Onto the Sea - A Mendocino Sea Kayak Skills Training

3 days of sea kayak training and play in the rock gardens, surf, and waters of the Mendocino Coast.

January 24-26, 2015

The Mendocino Coast is a paddler's paradise with rock gardens, sea caves, and surf zones.  Located 3 hours north of San Francisco, the Mendocino Coast embodies the best of Coastal Northern California - a rugged coastline, breath-taking beaches, towering redwood forests, quaint towns, and a slow pace of life.  January is a great time to visit the Mendocino Coast as the Gray Whales are migrating, and it is wild mushroom season.

Onto the Sea is for intermediate level sea kayakers who want to improve their sea kayak skills in a world class paddling destination under the guidance of expert coaches. 

Instruction will include an intensive focus on surf zones and rock gardens including skills for rock gardens, surf zones, safety and rescue, planning, and touring,  (see more in the curriculum description below).

Evenings we will gather for skills/video/photo review of the day and other entertainment.

Prerequisite:  Paddlers should be intermediate sea kayakers with a BCU 3* Sea Award or equivalent. ***

Logistics :  $350/person includes 3 days of instruction and 2 evenings of video/photo review and other entertainment

Lodging in a vacation rental apartment is available Saturday-Monday morning - $100/person or participants may arrange for their own lodging.

Sea kayak rentals are available - $25/day

Number of students is 3-6. 

Instructors will be Jeff Laxier, and Cate Hawthorne

For those interested in more than a 3 day adventure, private coaching sessions are available before and after On to the Sea.

To sign-up call (707) 962-1623.  Reservations require a 50% deposit at the time of registration.  The balance is due by December 15.  Cancellations made by December 15 will receive a refund minus a $25 office fee.  Cancellations after December 15 will receive a refund minus a $50 office fee if we can fill your spot.

Curriculum:

Sea Kayak Rock Gardening - boat control and maneuvering, reading the water, recognizing safe zones and hazards, safety and rescue techniques, environmental awareness, strategies for play, playing :)

Sea Kayaks in the Surf - launching and landing with control, reading the water, timing, safety/rescue and leadership/group management specific to the surf zone, rolling in the surf, surfing :)

Sea Kayak Coastal Tour with Rock Garden Exploration and Play - a day's journey of exploration and play.  We will plan a coastal journey and seek out play spots - pour-overs, surge channels, and surf spots.  Coaches will individualize instruction to help students perfect their timing and hone in their play skills.

Planning and Forecasting - theory and applied practice as to how tides and conditions pertain to rock gardens and surf along with practical navigation.

Leadership/Teamwork - theory and application of skills for paddling as a team.

Safety and Rescue - specific skills for dynamic waters including prevention, self and team rescues, towing, 

Boat Handling - refining paddler's skills to move efficiently and effectively in dynamic waters.

***  For those without a BCU 3* Award, check out our Beyond the Basics Sea Kayak Skills Training January 17-19, 2015.

*** For those who want a whitewater and surf kayak play weekend, check out our Holiday Whitewater and Surf Safari - January 2-4, 2015 and February 14-16, 2015.

Kayak Coaching

Are you ready to take your paddling skills to the next level?  If so, give us a ring to set up a private lesson - you get personalized 1-1 coaching toward your paddling goals and our special fall/winter rates.

Both Jeff and I enjoy teaching classes but look forward to fall and winter when we get a chance to do more individualized coaching.  Of course we like the variety of skills and locations that we get to use in the fall and winter, but mostly we enjoy seeing our students improving their skills and making progress toward their paddling goals.

So what do you want to work on?

Learning to roll or improving you roll in the comfort of our local pool

or rolling in dynamic water

Surfing

Strokes and safety

Customized Tour- Let us share a magical journey - kayaking in the rock gardens and sea caves of the Mendocino Coast

**Special Winter Private Lesson Rates (November 2014-March 2015) -

Full Day Private Lesson $275/person

Full Day Private Lesson for 2  $150/person

**Regular rates apply to trips off the Mendocino Coast.

Give us a call and let's get  your paddling skills on track (707) 962-1623.

Winter is Coming?

The Mendocino Coast seems to be in a bit of a storm pattern.  Rain and large ocean swells make us think that winter is coming but warm temperatures make it feel more like we are in the tropics.

Of course you know that we love rain (and California desperately needs it).  Rain makes our wild mushrooms grow and our rivers flow.  The small storms that we have been getting have been enough to trigger our wild mushrooms, but it will take a bit more to get our Mendocino Coast Rivers running.

To the north of us, whitewater boaters are enjoying runs on the Smith and Trinity Rivers (quick Jeff - let's clear the schedule and head north).

Large ocean swells can be a blessing and a curse in the kayak business.  Personally we love them!!!  We love going out to the headlands and witnessing the power and beauty of our wild Pacific Coast.  

Noyo Harbor entrance during a large Pacific Swell.

The Mendocino Coast also has some awesome surf breaks that take a larger swell to work.  Some are friendly to teaching so if you are interested in kayak surf lessons, give us ring.  Whether you are looking to get started, get a tune-up on the the basics, or are ready for more dynamic maneuvers on a wave or are training for a surf competition like Davenport or Santa Cruz, we can build on your skills. 

For the Fall/Winter 2014, we are offering a special on private lessons.  This is a great opportunity for you to get completely customized and personalized instruction.  Here's a link to our private lesson special.  For those that are doing their holiday shopping, they also make great gift certificates.

Planning for 2015 is underway . . . Please contact us if you have any ideas for classes or events.