California Canoe & Kayak Sea Kayaking Classes

Classes

Kayak Rolling: Richmond Plunge
Warm Water Rescue: Richmond Plunge
Kayak Basics: Oakland Estuary
Beginning Sea Kayak: Half Moon Bay
Mid-week BSK: Oakland Estuary
Beginning Sea Kayak: Oakland Estuary
Sea Kayak II: Half Moon Bay
Sea Kayak II: Oakland Estuary
Surf Zone: Half Moon Bay
Sea Kayak Surfing Clinic: Half Moon Bay
Open Coast: Marin Headlands
Open Coast: Pillar Point
Rock Garden Skills & Safety
Oscar Chalupsky Paddle Clinic
Surfski Paddling: with Epic Expert Kenny Howell
Coastal Kayak Day-Trip Leading
Private Sea Kayak Instruction
ACA Instructor Workshop: Open Water
ACA Instructor Certification: Open Water

Sea Kayak Trips
Progression Chart

Class & Trip Calendars
All Canoeing & Kayaking Classes & Trips
> Sea Kayaking Near Sacramento
> Sea Kayaking Near Bay Area
Whitewater Kayaking
Canoeing

Kayak Rolling: Richmond Plunge $60

Alternate location: Folsom Aquatic Center
Build your confidence and learn to roll! Rolling is the safest and fastest self rescue technique available for sea kayakers and white water paddlers. We have heated pools in the Bay Area and Sacramento for the most comfortable learning environment. Classes are held on Thursdays from 7PM - 9PM at the newly renovated and historic Richmond Plunge Municipal Natatorium! (www.richmondplunge.org); actual duration in the pool is about 1.5 hours.
(Repeat Roll students: beginning July 2012, Repeat Roll will no longer be offered as a separate event; please sign up for Kayak Rolling if you are a repeat student and we will separate you from beginning roll students accordingly.)
Practice Sessions: $10 pool fee with own boat; $25 whitewater kayak/$30 sea kayak rental (includes pool fee). For kayak rental only, call (510) 893-7833.
Note: Kayak rolling is taught only in whitewater kayaks due to space limitations in the pool. Please call us if you wish to schedule private instruction in a sea kayak for $120 per session.
Prerequisites: There is no prerequisite for this class; however, previous paddling experience is highly recommended. Your progression will be quicker if you have completed Beginning Sea Kayaking or Whitewater 101.
Upcoming Dates:
05/23/13 05/30/13 06/06/13 06/13/13 06/20/13 06/27/13 07/11/13 07/18/13 07/25/13

Warm Water Rescue Clinic for Sea Kayakers $60

Practice vital rescue skills and learn new techniques for re-entering your boat. In the warm, clean comfortable learning environment of our heated pool, we cover the re-entry and roll, paddle-float, the scoop, stern deck carry, and "scramble". Participants can refine their "T" rescue and Paddle-Float. We will have stirrup/slings available for those wishing to refine those rescues. You can experiment with these rescues, have fun learning and stay warm!
Classes are held at the Richmond Plunge Municipal Natatorium in Point Richmond from 7-9 pm.
Prerequisites: Beginning Sea Kayak or equivalent, with previous knowledge of sea kayak rescues.
Future Dates To Be Announced

Kayak Basics: Oakland Estuary (Jack London Square) $59

Are you ready to try kayaking? Maximize your fun on the water! This 4 hour class (10AM - 2PM) emphasizes basic water safety using recreational kayaks. You will learn the basic paddle strokes and fundamental kayak maneuvers in a calm water setting. Class fee includes kayak, paddling gear, and a coupon for 50% off a future kayak rental (one hour)!
Note: This class does not qualify participants to rent traditional (closed-deck) sea kayaks; our Beginning Sea Kayak class deals with those specific qualifications.
Prerequisites: No previous kayaking experience is required; however, good physical condition is required to assure an enjoyable class. The minimum age for this class is 14 years; children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Upcoming Dates:
06/02/13 06/22/13 07/07/13 07/27/13 08/04/13 08/17/13 09/01/13 09/28/13 10/06/13 10/28/13

Beginning Sea Kayaking: Half Moon Bay $99

Your ticket to the wonderful world of sea kayaking! Enjoy a day on the water learning how to paddle a sea kayak with our expert instructors. Be prepared to get wet! Graduates of this class are qualified to rent closed-deck sea kayaks and participate in more advanced classes and trips. With three locations to choose from - Oakland Estuary, Half Moon Bay and Lake Natoma - we have the ideal sea kayaking classroom for you. Includes boat, wet suit and paddling gear, and free coupon for a future rental!

Prerequisites: No previous kayaking experience is required; however, a Kayak Basics class (or equivalent program) is recommended. Good physical condition is important to ensure an enjoyable class; practicing the rescue procedures can be strenuous! The minimum age for Beginning Sea Kayaking is 14 years; children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Upcoming Dates:
05/26/13 06/01/13 06/09/13 06/15/13 06/23/13 06/29/13 07/07/13 07/13/13 07/21/13 07/27/13 08/04/13 08/10/13 08/18/13 08/24/13

Mid-week Beginning Sea Kayaking: Oakland Estuary $89

Enjoy a weekday on the Oakland Estuary learning how to paddle a sea kayak with our expert instructors. Graduates of this class are qualified to rent closed-deck sea kayaks and participate in more advanced classes and trips. Be prepared to get wet! Includes boat, wet suit and paddling gear, and free coupon for a future rental.

