic?

Sea Kayaking on the Mendocino Coast with Liquid Fusion Kayaking

Check out LFK's Art of Sea Kayaking Mendocino Series.

June - September - each month we will hone your skills on a different aspect of sea kayaking.  The skills are specific to the Mendocino Coast but can be applied to other sea kayaking destinations.  Working with students over the course of 4 or 5 months, we see significant progress in their skills and comfort and confidence in dynamic waters.  If you really want to accelerate your sea kayaking skills, this is the program for you.

Sea kayak classes and tours on California's Mendocino Coast.

If you have taken sea kayak classes before (even this series), we encourage you to re-take the ones in areas where you want to fine tune and master your skills.  Every day on the sea is different and a learning experience - take this opportunity to learn under the guidance of Liquid Fusion Kayaking.

Rock garden pour-over play on the Mendocino Coast.

Sea Kayak 101 - Foundation Skills Class - great first class or skills tune-up
Touring Ocean Rock Gardens - Sea Kayak Rock Garden Class - reading water and traveling among rock gardens as a team
Surfzone FUNdamentals - Sea Kayak Surf Zone Class
The Art of  Pour-Overs - Rock Garden and Coastal Play
Magical Mendocino Sea Caves - Sea Cave Exploration

Sea kayaking in Mendocino Sea Caves

Each 2 day class is $270/person using your own equipment.  Equipment rentals are available.  Students have the option of using a decked sea kayak or a sit on top touring kayak.  Reservations are necessary and can be made online at LiquidFusionKayak.com or by calling Liquid Fusion Kayaking (707) 962-1623.

Sea kayak surfing on the Mendocino Coast of California

For extra credit aka extra fun - make the 2 day class into a 3 or 4 day weekend by adding LFK's Whitewater of the Sea on Friday and/or Coastal Tour and Play Day on Sunday.

Whitewater of the Sea aka Whitewater Kayaking in Ocean Rock Gardens.

Liquid Fusion Kayaking is an owner-operated instructional kayak company based on the Mendocino Coast of California. Liquid Fusion Kayaking's mission is to provide fun, personal, interactive, and educational adventures that garner appreciation for wildlife, nature, and kayaking. LFK is owned and operated by internationally acclaimed kayak instructors - Cate Hawthorne and Jeff Laxier. Cate and Jeff guide and teach all of LFK's tours and classes. Cate and Jeff's specialties include sea kayaking, whitewater river kayaking, surf kayaking, rock gardening, and natural history. They are both a bit nerdy when it comes to nature and love sharing wildlife and natural history during their classes and tours.

LFK Owner/Operator/Instructors Cate Hawthorne and Jeff Laxier

Kayak Safety Clinic

Get ready for summer kayaking season on the Mendocino Coast with a kayak safety skills clinic.

Capsizes happen to all kayaks. Learn how to help yourself and others back into and onto their kayaks after a capsize.

On Sunday May 19, Liquid Fusion Kayaking is going to be hosting a Kayak Safety Clinic.  From 10- Noon there will be a 2 hour on water kayak safety clinic that includes capsize prevention techniques and capsize recovery. $20/person with their own kayak and equipment (must wear a wetsuit). $40/person includes kayak and wetsuit rental. All proceeds will be donated to the Mendocino County Water Safety Coalition.

Good to know how to help yourself and your friends when a kayak capsizes.

NOON - FREE KAYAK SAFETY DEMONSTRATION -

Liquid Fusion Kayaking will demonstrate safety skills including how to get back into and onto a capsized kayak.

Learn techniques to keep your kayak from capsizing.

ALL TYPES OF KAYAKS ARE ENCOURAGED FOR THIS EVENT. BRING YOURS OR RENT ONE FROM US. CONTACT US IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

Mendocino Coast Kayaking Videos

If a picture says a thousand words, what does a video say?

Evolution of Liquid Fusion Kayaking's Mendocino Kayak Videos

Last month, I created 2 new videos for Liquid Fusion Kayaking to showcase our Mendocino Kayaking Adventures.  When I uploaded them to YouTube, I spiffed up LFK's YouTube Channel and revised some of our playlists.  Doing so was a bit of a stroll down memory lane.  It is hard to believe that 10 years ago, I created our first video - Rock Gardening on the Mendocino Coast.  I learned a lot from the process and the feedback that I received from viewers.

