ACA-Certified Instructor
Intermediate Kayak Training
Skills Refinement
Intensive Kayak Skills Refinement Course for Advanced Kayakers
Participate in this intermediate kayak course to refresh or refine your kayak skills! This full-day, hands-on class is ideal for kayakers to build on foundational skills learned from previous levels in preparation for an American Canoe Association assessment. After the successful completion of this course, you’ll have the confidence to plan a successful coastal paddling adventure!
For this course, you are required to have your own basic kayaking equipment, including a properly sized and outfitted kayak with front and rear flotation, standard gear, and safety equipment (paddles, PFDs, lifejackets), as well as sprayskirts, paddle floats, bilge pumps. In case you’re not quite at a level where you have your own gear, check out our Level 1 Introduction to Kayaking or Level 2 Essentials of Kayak Touring courses, where we’ll provide all these essentials for you while you still learn the very basics of kayaking.
Why Choose This Course?
If you’re an advanced kayaker with previous kayaking classes behind you, then this is the excellent essential course for you to refine your skills and knowledge before becoming a kayaking pro!
Receive more personalized training in this small-group kayak class as your ACA-certified instructor will provide feedback tailored to the individual needs of each student.
This skills refinement course is ideal for tour businesses that offer kayak tours and are seeking to train specialized guides. It brings guides up to speed and ensures they can be officially certified to lead exciting kayaking tours safely.
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Course Details
Course Details
Price
$150 per person
Start date and time
TBD (schedule will be determined after booking)
Venue
Flat water, protected from wind, waves and outside boat traffic, with current less than 0.5 knots, and within swimming distance of shore.
Meeting point
TBD closer to the course start date
Availability
March 1- October 31
Friday, Saturday or Sunday
Duration
Up to 1 day (8 hours)*
*The course duration will be adjusted to best fit the needs and goals of the participants.
Group size
5 participants to 1 instructor (minimum 2 participants)
Included
American Canoe Association certified instructor
Not included
Kayak, spray deck, paddle, PFD, paddle float, throw bag, tow rope, bilge pump, appropriate clothing layers, water, food
Signaling whistle may be rented
What to bring
– Properly sized and outfitted kayak with front and rear flotation
– Standard gear and safety equipment (paddles, PFDs, lifejackets)
– Sprayskirts, paddle floats, bilge pumps
– Appropriate clothing for weather and immersion
– Water, snacks and/or food
Participation requirements
Participants are expected to have their own equipment for this skill level
About your guide
ACA-certified kayak instructor
What You'll Do On This Course
This is a basic overview of the curriculum for the Level 3 – Coastal Kayaking Part 2: Strokes & Maneuvers Refinement class. Participation in previous courses is required (Essentials of Kayak Touring, Coastal Kayaking Part 1, or equivalent) to sign up for this course level. Please keep in mind that this course focuses on skills refinement and will not introduce new content. Once you sign up, you will receive a detailed document outlining all the topics and practical exercises that are covered in this full-day course, some of which include:
- Diving into the mechanics of forward/reverse/sweeping strokes
- Utilize beam draws, sculling draws more efficiently
- Building your comfort with edging and utilize “hip-snaps” to develop your recovery skills with Low/high bracing as well as sculling braces
- Refinement of basic strokes and maneuvers for all coastal kayaker levels
- On-water practice, classroom discussion and/or video analysis to increase efficiency, fluidity and control of strokes and maneuvers
Please Keep In Mind
Participation in Essentials of Kayak Touring, Coastal Kayaking Part 1, or equivalent is required to enroll in this course.
It may be beneficial to retake this course at different levels of skill progression.
For this particular course, you are required to bring your own equipment. Please click on the “Course Details” tab and view the “What to bring” section for details.
Participants are encouraged to participate fully in the rescues to get the most out of the subjects covered, but everything is challenge by choice, and no one will be forced to engage in something that makes them uncomfortable.
All participants need to meet the Eligibility Criteria.
Participants can also opt to complete an assessment for this course. See the assessment section for more details.
