Package Overview
Our "Indoor/Outdoor Lesson Package" gives you two years to master whitewater kayaking at your own pace, and all without owning your own gear! We really care about helping everyone learn, including the "slow learners". Here's what you get when you purchase the "Winter Package":
Two years of award-winning instruction, including:
1. Two indoor rolling lessons (November-April)
2. Three outdoor lessons (May-October)
3. Weekly practice nights (lifetime)
4. All kayak equipment (for classes & practice)
5. Free equipment rental at our retail store
Each of our five courses is a building block for the next. Go as fast or as slow as your want over a two-year period, during which time you can practice at our free weekly practice nights. All equipment is provided (and it's all brand new each season). We take a hands-on approach to your learning, often standing in the water next to you and moving your body for you as you learn counter-intuitive skills. But the best part isn't our instruction; it's the friendly community of paddlers that we've developed over the years. Make life-long friends and paddling buddies and discover an entirely new world, just 20 minutes outside D.C. Our friendly, non-intimidating approach has helped make us the top whitewater program in the region, and many of our students claim that this was their best decision since moving to DC! See individual course descriptions below.
 Lesson Details and Photos
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A Head Start.
At your first lesson, we'll teach you proper equipment fit, spend time getting you comfortable being upside-down in the kayak, teach your how to do a "wet exit," and give you exercises to prepare you for learning to roll.
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Learning the roll.
Your second pool class will be devoted to learning how to roll the kayak back up after a capsize. After learning the bow rescue and high brace, our instructors will stand in the water next to you and literally move your body through the correct motions.
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Taking your skills to the great outdoors.
In Strokes and Rolling Review, we'll spend half the class reviewing the roll you learned in the pool. The rest of the class is devoted to learning new strokes to maneuver the kayak gracefully and efficiently.
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Practice, Practice.
Now that it's the outdoor season, you can start attending free weekly practice nights. These informal two-hour sessions are designed to let you practice your new skills for as long as you want in between classes. Leave time afterwards for a social dinner!
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Where the fun really begins.
Take your new skills out for a test drive in Class I-II whitewater in the "Moving Water" class. We'll teach you the three basic river maneuvers to safely cross between currents, plus we'll practice rolling in moving water!
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Graduation Day!
Time to put all those hard-earned skills to the test as we teach you the essentials of river running and expedition behavior! You'll learn about risk management, gear, scouting, river communication and reading rapids, all while navigating the Class III Mather Gorge!
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Post-grad practice.
Now, don't get too confident just because you're now a safe, skilled, and self-sufficient paddler. Even the world's top paddlers still practice the fundamentals. If you own your own gear, you can still attend our free weekly practice nights indefinitely! So, practice your skills, get help from our instructors, and be a mentor to others just starting out!
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We've got the gear.
As long as you are a current package student, you can use our top-quality equipment for all your outdoor lessons and practice clinics. We use Dagger and Liquid Logic boats, AT and Werner paddles, Astral PFDs, WRSI helmets, and IR sprayskirts. All brand-new each year!
How to Schedule Your Classes
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Step 1
Select the quantity of participants you want to register for a particular trip or class and click "purchase and enroll."
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Step 2
On the next screen enter your registration information. Review your order and click "Charge Credit Card" if everything looks okay. This creates a credit for you in our system. Your payment will be processed and you will be sent an email with your login information.
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Step 3
You should now have received 2 emails from us. Read the first email, "Potomac Paddlesports Account," and write down your username and password.
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Step 4
Using your username and password, log in to the website. You will be taken to your account page. In the "Schedule-at-a-Glance" window, click "Schedule My Trips/Classes".
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Step 5
On the scheduling tool page, under "Available," choose from among the available dates for your event. Doing so will add you to the roster for that trip or class. You must cancel or reschedule at least 3 days (72 hours) prior to the event or you will forfeit the trip or class.
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Step 6
Once you schedule yourself for a class, you will get a third email from us ("IMPORTANT EVENT INFORMATION"). This email contains a link to a PDF packet of information: Directions, list of equipment, waiver and medical form. Print out this packet and review it prior to your event.
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Step 7
If you registered more than one participant, forward the second email ("Purchase Confirmation/Gift Codes") to the other participant(s). This email contains a GIFT CODE and instructions. They MUST follow the instructions in this email and complete Steps 3 - 6 themselves.
