Surf Zone Advancement Course

Take the Basic Sea Kayaking course, the Strokes and Maneuvering Refinement Course and practice what you have learned. Take the Open Water Navigation and Touring course when you are ready. All of these clinics are intended for beginners who have taken the Intro to Paddling clinic They are also for intermediates who want to move beyond just the techniques of paddling and are ready to learn more about the marine environment they are in; how to handle it safely and how to minimize risk.

Basic Coastal Kayaking Strokes, and Rescues Course

This intermediate course is designed to prepare paddlers to comfortably and safely paddle on protected flatwater environments with conditions not to exceed 1-foot seas, 10 knot winds and be no more than 1/2 mile from shore

Work on getting the most out of your basic paddle strokes. Learn wet exits, Basic strokes, bracing. Rescues include: self rescue, assisted ‘T’ and ‘X’ rescues, and stirrup rescue. Learn what gear you should carry and why.  (8 hours)

Strokes and Maneuvering Refinement Course

There isn't really a lot of time in the other courses to really do the strokes justice. This one focuses on perfecting those strokes you learned in the basic course plus learn new strokes. Start to add boat edging to all your strokes. You will be video taped at the end of the on-water practice. We will then go back to view the video and give feedback so you know what you need to work on. This is a very important course for those interested in instructor certification so you will have these strokes down pat before the Instructor Development Workshop (IDW) and subsequent exam.

Open Water Navigation and Touring Course

This course is designed to provide Basic Course graduates with an introduction to open water rescues, on-water navigation and safety concerns related to the open water. You will be introduced to bow rescues, deep-water rescues and learn some towing methods. (8 hours)

Note to Potential Sea Kayak Instructor Candidates (IC).

Anyone intending to take an ACA Sea Kayak Instructor Certification Course in the future should take the first three courses first. If you do not, you may lack essential skills necessary to pass the Certification Exam. These are also the courses that you will be possibly teaching. It can not be stressed enough to also take a Rough Water course and surf and/or tidal classes if offered in your area before presenting yourself for consideration as an Open Water IC . We do not have time to teach you how to do these skills during an IDW because the focus is on teaching you how to model and teach them to beginners. Of course, it is advisable to learn to roll as well.

ACA Intro to Traditional Kayaking

Here you will learn why the Greenlanders are the masters of the roll. They know about 30 different ways of righting themselves. Part of the class will be an exhibition of many of these and other trick rolls.You will see that Greenland style rolls are effortless. They utilize technique and not muscle. We will practice paddling with both Greenland style and Storm paddles, sculling, balance braces and rolls. You will work on learning to roll or for those having a solid roll, you may learn a new one. Having a Greenland style kayak with a low back and Greenland paddle really helps with this clinic. (8 hours)

Instructor Certification Workshops

The complete ACA certification process is broken down into two components; the Instructor Development Workshop (IDW) and the Instructor Certification Exam (ICE). These are described below.

Instructor Development Workshop (IDW)

This is how experienced paddlers can start on the road to getting certified as an ACA Coastal Kayak Instructor. The IDW will focus on modeling effective instruction of the skills, knowledge and techniques necessary for successful completion of the ICE. The first portion is designed to "teach you how to teach coastal kayaking".

Instructor Certification Exam (ICE)

This is for paddlers who are already ACA instructors. This endorsement will allow, upon successful completion, to conduct the ACA Intro to Traditional Kayaking course.

One on One Rolling      Why learn to roll a kayak? Three reasons come to mind. Confidence, safety and fun. When kayakers develop a solid roll early on, they are less likely to fear capsizing and are more willing to experiment, to explore their limits. In learning to roll well, you are at the same time, learning to brace well since the latter part of the roll is nothing more than a high brace or support stroke. The improvement in your bracing skills may make an accidental capsize a thing of the past. You may never need to perform a roll for real.  You will learn what to look for in a kayak to make rolling easy. You will learn the mechanics of the roll and get plenty of practice. (2 hours)

Intermediate and Advanced Rolling     Intermediate: Learn to roll for real when it counts. Get comfortable underwater. Learn to set up underwater from any position.  This is for kayakers who already know how to roll but perhaps are perhaps are somewhat inconsistent. 

Advanced: Progress to learning a different roll. This is for kayakers who already have a reliable roll.  (4 hours)

An all day training session.