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Complete Package (5 Lessons + Practice)Our Sea Kayak Complete Lesson Package gives you two years to master sea kayaking at your own pace, and all without owning your own gear! From launching and landing to fundamentals, from advanced strokes to rolling (something we are experts at teaching), Potomac Paddlesports' instruction has been endorsed by both the British Canoe Union and the American Canoe Association. Here's what you get when you purchase the "Complete Package": 1. Two years of instruction (5 Lessons)Our patient instructors, learn-at-your-own-pace scheduling, and free weekly practice nights will build your confidence with each new experience. Please read the descriptions below and also read what our students have to say about the program here: LINK
Starter Package (2 Lessons + 2 Practice)Whether you're new to paddling or have been at it for a while, our Starter Package will expose you to the essentials: proper equipment fit, core muscle use, and the finer points of paddle strokes. All are coached in a manner that allows for personalized attention. We asses each student as an individual and tailor our feedback accordingly. A good bit of the sport is counter-intuitive, so you can expect your instructors to move your torso and arms into the proper positions. After the Safety lesson, you'll leave land with the confidence of knowing how to handle a capsize. The Starter Package includes the Fundamentals and Safety lessons, plus two Practice Clinics. See individual course descriptions below.
Weekly Practice NightsWhen you sign up for either lesson package (Starter or Complete), you get the benefit of attending free Practice Clinics. At these fun--yet focused--sessions, an instructor will supervise as you practice the skills and drills covered in all the lessons. This is a great way to meet other paddlers and fine-tune your skills. Starter Package students receive two free Practice Clinics. Complete Package students get free Practice Clinics for life!
FundamentalsYour first lesson is the foundation for a lifetime of good technique. Proper equipment fit is essential for safety, comfort, and control. Launching and landing can be done gracefully, if you know a few tricks. Torso rotation relieves the arms and shoulders of strain. Turning and propelling strokes can be mastered through professional coaching. This five-hour lesson is taught in a quiet cove and all equipment is provided. Select one date from the list below.
SafetySafety is your top priority. The Safety lesson prepares you for the unexpected and builds confidence. Staying in a capsized sea kayak for a few seconds can save time and energy, providing your partner's kayak is close enough to offer you a lift back to the surface. When you do have to exit the kayak, getting out of the water and back in your boat while away from shore requires assisted re-entry or, when solo, use of a paddle float and bilge pump. Learn all of these valuable sklls--plus towing techniques--in calm water near shore. Equipment is provided.
Bracing and RollingYour ability to roll your sea kayak will expand your paddling horizon. A properly "outfitted" sea kayak fits your lower body like a glove and allows for edging, bracing, and rolling control. Wearing a spray skirt keeps the water out and adds a new level of safety awareness. Teaching the sea kayak roll is an art that we have perfected over the years. Practicing drills on the surface ensures that you use your "hip flick" to right the kayak. Keeping your head underwater during the roll and maintaining a proper paddle position will come easy with a proven method: our instructors stand in waist-deep water supporting and moving your body through the correct position so that you stay relaxed and are able to quickly grasp this complex skill. All outdoor rolling classes are held on fresh water in Potomac, Maryland.
Advanced StrokesYou will be identified as a complete sea kayaker by your grace and maneuverability. Edging and advanced strokes are the finishing touch for your paddling technique. "Carving" turns (as in snow sport), and gliding in any direction will bring a broad smile as you cut the number of required paddle strokes in half. These skills will open up a whole new world of sea kayaking that you will define as "playful." Master carving turns, gliding laterally, and maneuvering a seventeen foot vessel with a flick of the wrist.
Open WaterGraduation day! Hours of practice have transformed you into a safe, skilled and self-sufficient paddler. The Open Water lesson puts these skills to the test on a fun and exciting, instructor-supervised crossing of the Chesapeake Bay. Learn trip preparation, how to paddle in formation, the "rules of the nautical road," basic navigation skills, and more!
Navigation (Classroom)This class is designed for the beginner navigator. Some of the topics of discussion will be the compass, maps, charts, tides. Also understanding how to plot a course, aids to navigation and many other key navigation topics of interest to the sea kayaker. Your instructor will be Tom Nickels.
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