Learn to master the challenge that is Deception Pass in this 2-day clinic. Deception Pass is world renowned as one of the best paddling destinations in the world and is our favorite classroom! Participants in this kayak class will learn how to read the water, identify and navigate hazards, paddle efficiently, and how to have fun even when the water gets a little rough. Your kayak coaches will introduce new concepts that will enable you to effectively enter and exit tidal streams and cope with other features that dynamic water creates. Self-rescue techniques and assisted-rescue techniques will be introduced throughout each day.

This class is mainly focused on understanding hydrodynamics and techniques for playing. If you are most interested in navigation and tidal planning, check out our Navigation and Tidal Planning!

With some time at the chart table, and some time on the water weaving your way through the beautiful San Juan Islands, you will learn the foundations of sea kayak navigation and tidal planning. Using compass, chart, and watch, you will be introduced to concepts such as fixing your position, planning for currents and wind, reading a chart, and staying on course in areas of moderate tidal movement. You will be well on your way to becoming the captain of your craft, and ready to set out on your own adventure!

The first day of this course is spent in the classroom, and the second day is a full day on the water.

This core sea kayaking class is intended for kayakers who have a solid grasp of their foundational skills and who want to learn more complex sea kayaking techniques to enhance their paddling experience.  We develop a deeper understanding of how to control our boats with certainty and ease. You will work on gaining mastery of edge control and blade awareness in order to prepare you for eventually applying them to the dynamic conditions found in faster-moving and agitated water. Learn how much fun sea kayak touring can be as you control your kayak with effective, efficient body positioning and paddle strokes, making every day on the water feel more comfortable.

Do you wanted to kayak in Deception Pass but feel like going it alone is too big a bite? This kayak class is intended for Intermediate or Advanced beginner kayakers looking to explore and experience Deception Pass with an experienced instructor and guide by their side.

This class is perfect for people who do not have time for a 2-day class, who may be travelling through, or for people who just need some structured and guided experience in a dynamic water environment.

Kayak capsize recoveries such as rolling, and solid effective bracing are among the most sought after skills in paddle sports. In our Combat Kayak Rolling class, we will take your flat water skills and apply them to moving water. Many of the mechanics of kayak rolling and bracing are the same and you will learn to apply the correct technique in a dynamic environment. At Body Boat Blade we’ve developed an effective progression to get students to learn and be successful at these highly desired kayaking skills. In this sea kayak class we will spend time developing a solid understanding of what your body needs to do in order to recover from an off-balanced position whether it is slight or a complete capsize. We will help you develop solid foundations for successful practice. This is a fun and active class, prepare to get wet!

Developing your skills in a variety of paddlesport disciplines is perhaps the best way to becoming the strongest sea kayaker you can be. The ocean is really just a massive river that changes direction a few times a day, and through that lens we can improve our water reading abilities, ability to paddle in dynamic conditions, and increase our understanding of how our craft interacts with the water. Whitewater kayaking will hone your reflexes and increase your ability to move through dynamic water with less effort and fear. A river provides an endless amount of variable eddylines and other features which gives you the opportunity to put your skills into practice with a much higher frequency than you can usually find on the sea. When you get back into your sea kayak you’ll be amazed at how much more comfortable you are on the water!

This kayak skills development class is a multi-day overnight sea kayaking trip with coaching along the way. Designed for students who have taken classes from us in the past, or have a solid foundation of kayaking skills, and who want to continue developing but may not feel ready to paddle into the islands on their own. This is a fantastic opportunity to blend a San Juan Islands kayak adventure with top-level sea kayak coaching. This class can help you further develop your tidal planning, navigation, and other personal sea kayak skills.

This is our most comprehensive sea kayaking class. For 5 days, you will be immersed in sea kayaking in the San Juan Islands. We will use the pull of the moon to go from one island to another, faster and with less effort. We will learn how to go from a “low oxygen environment” to a “high oxygen environment” with the drop of a leg and a sweep of the paddle. We will eat seaweed, see awesome wildlife, and roast marshmallows by the campfire. This is a learning vacation! With other paddlers and great coaches, you will learn about: kayak technique, sea kayak rescues, kayak rolling, towing, reading and predicting currents, and sea kayak navigation. If you are passionate about kayaking, have the stamina to play hard for five days in a row, and love to learn, this is a great class for you!

The coaches at Body Boat Blade have designed a coastal kayaking clinic to help paddlers develop the skills needed to safely paddle in the coastal environment. Here we will introduce paddlers to the surf zone, getting through the break and back to the beach. We will work on boat control skills that will allow us to navigate the coastal environment with elegance. We will also spend some time on shore looking at forecasting, reading swells, charts, and other important planning skills.

View the specific course listing for more information!