In 2009, I created our Mendocino Coast Sea Kayaking video.  This is still one of my favorite videos.  I hope someday to recreate it with better quality video.

Fast forward 10 years to 2019

It was fun this week to share and reveal our new videos and to reminisce over our oldies.  I have published over 30 videos for Liquid Fusion Kayaking's YouTube Channel and created several playlists.  It is amazing how far video quality and technology have come - even for us amateurs using hand held point and shoot cameras and simple editing programs.  I think the biggest game changer was when we could shoot and edit HD video without sophisticated equipment and software.  The continual battle with shooting kayaking videos is water spots, lighting and moving water and subjects.  Jive'n is one of my favorite Mendocino Coast kayaking videos.  The good old Necky boats like the Jive are still fun boats for rock gardening and kayak surfing.

This year, I have created and posted 2 quickie - 1 minute videos.  I like the challenge of editing for quality not quantity and the challenge of a 1 minute video that entertains and tells a story.  My first challenge was a 1 minute video to use as a "trailer" or promo video to showcase LFK as an owner/instructor multi-discipline kayak company.  Check it out and let me know what you think.

My second project this year was to portray our Whitewater of the Sea - rock gardening lesson/tour.  We get lots of interest and questions about this trip.  My goal was to create a video that gave an authentic teaser of our Whitewater of the Sea Adventure.  The challenge was to portray it as fun, exciting, challenging, but not scary.  Take a look and let me know how I did.

I hope that you enjoyed the videos and the little stroll down memory land.  I have a couple of future video projects in mind.  If you know anyone who would like to collaborate with us on some fun, inspirational, or instructional videos, we are open to suggestions.  To be the first to see our new videos - 

Please subscribe to Liquid Fusion Kayaking's YouTube Channel

Mendocino Kayak Tours and Classes

Mendocino is one of our favorite places to kayak.  Here's a short (1 minute) video that we made to share Liquid Fusion Kayaking's fun kayak tours and classes in Mendocino County.  It was a challenge to create a video that combined our family friendly eco-tours as well as rock gardening, whitewater kayaking, and sea kayaking adventures.  We hope that you like it. 

You can watch it below or might be best to check it out on the Liquid Fusion Kayaking You Tube Channel - You will find some other cool videos there.

Get the Scoop

Do you subscribe to Liquid Fusion Kayaking’s monthly newsletter? If not, click here to subscribe.

If you haven’t subscribed yet, you should subscribe to

Get the Scoop -

1. What is happening on the waters on in Mendocino County. In our recent newsletter, we shared the effects of our wet and wild winter of 2019.
2. Tips and skills to become a better paddler. Kayak instructors Jeff Laxier and Cate Hawthorne share some of their top tips.
3. Inspiring photos - we share photos from our recent kayak adventures and photos to inspire you to plan kayak adventures (with or without us - we want you to get out and enjoy the water)
4. Be the first to know about LFK new classes and events and specials (including kayak and gear sales)
5. A monthly reminder to get out and paddle - if you can’t get out on the water, dream about getting out on the water
6. We get excited every time someone signs up for our newsletter. When people sign up to receive our newsletter or interact with our monthly newsletter, it motivates us to keep producing and sharing informative posts and inspiring photos.

Don’t miss out - Sign UP - NOW to get the Scoop!!!

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Whitewater Kayaking

Wet Winter = Whitewater Kayaking

Since the beginning of 2019, it seems to have rained here every day.  Even on days when no rain is forecasted, a rain shower seems to emerge out of nowhere.  To make things more exciting, we have had numerous hail storms and even some snow.  The snow forecast for the Sierras is looking promising, and even our Coast Range is blanketed.  With all this snow and rain, 2019 is shaping up to be an epic year for whitewater.

Whitewater Kayaking on the North Fork Smith River.