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Prerequisites: No previous kayaking experience is required; however, a Kayak Basics class (or equivalent program) is recommended. Good physical condition is important to ensure an enjoyable class; practicing the rescue procedures can be strenuous! The minimum age for Beginning Sea Kayaking is 14 years; children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Upcoming Dates:
05/27/13 06/07/13 07/05/13 08/02/13

Beginning Sea Kayaking: Oakland Estuary $99

Your ticket to the wonderful world of sea kayaking! Enjoy a day on the water learning how to paddle a sea kayak with our expert instructors. Be prepared to get wet! Graduates of this class are qualified to rent closed-deck sea kayaks and participate in more advanced classes and trips. With three locations to choose from - Oakland Estuary, Half Moon Bay and Lake Natoma - we have the ideal sea kayaking classroom for you. Includes boat, wet suit and paddling gear, and free coupon for a future rental!
Alternate Location: Beginning Sea Kayaking: Half Moon Bay
Prerequisites: No previous kayaking experience is required; however, a Kayak Basics class (or equivalent program) is recommended. Good physical condition is important to ensure an enjoyable class; practicing the rescue procedures can be strenuous! The minimum age for Beginning Sea Kayaking is 14 years; children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Upcoming Dates:
05/25/13 06/02/13 06/08/13 06/16/13 06/22/13 06/30/13 07/06/13 07/14/13 07/28/13 08/03/13 08/11/13 08/17/13 08/25/13 08/31/13

Sea Kayaking II: Half Moon Bay $99

In this inspiring class we work extensively on boat lean and edging for ultimate control and maneuverability. We review rescues, introduce basic navigation techniques, fine tune the forward stroke, and learn some new strokes. This class is the stepping stone to the Surf Zone and beyond.
Prerequisites: Beginning Sea Kayaking (or equivalent; you must have practiced wet-exit and rescue procedures within the year). Recent paddling STRONGLY recommended, such as twice paddling in the previous 2 months.
Upcoming Dates:
06/02/13 06/15/13 07/14/13 07/27/13 08/11/13 08/24/13 09/08/13 09/25/13 10/06/13 10/26/13

Sea Kayaking II: Oakland Estuary $99

Surf Zone: Half Moon Bay $109

If you want to paddle a sea kayak on the ocean, this class is a must! Launching and landing, bracing in breaking waves, and understanding wave dynamics are the fundamental building blocks for kayak surfing and paddling in rough water. Our classroom site is ideal, in the gentle waves of Surfers' Beach at Half Moon Bay. Dates scheduled to take advantage of optimal tidal range.
Prerequisites: Sea Kayaking II (or equivalent); twice paddling in the previous 2 months is STRONGLY recommended.
Upcoming Dates:
05/25/13 06/16/13 06/30/13 07/06/13 07/20/13 08/04/13 08/17/13

Sea Kayak Surfing Clinic: Half Moon Bay $109

You've already had a taste of the surf, and learned fundamental surf zone paddling skills - now you're ready to really surf your long boat on some fun waves! In this 6-hour clinic we refine sea kayak surfing skills such as timing, wave selection, ruddering, and bracing. We will review surf zone navigation and safety skills. The clinic takes place in the cove just inside Pillar Point, within view of the world-famous Mavericks surf break! Dates are scheduled to take advantage of optimal tidal range.
Duration: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Prerequisites: Surf Zone skills and RECENT paddling experience!
Upcoming Dates:
05/26/13

Open Coast: Marin Headlands $119

Learn the special skills and strategies for paddling California's wild and magnificent open coast as we reveal the secrets of maneuvering in this ever-changing environment. You'll learn how to recognize safe zones, transition zones, hazards, and play spots in the "rock gardens", arches, and caves of the Marin Headlands. An added bonus in this class is paddling under the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge, a "must do" for all sea kayakers, and an unforgettable experience.
Class duration: 9AM - 4PM
Prerequisites: Surf Zone skills and RECENT paddling experience!
Future Dates To Be Announced

Open Coast: Pillar Point $109

Learn the special skills and strategies for paddling California's wild and magnificent open coast as we reveal the secrets of maneuvering in this ever-changing environment. You'll learn how to recognize safe zones, transition zones, hazards, and play spots in the "rock gardens". This class is conducted on the San Mateo coast, near Pillar Point, north of Half Moon Bay. (Offered June through September only.)
Prerequisites: Surf Zone class AND recent paddling experience.
Upcoming Dates:
06/02/13 07/07/13 08/18/13

