Crosscurrents Kayak

Hello from under my kayak! Hope everyone is having a great summer. 😎

Last week I ran a one-day skills session with a family of four headed to the Broken Group for their first self-guided trip from the Lodge. We had a lot of fun on the water working on strokes, capsize safety and re-entries, plus some value-packed time on shore discussing trip planning, risk mitigation, tide data, weather forecasts, chart navigation and basic compass navigation. This family is wrapping up their trip as I write this. I can't wait to hear about their adventures in the Broken Group! 😎☀🧭

I spent yesterday afternoon with these two lovely sisters, who were keen to improve their paddling skills and confidence before an upcoming trip to the Baja. We had a fun session working on a variety of paddle strokes, conquering fears by learning how to do wet exits while wearing spray skirts, and practicing how to re-enter a kayak in deep water with support from a buddy. These two tackled it all with curiosity and aplomb. Baja, here they come!! 😎

Congratulations to this wonderful human, who successfully met the conditions for her Paddle Canada Level 1 Sea Kayak Skills certification yesterday! 🏆 Barbara displayed some near flawless pulling and sculling draw strokes, and was even changing direction from diagonals to sideways on the fly by the end of our lesson. We then embarked on a lovely paddle across Departure Bay and around Jesse Island, practicing navigation, peering down at sea stars and enjoying a visit from a seal. What a great way to start the day. ☺ Congratulations, Barbara!

Super-fun private session this morning with this keen paddler in his new Norse Ask. We fine-tuned boat control and stroke technique for forward stroke, stopping, sweep strokes, pivot turns, edging, stern rudder and paddling in wind, then reviewed controlled wet exits and solo paddle float re-entries -- all of which he absorbed and implemented with efficiency and finesse. I do think this individual may have been bitten by the surfing bug, judging by his enthusiastic review of our downwind run. 😁 Great work, Russell! 👍👍

Big congratulations to this determined and hard-working paddler, who met all the conditional requirements for her Level 2 Skills certification today. Karen is now a fully certified Level 2 paddler -- Bravo!! 👏 Here she is demonstrating a smooth and confident paddle float re-entry in Level 2 sea state. 💪🌊😎

Congratulations to our three newest Paddle Canada Basic Kayak Skills certificate holders: Cheryl, Renee and Paul! 👏 These three improved so much over the course of our day together. They proved their mettle controlling their kayaks in some challenging morning winds, then rocked their wet exits and assisted re-entries in the afternoon, tackling it all with smiles, enthusiasm and a desire to learn more. I wish these three the very best of paddling adventures gong forward! 😎👍💪

We had a super-fun currents clinic with a keen couple who wanted to expand on the current training they had done with us earlier this year. Erina and Miguel took on the challenge of navigating us north through Dodd Narrows on a waning flood (max was 8.6 knots!) in preparation for their own summer travels in areas with tidal current. We then spent an excellent few hours playing in the ebb current as it built to a max of about 5 knots, working on eddy turns, ferrying, punching up (attainment) and more. Highlights included honing those edges to enhance turns, boosting water-reading skills and applying that to confidently navigate eddy lines, and whipping out across a snappy, turbulent eddy line at the end of our session. These two have become so much more skilled and confident in dynamic water since I first met them, and they are so well prepared for their summer adventure. Wishing you both a fantastic trip! ☀😎🌊

Photos from our last Paddle Canada Basic Kayak Skills course in Nanaimo on June 14. Just two students made for an intimate class with lots of time for personal attention and extra practice. Congratulations to Jane and Shannon on your new certifications! 👍😎🌞