California Whitewater Dreaming

If you aren't, you should be California dreaming.  We sure are.  It has been a cold winter, and we are dreaming of warm spring days running whitewater.  The song Big Rock Candy Mountain permeates through our hearts as we dream of mountains gushing with crystal clear water pouring over granite boulders in the Sierras.  Our dreams include multiday self-support kayak trips on several of our favorite runs including the Eel River.  With plentiful water in the reservoirs, dam release runs should have good water all summer long.  We are looking forward to summer getaways on the Trinity, Sierra Rivers, and even maybe Cache Creek.

Whitewater kayaking on the Trinity River.

Are you ready for this epic whitewater year in California?  

If not, its time to get ready.  Let us help.  We have classes and lessons to get you ready for whitewater fun.  Check our links for dates or contact us to schedule a private lesson, custom class, or trip for you.

Whitewater Kayak Classes and Lessons

Rolling - Learn to roll or tune-up your roll with a LFK Instructor in the comfort of our local community pool.  Private rolling lessons and tune-ups are available most days.  Contact us to schedule.

Kayak Roll Lesson in the Pool

Learn to Whitewater Kayak - Beginning whitewater kayak class for sea kayakers, whitewater kayakers, and recreational kayakers who have basic kayaking skills and want to learn to run whitewater rivers.

Whitewater kayak classes are fun.

Precision River Running - Intermediate whitewater kayakers - Dial in your river running skills to run the river with style - catch challenging eddies, make jet ferries, boof holes, and surf waves.

Whitewater kayak boof stroke.

Whitewater Overnight Trip - Each spring we look forward to overnight camping trips in the wilderness of the Eel River.  If you want to join us, we are offering an Eel River Overnight Trip on April 13-14.  We are exited to share the whitewater and wilderness of the Eel River.  If you have other dates in mind for a private trip with us, hit us up.  You will love the beauty of the Eel in the Spring.

Whitewater kayak self-support camping on the Eel River.

Whitewater and Surf Safari - Do it ALL with the Mendocino Whitewater Kayaking Trifecta - rock gardening, surfing, whitewater river running.

Whitewater kayaking ocean rock gardens on the Mendocino Coast.

So much whitewater kayaking fun to be had!!!  Keep on dreaming but don't let dreams be dreams and get out on the water!!!

Whitewater kayaking for beginning kayaker. 

Mendocino Whitewater n Surf Safari

Northern California's Mendocino County is a special place for outdoor lovers.  We have gigantic redwood trees, miles of rocky ocean shores, sandy and glass beaches, casual to remote hiking trails, beach and forest camping, special swimming holes, and 48,000 acres of state forest land for mushroom hunting, mountain biking, and horseback riding.  And there is kayaking.  Mendocino is most known for its sea kayaking.  Visitors from all over the world enjoy kayaking Fort Bragg's Noyo River, Mendocino's Big River, and in Mendocino's infamous ocean rock gardens and sea caves.

Kayaking in sea caves on the Mendocino Coast of California.

The hidden gem of Mendocino County is whitewater kayaking.  The beauty of whitewater kayaking in Mendocino County is that there is something for whitewater kayakers of all skills and interests. 

Whitewater kayaking on Mendocino County's Eel River

One of our favorite ways to share the whitewater kayaking in Mendocino County is on a whitewater surf safari.  Our #1 goal for a whitewater surf safari is FUN!  Goal #2 is getting the trifecta of whitewater kayaking - a whitewater river run, ocean rock gardening (aka whitewater of the sea), and surf kayaking.  Mendocino County is one of the few places in the world where one can do all 3.  

Whitewater kayaking in ocean rock gardens aka Whitewater of the Sea

In the spring when days are long, we have done all 3 in one day.  We are more the stop and smell the roses type than the do it all and see it all type so we tend to take 3 days to do our 3 favorite things.  This allows us to maximize water and weather conditions to get the best of the best.

Kayak surfing in whitewater kayaks on the Mendocino Coast.

Last month, we had a group of bay area whitewater kayakers join us for an annual whitewater surf safari.  We nailed it!  Day one was whitewater river kayaking on the Eel River.  Day two was a combination of rock gardening and surf kayaking, and day three was more rock gardening.

Rock gardening is a fun hybrid of whitewater and surf kayaking.

