If you plan to kayak on the sea then you need to know how to deal with the effects of the daily tides and currents. The San Juan Islands provide the perfect classroom for people who wish to enrich their paddling experience safely explore the coastal environment. Participants in this class will learn how to read the water, identify hazards, and how to find tidal information. You will take the flatwater kayaking skills that you have worked on and apply them to moving water. Your coaches will introduce new concepts that will enable you to effectively enter and exit tidal streams and cope with other features that moving water creates. Self-rescue techniques and assisted-rescue techniques will be introduced throughout the day. After taking this course you will have a foundation to build on your rough water skills which will make your kayaking more enjoyable when you are out on your own.

A fantastic place to start learning how to kayak. If you are starting to develop an interest in sea kayaking, but you still aren’t sure if it is the right fit, then this easy “taster” kayak class is a great place to start. We will introduce you to the fundamentals of kayaking and help you to develop a better idea of where you want to take yourself. Over the course of the day we will cover basic entry and exits (including wet exiting, if you desire) as well as some paddle strokes to get you started.

It is important to note that if you are more than just casually interested in learning how to kayak then we highly recommend signing up for a more in-depth 2-day introductory class. It is hard to internalize your new-found skills after just one day. This kayak class is super fun and takes place in the gorgeous surroundings of Fidalgo Island, and stays in calm water.

This sea kayaking class is the starting place for beginners or for experienced paddlers who desire some coaching to help build a solid foundation for their existing skills. You will learn current sea kayaking techniques in capsize recoveries, body-boat-blade awareness, strokes for steering, going straight, sideways, staying upright, and bracing. Using the foundational concepts of paddlesports we will use a body-centric approach to help you efficiently maneuver your boat, using your paddle to complement each skill. 

You’ve never had more fun falling out of your kayak! For paddlers at any level capsize recoveries such as kayak rolling and effective bracing are among the most sought-after skills in paddle sports. Many of the mechanics of rolling and bracing are the same. 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 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 a slight or a complete capsize. We will help you develop solid kayak rolling foundations for successful practice. 

For coaches who teach these kayak skills, this is a great class to expand your “toolbox” in helping individuals work through problems learning these skills.

 Most whitewater kayakers enter the sport by simply following friends down a river and picking up skills through the “school of hard knocks”. This approach often works out just fine but it can also lead to harrowing incidents and a good deal of psychological distress. With the aid of an expert coach kayakers progress quickly, learning how to read the river for the best lines, applying the proper techniques to each situation, and expanding their ability to become a competent member of a group.