About the Sea Kayaking II Oakland Class

Goals: Increase overall kayaking skills, boat control, balance, and rescue skills. Students will become familiar with the J-lean and it's uses, including edge control to maneuver and correct course. Students will also review and refine the forward stroke, practice rescues, and learn some basic navigation, including the use of ranges.

Prerequisite:
Beginning Sea Kayaking or equivalent, and recent paddling experience. (You must have practiced wet-exit and rescue procedures!)

Duration of class: 9:45AM - 4:00PM
Time on water: Approximately 5 hours

Location: Oakland Estuary; also available in Half Moon Bay, or Lake Natoma (Sacramento)

Note: Good physical condition is required to ensure an enjoyable class. If you are not sure about your abilities to handle such an activity, please call our Program Office at 800-366-9804.

This class will focus on improving your boat control and introduce you to some new skills. The idea is to prepare for paddling in a wide range of conditions, including surf and rough water. After introductions and distribution of gear, we get on the water and spend the first couple of hours working extensively on the following:

BOAT LEAN
BALANCE
MANEUVERS (using boat lean)

These skills will prove invaluable in your future kayaking excursions, especially in rougher conditions. We'll also spend a short time refining your forward stroke for more speed and efficiency. Then you'll take a short paddle around the Oakland Estuary near Jack London Square and put these skills to use.

During a lunch break on shore, your instructor will discuss an important navigational technique: the use of RANGES. You can practice using ranges later in the day as you paddle back to the shop. The instructor will also give a brief review of the rescue procedures, then you'll get back on the water and practice a couple rescues. This will be a step up from the rescue practice in your Beginning Sea Kayaking class or other introductory kayak class; you'll be concentrating on what really works in real conditions! Most people feel empowered after this effort at refining their rescues (one rescue session is just not enough to really learn them).

During the afternoon session we'll work on the following:

IMPROVED BRACING TECHNIQUE
SCULLING BRACE
SIDE SLIP MANEUVER

After changing into dry clothes, we debrief the day's activities. The Sea Kayaking II class provides you with the tools to learn excellent boat control and rough water technique. It will also help you refine your rescues so that they will work when you really need them. This class also includes a free rental coupon for a future paddle session on the Oakland Estuary or Lake Natoma.
©CCK, 2/02

EQUIPMENT:
CCK provides all kayak equipment, including wet suit, paddle jacket and US Coast Guard approved Personal Floatation Device (PFD), spray skirt, paddle and kayak. You will need to provide some personal items for the class; the links below will take you to our on-line store, Purepaddlesports.com. (Some of the recommended items may be available for purchase at the Oakland store on the morning of your class). For assistance with on-line purchases, call us toll-free: (888) 452-9257.

You will need to bring:
* IMPORTANT! One or two long sleeve shirts of "polar fleece", or other polyester fabric; wool is OK. No cotton, please!
Purchase a Thermal Top now!
Shop for a Paddle Jacket!

* A swimsuit to wear under your wetsuit.
Purchase Paddler's Shorts now!
Shop for a Paddler's Wetsuit or Drysuit

* Footwear that can get wet, e.g., wet suit booties, lightweight sneakers (not too bulky).
Purchase Wet Suit Booties now!

* Billed cap or hat for shade or warmth; wool hat for winter class.
* Light-weight gloves, for warmth and blister prevention. Purchase Paddling Gloves, and a Paddling Hat or Hood now!

* Snacks and lunch (in a zip-loc bag, preferably; we will transport in kayaks)
Purchase a Dry Bag for carrying food and clothing now!

* Eye/sunglasses and a retention device.
* 1 qt. water bottle(s)- there are drinking fountains available.
* Waterproof sunscreen for lips & face.
* Dry, warm clothes and a towel for the end of class.

MEETING TIME AND PLACE:
The class typically meets at 9:45 a.m. (check your confirmation letter for specific start times) at our Jack London Square store in Oakland. The shop address is 409 Water St. in Jack London Square (at the foot of Franklin Street); we're next to Scott's Seafood, and across from Barnes & Noble Bookstore. If you are delayed or cannot attend at the last minute, please call us in Oakland at 510-893-7833.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS:

From the North:
Heading south towards Oakland on Interstate 80, take 880 South; take the Broadway/Alameda exit; turn right at the first traffic light onto 5th street and go 13 blocks to Broadway; turn right on Broadway and follow it to Jack London Square and take a left on Embarcadero; Go 1 block then turn right onto Franklin Street into Jack London Square. We're next to Kincaid’s restaurant, and across from Barnes & Noble Bookstore.

From the South:
Take 880 North towards Oakland and take the Broadway St. exit; left on Broadway go six blocks; left on Embarcadero go one block and turn right onto Franklin Street into Jack London Square. We're next to Kincaid’s restaurant, and across from Barnes & Noble Bookstore.

From Contra Costa County:
Highway 24 to Interstate 980/Downtown Oakland (careful not to get on 580 toward Hayward) Take the 11th - 12th Street exit, straight on Brush Street, (you will be parallel with the freeway) Take a left on 3rd, right on Broadway. Follow Broadway to Jack London Square. Take a left onto Embarcadero go 1 block and take a right onto Franklin Street into Jack London Square. We're next to Kincaid’s restaurant, and across from Barnes & Noble Bookstore.

PARKING:
With validation, parking costs $13 maximum for the day in the underground lot below Barnes & Noble. You may also park at the surface lot located 2 blocks from Broadway on Embarcadero; parking here with validation costs $11 maximum for the day. Limited free parking is available in the immediate area within walking distance. If your class is on a Sunday, metered street parking is also free.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
Paddling is fun and rewarding! As with all outdoor activities it includes an element of risk. The risks, hazards, and potential consequences are outlined in a "Liability Release, Express Assumption of Risk, and Indemnity Agreement" which you will be required to read and sign before the beginning of the class or trip. Your signature on this form is a declaration of your willingness to accept personal responsibility for any risks involved in your participation. Any person under the age of 18 and not accompanied by his/her parents or legal guardian needs to bring an original parent/guardian signed form to the class prior to participation. If you have any questions regarding potential risks please call our office @ 800-366-9804.

LIABILITY RELEASE FORM:
You will be required to sign a Liability Release, Express Assumption of Risk, and Indemnity Agreement at the start of your class or trip. The entire text of this legal form may be viewed on our web at Liability Release. It also can be provided to you by fax or mail upon request by calling our reservation office @ 800-366-9804.