Sea Kayak Instruction

Basic 1 sea kayak instruction

Learn safety and rescue techniques, boat balance, strokes and advanced on-water skills with Maine Kayak!  We offer our Basic 1 kayaking instruction clinic focusing on learning the essentials to hit the water.

We focus on all the essentials of Maine sea kayaking to get you on the water safely and knowledgeably. We provide all of the kayaking equipment, clothing and ACA Certified Instructors. The following information is covered in the Basic 1:

• Kayak construction and nomenclature
• Kayak equipment
• What to wear and how to wear it
• How to select and “fit” a kayak
• What to do if you fall over (the “Wet Exit”)
• Basic moving and turning strokes
• Forward and reverse touring strokes
• Forward and reverse sweep strokes
• Basic draw strokes
• The T Rescue
• Practice Paddle

Basic 2 sea kayak instruction

Our Basic 2 kayaking instruction clinic builds upon the skills learned in Basic 1 or which you already have under your belt.  Basic 2 refines and hones paddling technique, coupled with advanced strokes and intermediate boat handling aptitudes.

We focuses on fine-tuning Basic I skills and a second helping of knowledge, to further extend your kayak expertise. We provide all of the kayaking equipment, clothing and ACA Certified Instructors. The following information is covered in the Basic 2: Discovering kayak stability

• Advanced turns
• Braces and sculling strokes
• The J-Lean and hip snap
• Self-rescues: the Eskimo bow rescue and the paddle float rescue
• Stirrup rescue
• Navigation and trip planning
• Applying your new-won skills in a real world environment