The Brent Reitz Forward Stroke Clinic - Half Moon Bay

From Novice to Expert, Cruiser to Racer, everyone can improve upon their Forward Stroke! The forward stroke is the most used, least taught, and perhaps most poorly understood stroke in kayaking. Paddle more efficiently, avoid injury, avoid bad habits that cause further injury. Learn proper technique from the very beginning, or tune-up skills to gain more power per stroke.

This popular clinic is taught by Brent Reitz, past national wildwater and marathon champion, and veteran of the U.S. Olympic sprint kayak program. It is the premiere clinic that brings the techniques of the elite Olympic kayaker to the recreational paddler!

Brent clearly and concisely models the forward stroke in 5 Easy Steps:

TORSO ROTATION
ELBOW LIFT
THE CATCH
PUSHING WITH A BENT ELBOW
THE EXIT

Also included:
THE WING PADDLE
STRETCHING


Brent's Bio

Brent Reitz devoted ten years of paddling service to national teams in The U.S.A., and has over twenty years of paddling experience overall. During that decade of kayak racing, Brent had access to all "the best" that kayaking has to offer. Spectacular venues and talented people enriched his paddling career.

In his words, "To watch and be involved with "the best" at anything, be it paddling, biking, playing music or golf is always a powerful learning experience. I have been lucky enough to have had those types of paddling experiences time and time again!"

Whether it's on a raging section of whitewater, or the glassy reserve of an early morning lake, Brent has been there, at work, in an effort to gain the most of each and every stroke he takes. After his tour on various national teams, he turned his eyes toward teaching.

In 1992, Brent established "The Brent Reitz Forward Stroke Clinic". There was no focus on racing. The audience consisted of "recreational" students from all walks of life. The concept was simple, use the useful techniques gained through racing, in order to enhance the recreational paddlers experience on the water. Exactly the same concept used over and over again in today's society for gaining efficiency and comfort in all aspects of living. Racing technology and concepts are the reason today's street automobiles, for example, are so much better than yesterday's. Racing and R&D activities take place under time-proven standards, which produce time-proven results. Brent simply decided to "open these doors" to the recreational paddler.

The Brent Reitz Forward Stroke Clinic continues to delve deeper into what exactly the best method to teach an efficient forward stroke is. The clinic is based around video learning, where the student, as well as Brent, is filmed throughout the entire session. The student then becomes aware of what to look for, once exposed to Brent's comments, both on the water and while watching themselves on video.

Brent has stood on the award platform, both on American soil and abroad. He has raced in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Yugoslavia, France, Canada and Wales. He has paddled side by side with some of the very best paddlesports has to offer. National Team coaches and fellow athletes of many different countries have taught him. Competing in whitewater and flatwater, in different types of kayaks, as well as the outrigger canoe, he has gained a very wide range of experiences by which to develop the technique he teaches.

Brent currently lives in Monterey California, USA. He released The Brent Reitz Forward Stroke Clinic video in Jan of 2001.

CLINIC DETAILS:

Cost: $159
Duration: 9:00am-4pm
Date: July 18, 2010

MEETING TIME AND PLACE:
The class will meet at 9:00 am sharp at California Canoe & Kayak in Pillar Point Harbor. All classes are subject to last minute (on the day of the event) cancellation due to weather, hazardous seas, or other safety considerations. We're in the quaint fishing village of Princeton-By-The-Sea, 214 Princeton Ave. Our site is next door to the Half Moon Bay Yacht Club, on the beach in Pillar Point Harbor. The entrance is on Vassar. If you are delayed on the morning of the class or cannot attend at the last minute, please call us on site at 650-728-1803.

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. If you have your own kayak, it's probably a good idea to use it for this clinic. Please let us know if you're bringing your own boat. You will need to provide some personal items for the class; the links below will take you to our on-line store, Purepaddlesports.com. 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 (wetsuits may not be necessary for this clinic, as we do not intend to practice capsizing!
Purchase Paddlers 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.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS:

Pillar Point Harbor is on the San Mateo coast, 25 miles south of San Francisco.

From North Bay cities:
Head south on Hwy. 1 from San Francisco, and pass through the towns of Pacifica, Montara and Moss Beach. Just past the San Mateo County-Half Moon Bay Airport, take the Princeton cutoff to your right; turn right at the Meza Luna Restaurant/Princeton Inn onto Prospect Road. Turn left on Broadway, then right on Princeton Ave; continue about 3 blocks to Vassar. There is plenty of free parking on Princeton Ave or Vassar. The entrance to CCK is on Vassar, at the first driveway/garage door to your left. (Look for the Half Moon Bay Yacht Club sign.)

From South Bay cities:
Take Higway 92 west to Half Moon Bay. At the junction of 92 and Highway 1, turn right and head north on Hwy 1 for four miles. Turn left at the traffic light (in El Granada) onto Capistrano Road; you will see Pillar Point Harbor to the west. Turn left at the Meza Luna Restaurant/Princeton Inn onto Prospect Road; turn left on Broadway; right on Princeton Ave; continue about 3 blocks to Vassar. There is plenty of free parking on Princeton Ave or Vassar. The entrance to CCK is on Vassar, at the first driveway/garage door to your left. (Look for Half Moon Bay Yacht Club sign.)

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 INFO:
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 website at Liability Release. It also can be provided to you by fax or mail upon request by calling our reservation office @ 800-366-9804