Most of our whitewater surf safaris are set up as custom groups or private adventures so that we can tailor the adventure to the interests and skills of the participants.  Spring (March and April) are usually the best months for scoring the trifecta - river, rock garden, and surf but we will run surfaris any time of the year.  We run them for people of all skill levels including those with limited whitewater experience.  We have whitewater sit on top kayaks available for paddlers who don't know how to roll as well as a fleet of river runners and whitewater crossover kayaks.

Whitewater kayaking on a whitewater sit on top kayak.

Grab your calendar and let's plan a whitewater surf safari!

LFK's Jeff Laxier loves sharing the magic of whitewater kayaking in Mendocino County.

Custom Mendocino Kayak Adventures

Mendo Your Way

One of the funnest ways to kayak on the Mendocino Coast is on a custom trip or private lesson with Liquid Fusion Kayaking.  We call this Mendo Your Way.  We have lots of options to choose from and are open to your ideas.  All custom trips are led by LFK's Jeff Laxier and/or Cate Hawthorne and include a photo gallery from the trip or lesson.

Custom Mendocino sea kayak adventures with Liquid Fusion Kayaking.

Dream up your idea Mendocino kayaking adventure and contact us to make it happen.  Here are a few of the custom adventures and private lessons that we led in 2018.

Rock gardening in sea kayaks on the Mendocino Coast of California.

Learn to kayak and learn to kayak better lessons on the calm waters of the Noyo River -  The Noyo River is an ideal place for beginning lessons and flat water perfection.  Harbor seals, river otters, and a variety of birds check us out as our students learn and perfect their strokes and fine tune their capsize prevention and capsize recovery skills.

The Noyo River is a great spot for learning what to do when your kayak capsizes.

The Noyo River is also an idea location for family and group kayak outings.  We customize trips for ages 0-91 (oldest so far) and even the family dog.  Last year our custom trips included doggie paddles, multi-generation family trips, and wedding parties.  Group sizes range from 1-25 and the smile meter is immeasurable.

A group of birders and wildlife enthusiasts out on a Noyo River Kayak Tour with Liquid Fusion Kayaking

Sea Kayaking- custom sea kayak lessons and trips are fun because we can customize the trip to your interests and skill levels.  Last year our custom sea kayak lessons included 1/2 day surf zone trainings, 2 day sea kayak rock garden and touring adventures, sea kayak surfing, and 5 day intermediate/advanced rock garden weeks.

Rock Gardening in a Cape Falcon Skin on Frame Kayak

Sea kayak surfing on the Mendocino Coast of California

Some adventures focused on skill building and some were focused on touring and play.  For those that want to see the Mendocino Coast, we recommend 2 or more days so that we can maximize conditions to show you the goods.  The students in last year's 5 day programs got a lot of it all and are talking about coming back again for more.

Looks like Santa came rock gardening with LFK on the Mendocino Coast

Rolling - we can rent space in our local indoor swimming pool for private rolling lessons and tune-ups.  In 2018, we had a variety of paddlers come roll with us.  Some came for a 1 session tune-up and others joined us for 3-4 sessions of learning to roll.

Kayak roll instruction in the local pool.

Surf Kayaking- Choose your craft and let us build your surf skills.  Last year, our surf private lessons included fishing kayaks, sea kayaks, sit on top kayaks, whitewater kayaks, and surf kayaks.  Lessons included how to safely launch and land with control and finesse and of course kayak surfing in sea, whitewater, and surf kayaks.

Launching and landing a fishing kayak through the surf.

Surf kayak lessons on the Mendocino Coast

Whitewater n Surf Safari - one of our favorite custom trips to lead is our trifecta of whitewater kayaking.  The trifecta is held over 3 days and includes rock gardening, surfing, and whitewater river running.  Mendocino County is one of the few places in this world where you can do all 3 of these fun whitewater adventures.

Whitewater of the Sea - aka rock gardening on the Mendocino Coast

Whitewater river kayaking on Mendocino County's Eel River

Surf kayaking on the Mendocino Coast of California

What Mendocino kayak adventure is right for you?  Drop us a line and let's do Mendo Your Way.