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Step 8
Are you thoroughly confused? No problem. We're here to help! Give us a call and we can walk you through the process and answer any questions you have--the old fashioned way!
Individual Course Descriptions
Indoor Lesson #1
2011-2012 Dates : November 19; December 17; January 7, 21; February 4, 18; March 3, 17; April 7, 21
Location (link) : Audrey Moore Rec Center at Wakefield Park, Annandale, VA
Time : 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Class Ratio : 5:1
Prerequisites : No experience required
Click for directions, waivers, and gear list 
Develop a solid foundation of skills during this fast-paced 2.5-hour class. We'll teach proper equipment fit and boat outfitting, comfort underwater, how to exit the kayak after a capsize and how to roll the kayak. Be sure to leave time for a social dinner after the lesson!
Indoor Lesson #2
2011-2012 Dates : November 19; December 17; January 7, 21; February 4, 18; March 3, 17; April 7, 21
Location (link) : Audrey Moore Rec Center at Wakefield Park, Annandale, VA
Time : 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Class Ratio : 5:1
Prerequisites : Indoor Lesson #1
Click for directions, waivers, and gear list
Pick up where you left off in your first lesson, as you spend more time working on hip snaps, bow rescues, bracing, and rolling techniques. Be sure to leave time for a social dinner after the lesson!
Course 2: Strokes and Rolling Review
2012 Dates : Every Saturday:
April 28
May 5, 12, 19, 26
June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
July 7, 14, 21, 28
August 4, 11, 18, 25
September 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
October 6
Location (link) : Pennyfield Lock, Potomac, MD
Time : 2:45 PM
Class Ratio : 5:1
Prerequisites : Whitewater Fundamentals plus one Practice Clinic
Click for directions, waivers, and gear list
This intensive three-hour class is held on flat water and teaches you the fundamental strokes that turn and propel the kayak and gives you the tools you need to "bombproof" your roll in preparation for Course 3.
Course 3: Intro to Moving Water
2012 Dates : Sundays (choose one):
April 29
May 13, 27
June 10, 24
July 8, 22
August 5, 19
September 2, 16, 30
Location (link) : Angler's Lot, Potomac, MD
Time : 8:45 AM or 1:45 PM
Class Ratio : 5:1
Prerequisites : Strokes and Rolling Review or equivalent
Click for directions, waivers, and gear list
Here is where the fun really begins! In this challenging four-hour course you'll learn how to carve turns, manuever, and harness the power of the river beneath your kayak! We'll teach you techniques to paddle through current and stay upright. After four hours you will have gained tremendous confidence and an appreciation for your new skills.
Course 4: Mather Gorge Run
2012 Dates : Sundays (choose one):
May 6, 20
June 3, 17
July 1, 15, 29
August 12, 26
September 9, 23
October 7
Location (link) : Angler's Lot, Potomac, MD
Time : 8:45 AM or 1:45 PM
Prerequisites : Intro to Moving Water course or equivalent
Click for directions, waivers, and gear list
Test your new whitewater skills as you spend four hours running and playing in the class II-III Mather Gorge section of the Potomac. You'll be gripped! We'll climb up to the top of the gorge, view and name the major rapids, learn river communication skills and discuss strategy. You'll begin to understand how to read water and pick good lines through a rapid. Each wide-eyed student will take turns paddling from point to point under the watchful eye of an instructor shadowing your every move. It's an experience you will never forget. Be ready!
FREE Weekly Practice Sessions
2012 Dates : Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
May 1 - August 30 and Every Wednesday and Thursday, September 5 - October 6
Location (link) : Angler's Lot, Potomac, MD
Time : 6:15 PM (5:00 PM September 7 - October 8)
Prerequisites : Must be a package student and have participated in at least one Potomac Paddlesports whitewater course
Click for directions, waivers, and gear list
Practice is an important part of whitewater kayaking and our Level 1 Package includes free weekly practice nights. Part skills development, part social outing, our weekly practice nights give you more coaching with our best instructors and more time on the water. Perhaps best of all, they provide the opportunity for you to meet new people. Beginner Package students may attend one clinic per week. And if you have your own gear, you can attend as many as you want!
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Be Prepared!
Below are some products that we frequently recom-mend to our beginning whitewater students. Have a look, and if there's anything else you need to make sure you're ready for your sessions on the water, we've got a ton of gear over in our online store! Check it out!
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