Learn to Kayak

Our kayak school provides you with the opportunity to lean the dynamic sport of kayaking in a controlled environment and supportive atmosphere. Kayaking can provide a lifetime of excitement, fun and exercise. Our kayak school is centered on the three building blocks essential to kayak instruction:

• Kayak roll class, held in a swimming pool or pond.
• Kayak paddling technique class, taught at a lake.
• Whitewater river class, held on the river.

The centerpiece of the sport of kayaking is the Eskimo Roll. We offer classes aimed at teaching you this important technique. Instruction is primarily focused on the “C to C” and sweep rolls. Sessions include a one hour session in the classroom and two 1.5 hour separate pool sessions.
During the winter these sessions are held at Mulberry Pool or Epic Pool. In warmer weather, we hold the sessions on a nearby pond. In addition to regularly scheduled sessions, private instruction is also available.

Meet: Rocky Mountain Adventures

Class Schedule:

Geared for the first-time kayaker, this half-day class focuses on learning and perfecting proper paddling strokes. Our initial goal is to have you get comfortable on the water and develop a sense of control over your boat. Concepts such as the paddler’s box, range of movement, laws of motion, and physical conditioning are explored. Through examination of  these and other topics, you will better understand how to be an effective and efficient paddler. Specific attention will be given to forward, sweep , reverse sweep, and draw strokes along with low angle and high angle bracing. To make learning these skills easier, we teach this class on calm water. This class is an appropriate prerequisite to the On River Class. In addition to regularly scheduled group classes, private instruction is also available.

Meet: Rocky Mountain Adventures

Class Schedule:

ON RIVER CLASS

Designed for your first time river experience, this instructional class has just the right combination of moving water and rapids to ensure lots of learning time and excitement. In addition to learning the basics of boat handling and river safety, this course will teach you essential river reading skills and maneuvers like eddy turns, peel outs and ferrying. Not to worry, you will find plenty of time to work on your river roll; we may even be able to enjoy a little surfing. We offer this class as a one-day or two-day option. If you enroll in the two-day class, more time is spent on refining your river reading skills, stroke techniques, and personal rescue skills. Lunch is provided. In addition to regularly scheduled group classes, private instruction is also available.

Meet: Rocky Mountain Adventures for Poudre River Classes Mad Adventures for Colorado River Classes

Class Schedule:

TWO DAY FAST TRACK CLASS

Schedule doesn't permit you to take classes at your leisure? Want to speed up things and get on to whitewater right away? Then consider enrolling in this Two Day Fast Track program. By combining our kayak roll, paddling techniques, and on-river instruction into one intensive class, we will have you navigating fun rapids in short order. We offer this two-day class on the Poudre River and Upper Colorado River. Lunch is provided each day so we can optimize learning time. In addition to regularly scheduled group classes, private instruction is also available.

Meet: Rocky Mountain Adventures for Poudre River Classes, Mad Adventures for Colorado River Classes

PRACTICE ROLL SESSIONS

This upcoming winter and spring, you can practice your Kayak Roll by signing up for one of our non-instructional practice sessions. These are approximately 1.5 hours in length, so you get plenty of time to refine your roll. They are held on Sundays from 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM at Mulberry Pool in Fort Collins. Sessions will begin again in 2009 and are held each Sunday during the winter months – Typically late January though April.

Meet: Mulberry Pool

Schedule:      Sundays from 3:30 – 5:30 pm

INFLATABLE KAYAK & SIT-ON-TOP KAYAK CLASSES

These classes are aimed at teaching you proper paddle strokes and whitewater techniques using an inflatable (duckie) or sit-on-top kayak. Typically, these kayaks are more stable than traditional style whitewater kayaks and thus, we skip teaching you how to roll these boats

The one-day class consists of a morning session on flat water aimed at getting you comfortable on the water. Concepts such as the paddler's box, range of movement, laws of motion, and physical conditioning are discussed. Specific attention is given to forward, sweep, reverse seep, and draw strokes along with low angle and high angle bracing.

Following the morning session, we provide you lunch before moving on to the river segment of instruction. The river session allows you to paddle on moving water and through rapids. You will learn the basics of boat handling and river safety. This course will teach you initial river reading skills and maneuvers like eddy turns, peel outs, and ferrying. We offer regularly scheduled group classes and private instruction.

Meet: Rocky Mountain Adventures for the Poudre River Mad Adventures for the Upper Colorado

Schedule:      Each Monday & Wednesday        June 8 – Late August