High Performance Surf Kayak Clinics

Tune-up your surfing for Santa Cruz Paddlefest with LFK's Jeff Laxier.  Jeff will be coaching 2 clinics March 22 and March 23 in the Santa Cruz area for hp surf kayakers.  The clinics will focus on improving your paddle out technique, wave selection, take off, diagonal run, bottom turns, top turns, and body/boat/blade positioning for performance surfing.

Etiquette will be a theme through out the course including how to be a good ambassador of the surf.
Paddlers must have a reliable roll and have previous surf experience. This 4 hour clinic is $100/person.

Click here to sign up!

2018 Mendocino Kayaking Adventures

Grab your calendars and plan to kayak and play on the Mendocino Coast with Liquid Fusion Kayaking.  We are especially excited about our Whitewater Kayak Classes and Trips on the Eel River, our Art of Sea Kayaking 101 classes, and Sea Kayak Rock Garden and Camping Trip.

Kayak Camping on the Eel River

Sea Kayaking - In 2018, we will be expanding our Art of Sea Kayaking Mendocino Programs for both beginner and advanced level paddlers.  Check out our Art of Sea Kayaking 101 Classand a 5 day Intermediate/Advanced Sea Kayak Rock Garden Adventure.  We will be continuing our monthly 2 day Art of Sea Kayaking Mendocino Series May - August.  BCU 3 Star Sea trainings and assessments and private lessons/custom tours will round out our sea kayak instructional program.

Sea kayaking through Mendocino Sea Caves

Whitewater Kayaking Classes - LFK's 2018 river kayaking program starts in March with LFK's Precision River Running.   Precision River Running is for experienced whitewater kayakers looking to improve and expand their river running skills.  For sea kayakers and other paddlers who have a solid foundation of paddling skills and are looking to learn to run whitewater rivers, LFK has their Whitewater River Kayaking Class. LFK's systematic approach will build upon your current skills to give you the skills for running whitewater rivers.  LFK is also offering guided whitewater river runs.  These are scheduled on the Monday after our weekend classes for our students to apply their skills and enjoy a day of river running with us.  If we have a wet spring, check back with us as we are likely to add more whitewater classes.

Whitewater River Kayak Classes on the Eel River

Surf Kayaking -  We have been excited about our students' success in our 2 day surf classes so we are offering more of these in 2018.  Whether you are learning the surfzone for the first time, learning to surf, or working on making moves on the wave; our 2 day surf classes are paced for maximum success.  With 2 days, you get different surf zone opportunities and a skill progression that builds on the previous day.  For those looking for specific skills, we have private surf lessons and safaris.

Performance Surf Kayaking on the Mendocino Coast

Rolling - We have a beautiful community pool and a flexible schedule.  If you want to learn to roll or need a rolling tune-up, we can help.

Kayak Rolling Lessons in the pool

Mendo Your Way - Come see us to dial in your skills and play and explore the beautiful Mendocino Coast.

Sea Kayaking on California's Lost Coast

Our summer tour schedule is live and open for reservations. Our summer tours will include our family friendly Noyo Meander, our mellow evening wildlife tours - Sunset Bird Paddle, and our wet and wild Whitewater of the Sea Adventures.  We look forward to having you come play with us in 2018!

Family kayak tours on Fort Bragg's Noyo River

Best of days on the water,
Jeff Laxier and Cate Hawthorne

LFK's Jeff Laxier with a nice pour-over ride whilst rock gardening on the Mendocino Coast

LFK's Cate Hawthorne kayak surfing on the Mendocino Coast

California Coastal Cleanup Day Year 9

Time flies when you are having fun - or so the saying says.  We can't believe this was our 9th year hosting an on-water cleanup of the Noyo River and Harbor.  This year we had a stellar crew of 11 kayakers and 2 rowers.

California Coastal Cleanup Day - Every year - the 3rd Saturday of September.

Everyday we pick up bits of trash where ever we are . . . paddling on the river, paddling on the ocean, walking on the beach, hiking in the forest or running errands around town.  I think that many people do this.  Coastal Cleanup Day is a great opportunity for like minded folks to get together and share the care of our environment as well as get some of the bigger stuff that we can't get as individuals.

Anne hauling a load of trash and marine debris.

After last year's doozy of a project with the foam barge, we declared this year trash pick up only.  "No big projects," was my directive to the team. 

Jim and Stan inline towing a foam barge that has been breaking up and floating out to sea.  This project extended over many days and involved several dumpster refills and trips to the dump.

Turns out our cleanup team was in for a project.  Two days before coastal cleanup day, a live-aboard boat that was moored in the river sank.  Bags and bags of garbage floated from it as well as gallons and gallons of fuel.  Starting in May, we called a variety of agencies with concerns about the trash and pollution from the live aboard boats moored in the river this summer.  We know other concerned citizens called as well.  Nothing was done.

The Raven's Ghost was a live-aboard boat moored in the river.  It sank 2 days before the cleanup.

Fortunately we had a solid team and picked up as much of the trash as we could get.

Trash bags full of trash were floating in the river along with dirty diapers, toxic substances, life jackets, toys, and other household items.

After cleaning up the river from the sunken boat, we turned our efforts to the Noyo Harbor Area.  A particularly trashy spot is the South Beach under the Noyo River Bridge.  It is a collecting spot for litter, marine debris, and transient encampments.

The beach below the Noyo Bridge is a collecting spot for trash and marine debris and our last chance to pick up the trash before winter storms wash it into the ocean.

June working on filling another bag under the Noyo Bridge.

Again, our team pitched in to get the large and small trash from the beach.  A huge thanks to rowers Stan and Jim who have been with us for all 9 years of the cleanup.

Trash happens.  Everyone has had a wrapper blow out the window of the car or off our picnic table.  Thanks to everyone who picks up where and when they can.  And a huge thanks to those who coordinate cleanup events and all the participants who come out.  Together we can make a difference.

Coastal Cleanup Day crew enjoying a well earned lunch and a sunny day on the Noyo River.

On another note, I am extremely saddened by the state of affairs surrounding the sinking of the Raven's Ghost in the Noyo River and all the pollution that has resulted.  We can help with the trash and debris but not the fuel.  Our pleas to numerous agencies to help before the ship sank were heard but not acted upon.  When she sank, agencies came by and observed but still no action.  No containment measures were deployed and gallons of fuel and other toxic materials allowed to leak into the river.  I am sad that no one could or would help.