2 days
FEE: US $265.00
DATES: (2008) May 6-7, June 2-3, June 4-5, July 2-3, July 31 - August 1
PREREQUISITES: BCU 3 Star Skills, Ocean Currents Class, confident rescue skills and a solid roll

Learn the skills and strategies for dealing with the powerful currents, tidal races, and over falls that run through the San Juan Islands. We will explore ferry gliding, how to read water, crossing strategies, and how to predict the time, speed, and direction of currents. These are the skills you need to plan an easy, fun, and safe trip. We start by refreshing your skills, and then we enter these races and build your confidence as the currents increase. This is a great class to start building your rough water skills and broaden your knowledge of the sea. Come to this class with play in mind!

LEARNING PROGRESSION: Develops paddling skills in dynamic water, good skill prep for BCU 4 and 5 Star, good for BCU Level 3 Coaches and BCU 5 Star trainees to observe group management skills.

2 days
FEE: US $250.00
DATES: (2008) April 26-27
PREREQUISITES: BCU 3 Star skills

Paddling at night or in fog forces you to rely on your compass, chart, and watch: the tools of kayak navigation. In this class we will build our confidence as navigators, weaving our way through an archipelago (that we can't see), always knowing our location and when to take the next turn (new bearing). This class is designed to teach you how to keep track of where you are on the water at all times. After this class, daytime navigation becomes a breeze. The first day of this course will take place at night and the second day in daylight.

LEARNING PROGRESSION: Developing your navigation skills for BCU 4 Star and 5 Star Trainees. Great for anyone who may find themselves caught in the fog or out after dark.

2 days
FEE: US $250.00
DATES: (2008) July 15-16
PREREQUISITES: Body Boat Blades' Performance Paddling course or BCU 2 Star Award, or any paddlers with racing experience.

The forward stroke is the most vital and yet the most neglected skill in paddle sports. As coaches and performance paddlers, we understand that the forward stroke is central to all other skills in paddling. It is also the most complex of all skills and the hardest to master.

Dan Henderson will coach the workshop. Dan is a former US Team member, coach, and world championship team leader. He is the co-author of the International Canoe Federation Coaching Manual and coach of the Cascade and Seattle University canoe and kayak racing teams. He is also a Masters candidate in exercise science at Western Washington University with a focus on kayak forward stroke biomechanics.

LEARNING PROGRESSION: For paddlers at all stages of development.

One day
FEE: US $135.00
DATES: Call us at the office for upcoming dates. 360-376-5388
PREREQUISITES: At least one solid roll, good sculling abilities, and a static brace.

Our list of rolls at Body Boat Blade includes 44 ways to right an overturned kayak. 27 use a paddle, about 5 use a small stick or bath tub toys, 5 more only your hands, and one holding a 13 lb. brick!

So… if you have one solid roll and have started to learn others, this will be a fun class. We will fine-tune your body mechanics and blade control for successful rolls.

LEARNING PROGRESSION: Excellent for anyone interested in making paddling an art form.

2 days
FEE: US $265.00
DATES: Call us at the office for upcoming dates. 360-376-5388
PREREQUISITES: BCU 3 Star skills in "small boats," and a solid roll.

One of the most dynamic zones of the big blue ocean is the surf and as sea paddlers we must come to terms with it. This class is designed to help you learn with understanding, knowledge and skills that the surf zone is the most exciting, fun and energizing area of the ocean environment. In this training you will learn break-outs, wave selection, take-offs, control in surf, surf forecasting, beach and wave morphology. This class is taught in "small boats".

LEARNING PROGRESSION: BCU 4 Star Sea and Surf Development, good confidence and skill building for all sea paddlers.

2 days
RATES FOR 1-ON-1: US $50.00 per hour with a 3 hour minimum.
RATES FOR 1-ON-2: US $33.00 per hour per person with a 3 hour minimum.
GROUP RATES (3 OR 4 PEOPLE): US $30.00 per hour per person with a 3 hour minimum.
Sessions that involve more extensive travel may incur additional costs.
DATES: Call us at the office to set up a class. 360-376-5388
PREREQUISITES: None. Give us a call with your ideas and we will create a class right for you!

Body Boat Blade is committed to the highest level of private coaching at a fair and accessible rate. We will work with you to accomplish your paddling goals, whether it is beginning skills, rescues, rolling, and gaining confidence in rough water, BCU certification, or help with planning a trip. Working with one of our coaches 1-on-1 or in a semi-private session is a sure way to accelerate your learning curve and maximize your time on the water!

2 days
FEE: Call us for rates.
DATES: Call us at the office for upcoming dates. 360-376-5388
PREREQUISITES: BCU 4 Star Award with strong skills in currents.

This is a unique opportunity to learn and play in one of the world's best tidal races. This clinic is geared toward advanced sea kayakers looking to improve their boat handling, surfing, and leadership skills in fast moving water. The first day will be spent calculating flows, ferry gliding between several different islands, employing strategies for handling groups in moving water, practicing rescue and towing scenarios appropriate in tidal races, and honing the skills necessary to surf and maneuver on standing waves! The second day will build on the first, with current speed increasing and a focus on personal boat handling skills in a variety of tidal race environments. The course size has been limited to 4 people to ensure plenty of one-on-one coaching. Designed to help paddlers bridge the BCU 4 Star to 5 Star gap. Please contact us for more details and logistics.

LEARNING PROGRESSION: For developing and maintaining BCU 5 Star skills.

2 days
FEE: Call us for rates.
DATES: Call us at the office for upcoming dates. 360-376-5388
PREREQUISITES: BCU 3 Star Award or equivalent experience in basic strokes, wet exits, and rescues.

This two-day course targets the intermediate paddler looking to be introduced to the river environment. The first day will be spent looking at how to use moving water efficiently and effectively - solidifying breaking into current, rolling in moving water, and other basic skills needed to get down a river safely. On the second day, we will run a larger section of the river, look at skills needed to surf small river features, and continue to hone essential-river running skills.

LEARNING PROGRESSION: Expands understanding of paddling skills for BCU 3, 4, and 5 Star paddlers.