Charleston Kayak Instruction

People who take up canoeing just love it. Many buy their own boats and get carriers built onto their automobiles to haul them to lakes and rivers. I know couples who go camping at least twice a month and sometimes, even more. The rivers can be like an addiction. But if canoers are in love with their boats, kayakers are obsessed with theirs. The kayak is smaller, more lightweight and portable for one person, and will navigate swifter water than canoes can without swamping. It's not hard to learn to kayak. And just about all big cities that are anywhere near water will have qualified instructors to teach classes. Charleston, being right on the Atlantic, is lucky to have instruction available most all the time.

Nature Adventure outfitters has two certified instructors --one for river and one for coastal or salt-water kayak. They give classes focus clinics and workshops. Average course price is just $85; focus clinics is $50. Individual instruction and semi-private instruction is available too, but it costs from $40 to $45. After the first hour, prices go down. Kayaks can be dangerous if you don't learn how to deal with turning over and hitting things. I know people who have died in kayaks snagged underwater, pinning them in. But the focus classes train students to deal with rolling, maneuvering surf zones and self-rescue. The classes are all ACA certified. These are professionals and those are whom people need to train under. These folks are also outfitters, so once you learn you can begin to rent from them and go out on your own or with others.
Their toll free number is 800-673-0679.
1900 Iron Swamp Rd.
Awendaw, SC 29429

Coastal Expeditions, another outfitter, also give expert instruction. As Charleston's oldest guide service they are all ACA and BCU (British Canoe Union) --certified instructors. They will teach at all levels, from total beginner to very advanced. Their classes are also $40 and they offer group and private lessons. Specifically, they teach surf zone, wave dynamics, surfing techniques and safety. Once students get comfortable navigating their boats they can go out on tours with this group. Coastal Expeditions takes regular tours of the lowcountry and does sea-kayaking trips too. They have a weeklong $300 kayaking camp where youngsters learn all the basics of the sport during the summer from June 11, -- August 3 this year. The camps are out of Mt. Pleasant and James Island. Register and pay in full by May 1, to get a 10% discount on price.

Here's something more specialized--the Focus Clinics offered by Ocean Air Sea Kayak and Instruction. The clinics are $50 for two hours. What they teach intermediate students are surfing, rolling, advanced ocean rolling and bracing, stroke blending, swift current maneuver and so much more. This is really stuff that can literally save a kayaker's skin in a tight spot. This group goes out in the open seas and really test student's skills using nature herself. Contact them by phone toll-free at 800-698-8718.

For $65 a session, the Georgia Canoe Association also teaches both canoeing and kayaking skills to beginning kayakers on Tuesday June 5, for three hours in the evening, and then for all-day sessions June 9, and 10. Students learn both flat water and moving white water techniques. For people with their own kayaks there's also a June 9th event called kayak Safety and Rescue. Contact the Coordinator to get the scoop on this useful event: cramersec@charter.net.