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Menu
  • Home
  • Courses
    • FULL COURSE LIST
      • Foundation Skills
      • Core Skills
      • Advanced Skills
      • Safety and Rescue
      • Leadership: Guides & Trip Leaders
      • British Canoeing
      • Private Coaching
    • FIND BY DATE
  • Getting Ready
    • Directions
    • PDF Liability Waiver
  • About
    • Our Story
    • Coaches
  • Resources
    • Weather & Navigation
    • Paddling Links
    • Explore Anacortes
  • Call: 360.376.5388

Foundation Skills–Sea Kayak

Starting with a strong foundation in your kayak skills will allow you to progress quickly and master the "art" of kayaking. Experienced paddlers with weak foundations often encounter problems achieving goals and risk injury as they paddle in more demanding environments. Our beginner kayak classes develop good body awareness, balance, and understanding of how the boat and paddle interact with the water. A solid base of skills will make you a more effective and efficient paddler which will increase your fun and enjoyment of kayaking. Even advanced kayakers can benefit from participating in these kayak classes. Join us!

 

Tides and Currents–San Juan Islands

Class Length: 1-Day
Location: Anacortes, Fidalgo Island, WA 98221
Fee $ 225

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.

Highlights

Paddling in moving water requires a deeper awareness of the environment and the tools to plan properly. Develop your paddling skills in a dynamic environment while increasing your knowledge of the sea.
 

  • Develop a base understanding of how tides operate
  • How are currents created
  • What information you need for a day on the sea
  • Effective paddle strokes for moving water
  • Rescue techniques in moving water
  • Risk management in a dynamic environment

SEA KAYAK FOUNDATIONS 1-Day

Class Length: 1-Day
Fee $ 225

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 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 class is super fun and takes place in the gorgeous surroundings of Fidalgo Island, and stays in calm water.

Highlights

Foundation courses develop good body awareness, balance, and understanding of how the boat and paddle interact with the water. A solid base of skills will make you a more efficient paddler. The goal for this course is to promote efficient, effective, and ergonomic kayaking for long term paddler development.

  • Wet Exits
  • Self Rescue Techniques
  • Effective Assisted Rescues
  • Towing
  • The “Four Fundamentals of Paddlesports (Posture, Power Transfer, Connectivity, Kinesthetic Awareness or “feel”)
  • Basic Kayak Strokes
  • Efficient Launching and Landing Strategies
  • Anatomy of Your Boat and Equipment. All you need to know.

SEA KAYAK FOUNDATIONS 2-Day

Class Length: 2-Day
Fee $ 399

This kayak class is the starting place for beginners or for experienced paddlers who desire some coaching to help build a solid foundation to 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. 

Highlights

Foundation courses develop good body awareness, balance, and understanding of how the boat and paddle interact with the water. A solid base of skills will make you a more efficient paddler. The goal for this course is to promote efficient, effective, and ergonomic kayaking for long term paddler development.

  • Wet Exits
  • Self Rescue Techniques
  • Effective Assisted Rescues
  • Towing
  • The “Four Fundamentals of Paddlesports (Posture, Power Transfer, Connectivity, Kinesthetic Awareness or “feel”)
  • Basic Kayak Strokes
  • Efficient Launching and Landing Strategies

KAYAK ROLLING AND BRACING

Class Length: 1-Day
Fee $ 225

For paddlers at any level capsize recoveries such as 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 slight or a complete capsize. We will help you develop solid foundations for successful practice. 

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

Highlights

Rolling is all about muscle memory. Developing your body awareness and breaking down the mechanics of a roll is where we will begin this course.

  • Different types of rolls and their effectiveness
  • Which roll works best for you
  • Exercises to develop muscle memory

OPEN CANOE FOUNDATIONS 1-Day

Class Length: 1-Day
Fee $ 225

This class is the starting place for beginner canoeists or for people who have some experience but need more foundation in your existing skills. You will learn current canoeing techniques in capsize recoveries, body-boat-blade awareness, strokes for steering, going straight, sideways, and staying upright. This course will give you a solid foundation to get you started as you advance as a canoeist. This course is also a great introduction to canoeing for experienced sea kayakers and will make you a more competent and knowledgeable paddler across all of the disciplines. 

