Beginners Kayaking Course

Update: this course is now full.

SKABC invites you to join our club and take a Beginners Course. There are no pre-requisites. Details of what is involved and what you'll learn in the course are below.

Annual membership in SKABC costs $45 (additional family members are $10). The Beginner's Course is $85 and consists of an evening Zoom session on Thursday May 28 plus two days on the water May 30 and 31 at Cates Park in Deep Cove, North Vancouver.

To join the club and register for the course, visit skabc.org

Details: This foundation course will give you the basic skills and knowledge to go on kayak trips in sheltered waters or to join competently-led trips in places such as Indian Arm and the Gulf Islands. You’ll learn:

• How to perform wet exit, assisted re:-entry, and self re-entry,
• Strokes: Forward, reverse, stopping, sweep, draw, low brace, edge control
• Launching and landing,
• A brief overview of the following topics:
• Equipment and equipment care
• Charts and compass
• Weather
• Sea State
• Risk Assessment and mitigation
• Communication
• Clothing
• Hypothermia, hyperthermia and sun safety
• Lifting and carrying kayak
• Kayak tie down on a vehicle
• Resources
• Special Instructions: Students are responsible for bringing their own sea kayak (with adequate flotation) and related equipment to include a paddle, spare paddle, spray skirt, pump, throw bag/line and paddle float. A PFD plus a wetsuit or drysuit must be worn when on the water. Also note that it is pay parking at Cates Park.

Rentals are available from the following providers:

• Middleton’s Canoes & Kayaks david@middletonsboats.com 604-240-0503. (Middleton’s offers boats that are more suitable, but have limited quantities.)
• Cates Park Paddling Centre info@catespark.com (604) 985-2925.

Course Format: This course includes a 2 hr evening virtual session as an introduction and two days on the waters of Burrard Inlet at Cates Park in North Vancouver. Each of those days will include some theory taught on shore and some sessions on the water.

Course Times:
Thursday 28 May – Zoom meeting – 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Saturday 30 May Includes theory and practicing wet exits and re-entry.
Sunday 31 May: Includes theory. Much of the day will be on the water.

To join the club and register for the Beginners Course, visit skabc.org