Rock Garden Skills & Safety: with Sean Morley $119

If you like to play in the rock gardens that adorn the California coast then this class is for you. The focus of this class is about how to play safely and what to do if things go wrong. You will learn strategies for paddling within rock gardens, recognize areas to avoid, practice essential skills including self and assisted rescues within the turbulent water of a rock garden, and deal with scenarios that will put these skills into real-life settings.
Read about CCK instructor Sean Morley on our staff page
Prerequisites: Surf Zone and Open Coast Class (or with approval of CCK instructional staff) and RECENT PADDLING EXPERIENCE.
Upcoming Dates:
06/02/13

Oscar Chalupsky Paddle Clinic $100

Oscar Chalupsky is the 12 time Molokai Open Ocean World Champion. He won his 12th Molokai in 2012 at the age of 49. How is that possible? Find out during this clinic! The clinic includes both a classroom session and on the water drills. Oscar will take you on a journey of how to train, how to win - and if you don't race, how to improve your paddling with his methodology, technique and drills. Paddlers from beginners to elite athletes have attended Oscar's clinic and come away with improvements in their technique, safety, and love for paddling. Everyone is invited, no matter your experience level or whether you paddle a surfski or sea kayak. The clinic will be conducted in protected waters of Pillar Point harbor.
Don't miss this rare visit to California by one of the greatest ocean paddlers of our time!
Duration: approximately 3 hours
Start time: 10am
Location California Canoe & Kayak, Half Moon Bay
Prerequisites: No special prerequistes to partipate, only the desire to learn and improve your technique! Good physical condition is important to ensure an enjoyable time on the water. It is assumed participants will provide their own boats and equipment. Contact us if you need to rent a kayak or surfski (additional fee; limited availability for surfski rentals).
Upcoming Dates:
06/13/13

Surfski Paddling: with Epic Expert Kenny Howell $99

The surfski is the fastest, most exciting, high performance paddlecraft on the water! Discover why these versatile boats are rapidly gaining in popularity worldwide. If you are interested in paddling for fitness, racing, or simply enjoying the thrill of an extremely effiecient hull design, then check out a surfski! You can enjoy surfski paddling on calm water, rivers, and open ocean. They are safe (sit-on-top and self-bailing), light (about 30 lbs), and incredibly maneuverable with an under-stern rudder. In this introductory session, we provide stable models to teach you the basics such as proper fitting to the boat, body posture, boat handling, remounting the surfki in open water, and use of the wing paddle.
Warning! Paddling a surfski is fun, addictive, and good for you!
Clinic duration: 9am - 1pm
Location: Pillar Point Harbor, Half Moon Bay
Read about surfski instructor Kenny Howell
Private lessons available by appointment; email classes (at) calkayak.com
Prerequisites: Previous kayaking experience recommened; Beginning Sea Kayaking, or equivalent.
Future Dates To Be Announced

ACA Coastal Kayak Day-Trip Leading Assessment $199

This 2-Day assessment course is intended to provide the minimum skills and training necessary for an adult leader possessing basic paddling skills to lead a sea kayaking trip for beginners, in gentle conditions. The emphasis is trip leading, safety, education and resuce - not paddling instruction. The content is relevant for clubs, camps, and other programs providing trips to their clients. Course takes place at Pillar Point Harbor, Half Moon Bay. Fee includes kayak and all gear.
Prerequisites: Participants must be members of the American Canoe Association (americancanoe.org); basic sea kayaking skills. See "More Info" section for ACA Essential Eligibility Criteria.
Upcoming Dates:
05/30/13

Private Sea Kayak Instruction

Tailored to fit your learning style and pace -- and your personal schedule -- Private Instruction allows you to get exactly what you want out of a class. You can also request your favorite instructor time and time again!
Please call 800-366-9804 to set up your custom class.

Prices are per person, per day.

1/2 Day Rates
1 Student:	$179
2 Students:	$129 - Per Person

Full Day Rates
1 Student:	$279
2 Students:	$149 - Per Person
3 Students	$129 - Per Person

More than 2 students usually requires a full day of instruction to complete a prescribed curriculum, and full-day rates apply. With 6 or more students, the normal class rate of $99 is discounted at 10%. Please call for rate confirmation.
Prerequisites: None
Upcoming Dates:
12/31/13

ACA Instructor Development Workshop: Open Water $299

ACA certification is the standard for quality instruction throughout the United States. These comprehensive workshops for experienced paddlers cover safety, technique, group management and teaching progression, in classroom and on-water sessions. Our Instructor Development Workshops (IDW) present the knowledge and skills that are expected of Open Water Coastal Kayaking ACA instructors (Level 4); certification takes place separately, during the Instructor Certification Examination (ICE). The IDW and ICE are each held over 3 consecutive days.
Please note: Before signing up, you must complete a brief questionnaire regarding kayak experience and skill level. All participants must be signed up at least two weeks prior to the workshop. Please plan ahead and let us know well in advance if you are interested.
Prerequisites: Strong sea kayaking skills, including experience in tide rips, surf zone, and open coast.
Future Dates To Be Announced

ACA Instructor Certification Exam: Open Water $299

This three day course is the exam for instructors who have completed their Open Water (Level 4) Instructor Development Workshop in Coastal Kayaking, and are ready to pursue Certification.
Prerequisites: ACA Coastal Kayaking IDW, and approval by ACA Instructor Trainers.
Future Dates To Be Announced