Highlights

Paddling in moving water requires a deeper awareness of the environment and the tools to plan properly. Develop your paddling skills in a dynamic environment while increasing your knowledge of the sea.

  • Wet Exits
  • Self Rescue Techniques
  • Effective Assisted Rescues
  • Towing
  • The “Four Fundamentals of Paddlesports (Posture, Power Transfer, Connectivity, Kinesthetic Awareness or “feel”)
  • Basic Canoe Strokes
  • Efficient Launching and Landing Strategies

OPEN CANOE FOUNDATIONS 2-DAY

Class Length: 2-Days
Fee $ 399

This class is the starting place for beginner canoeists or for people who have some experience but need more foundation in your existing skills. You will learn current canoeing techniques in capsize recoveries, body-boat-blade awareness, strokes for steering, going straight, sideways, and staying upright. This course will give you a solid foundation to get you started as you advance as a canoeist. This course is also a great introduction to canoeing for experienced sea kayakers and will make you a more competent and knowledgeable paddler across all of the disciplines. 

Highlights

Paddling in moving water requires a deeper awareness of the environment and the tools to plan properly. Develop your paddling skills in a dynamic environment while increasing your knowledge of the sea.

  • Wet Exits
  • Self Rescue Techniques
  • Effective Assisted Rescues
  • Towing
  • The “Four Fundamentals of Paddlesports (Posture, Power Transfer, Connectivity, Kinesthetic Awareness or “feel”)
  • Basic Canoe Strokes
  • Efficient Launching and Landing Strategies

WHITEWATER FOUNDATIONS 1-Day

Class Length: 1-Day
Fee $ 225

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.

 

Highlights

Foundation courses develop good body awareness, balance, and understanding of how the boat and paddle interact with the water. A solid base of skills will make you a more efficient paddler. The goal for this course is to promote efficient, effective, and ergonomic kayaking for long term paddler development.

  • Wet Exits
  • Self Rescue Techniques
  • Effective Assisted Rescues
  • The “Four Fundamentals of Paddlesports (Posture, Power Transfer, Connectivity, Kinesthetic Awareness or “feel”)
  • Basic Whitewater Strokes 
  • Efficient Launching and Landing Strategies

WHITEWATER FOUNDATIONS 2-Day

Class Length: 2-Day
Fee $ 399

 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.

 

Highlights

Foundation courses develop good body awareness, balance, and understanding of how the boat and paddle interact with the water. A solid base of skills will make you a more efficient paddler. The goal for this course is to promote efficient, effective, and ergonomic kayaking for long term paddler development.

  • Wet Exits
  • Self Rescue Techniques
  • Effective Assisted Rescues
  • The “Four Fundamentals of Paddlesports (Posture, Power Transfer, Connectivity, Kinesthetic Awareness or “feel”)
  • Basic Whitewater Strokes 
  • Efficient Launching and Landing Strategies

Jump to Course Info

How To Register

The first step to register for a class with Body Boat Blade is to select an available date from the Class Schedule and complete your online reservation. A few of our courses are not on the schedule. For these courses please contact us to discuss your needs and objectives for a personalized course of study.

Next, as part of the onboarding process for all courses, each participant fills out a questionnaire about past kayak experience and general health. We find this extra step helps ensure you get the greatest benefit from your time with us and that you have found the right class to grow your kayaking skills.

BBB coaches review each application. We will get in touch with you to confirm that your application has been successfully reviewed or to clarify any questions that may arise. Once you receive your confirmation, your next step will be found in ​Getting Ready​

Not sure if a class is right for you? For all of our guests, we want to be sure you have the best experience possible and meet all of your goals. We can help you find a class that matches your skill level and paddling goals, answer all of your questions, talk about class/trip prerequisites and requirements, and get you signed up. ​Just get in touch!

What To Expect

You can expect a low student to instructor ratio that is appropriate to your class, a lot of one-on-one time with instructors, and coaching that matches your learning style.

Full Day courses will last approximately 6-8hrs, depending on the needs of the group and prevailing conditions.

If you do not have your own gear then we have rental packages available. Call us for details.

Schedule Info
Check our schedule >

View all the available classes during any time period.

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  • 2009 Skyline Way Anacortes, WA 98221
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