Sea Kayak Member Benefits
Our Sea Kayak Membership offers a lifetime of coaching. Five superbly structured lessons--plus free weekly practice nights--ensure self-sufficiency. Once you've learned the fundamentals and safety, you'll focus on becoming more maneuverable and using fewer, but better, strokes to get where you're going. Learn to roll your kayak (it's really not that hard) and boost your confidence. Finally, learn expedition skills such as trip planning and navigation that will transform the seas into your playground. Here's what you'll get when you sign up for the Sea Kayak Membership Package:
Up to two years* of award-winning instruction, including:
1. Five outdoor lessons (May-October)
2. Free weekly practice nights (lifetime)
3. Use of top-quality equipment for classes & practice (kayak, paddle, PFD, sprayskirt)
4. New! FREE kayak rentals from our retail store (May-Sept)
5. New! 10% off paddling gear purchases at our retail store
Kayak, paddle, pfd, and spray skirt, are provided for all courses and practice. You have up to two years to complete the five courses and may attend free practice nights for life! See below for details and course descriptions.
 Lesson Package Details and Photos
Close
A solid foundation.
At the Fundamentals class, we'll give new and experienced paddlers the proper foundation for more advanced skills. Proper equipment fit and boat outfitting is critical, as is the ability to use your core muscle to power each stroke and safely launch and land the kayak.
Close
Practice, Practice.
Now that you've completed your first class, 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!
Close
How to handle a capsize.
Learn how to recover from a capsize and watch your confidence soar through the roof. In the Safety class, we'll teach wet exits, self-rescues, assisted rescues and towing.
Close
Make capsizing a non-issue.
In Bracing and Rolling, we'll teach you how to prevent a capsize with bracing strokes. You'll also learn how to roll the kayak back up in case you do flip over. Once you learn to roll, you'll start capsizing (and rolling) for fun!
Close
To the next level.
In Advanced Strokes, you'll refine your techniques, discover nuances of basic strokes you already know, learn how to turn in strong winds, and develop advanced performance strokes.
Close
Graduation day!
This is where you put it all together. In the Open Water class, you'll get to apply all your skills as we navigate an open water section of the Chesapeake Bay! We'll conduct group leadership simulations and discuss navigation strategies and techniques.
Close
Post-grad practice.
Now you're now a safe, skilled, and self-sufficient paddler. But even the world's top sea kayakers 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!
Close
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. All our equipment is brand-new each year!
How to Schedule Your Classes
Close
Step 1
Select the quantity of participants you want to register for a particular trip or class and click "purchase and enroll."
Close
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.
Close
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.
Close
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".
Close
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.
Close
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.
Close
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.
Close
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
SK 101: Fundamentals
Your first lesson is the foundation for a lifetime of good technique. Proper equipment fit is essential for safety, comfort, and control. Launching and landing can be done gracefully, if you know a few tricks. Torso rotation relieves the arms and shoulders of strain. Turning and propelling strokes can be mastered through professional coaching. This five-hour lesson is taught in a quiet cove and all equipment is provided. Select one date from the list above.
2012 Dates :
May 6, 20
June 10, 24
July 18, 22
August 12, 26
September 15, 22
Includes : Kayak, paddle, personal floatation device and skirt.
Location (link) : Riley's Lock, Darnestown, MD
Time : 8:00 AM
Duration : 5 hours
Class Ratio : 5:1
Click here for directions and what to bring 
FREE: Weekly Coached Practice Nights
When you sign up for the Complete Lesson Package you get the benefit of attending free practice nights for life. At these fun--yet focused--sessions, an instructor will supervise as you practice the skills and drills covered in the lessons. This is a great way to meet other paddlers and fine-tune your skills. All equipment is provided.
2012 Dates : Every Tuesday :
May 1, 8, 15, 22
June 5, 12, 19. 26
July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
August 14, 21, 28
September 4, 11, 18, 25
Includes : Kayak, paddle, personal floatation device and skirt.
Location (link) : Angler's Lot, Potomac, MD
Time : 6:00 PM
Duration : 2 hours
Click here for directions and what to bring
SK 102: Safety
Safety is your top priority. The Safety lesson prepares you for the unexpected and builds confidence. Staying in a capsized sea kayak for a few seconds can save time and energy, provided your partner's kayak is close enough to offer you a lift back to the surface. When you do have to exit the kayak, getting out of the water and back in your boat while away from shore requires assisted re-entry or, when solo, use of a paddle float and bilge pump. Learn all of these valuable skills--plus towing techniques--in calm water near shore. Equipment is provided, but please bring your own paddle float, bilge pump, tow system, and knife.
2012 Dates :
May 8, 22
June 12, 26
July 10, 24
August 14, 28
September 24
Includes : Kayak, paddle, personal floatation device and skirt.
Location (link) : Riley's Lock, Darnestown, MD
Time : 2:00 PM
Duration : 4 hours
Class Ratio : 5:1
Click here for directions and what to bring
SK 103: Bracing and Rolling
Your ability to roll your sea kayak will expand your paddling horizon. A properly "outfitted" sea kayak fits your lower body like a glove and allows for edging, bracing, and rolling control. Wearing a spray skirt keeps the water out and adds a new level of safety awareness. Teaching the sea kayak roll is an art that we have perfected over the years. Practicing drills on the surface ensures that you use your "hip flick" to right the kayak. Keeping your head underwater during the roll and maintaining a proper paddle position will come easy with a proven method: our instructors stand in waist-deep water supporting and moving your body through the correct position so that you stay relaxed and are able to quickly grasp this complex skill.
2012 Dates :
May 5, 19
June 2, 16, 30
July 14, 28
August 11, 25
September 8
Includes : Kayak, paddle, personal floatation device and skirt.
Location (link) : Pennyfield Lock, Potomac, MD
Time : 2:30 PM
Duration : 3 hours
Class Ratio : 5:1
Click here for directions and what to bring
SK 104: Advanced Strokes
You will be identified as a complete sea kayaker by your grace and maneuverability. Edging and advanced strokes are the finishing touchs for your paddling technique. "Carving" turns (as in snow sports), and gliding in any direction will bring a broad smile as you cut the number of required paddle strokes in half. These skills will open up a whole new world of sea kayaking that you will define as "playful." Master carving turns, gliding laterally, and maneuvering a seventeen foot vessel with a flick of the wrist.
2012 Dates :
May 6, 20
June 3, 17
July 1, 15, 29
August 12, 26
Includes : Kayak, paddle, personal floatation device and skirt.
Location (link) : Riley's Lock, Darnestown, MD
Time : 2:00 PM
Duration : 4 hours
Class Ratio : 5:1
Click here for directions and what to bring
SK 105: Open Water
Graduation day! Hours of practice have transformed you into a safe, skilled and self-sufficient paddler. The Open Water lesson puts these skills to the test on a fun and exciting, instructor-supervised crossing of the Chesapeake Bay. Learn trip preparation, how to paddle in formation, the "rules of the nautical road," basic navigation skills, and more!
2012 Dates :
September 9, 23
Includes : Kayak, paddle, personal floatation device and skirt.
Location (link) : Truxtun Park, Annapolis, MD
Time : 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM
Duration : 4 hours
Click here for directions and what to bring
* Completion of this course marks your "graduation" from the program and the conclusion of equipment rental and use benefits.
|
Awards & Accreditations
Potomac Paddlesports is proud to be an award-winning, charter ACA Pro School.
Conservation Partners
A percentage of all sales from our kayak programs go to support the Potomac Riverkeeper.
Potomac Paddlesports teaches and practices Leave No Trace ethics in all our programs.
Be Prepared!
Below are some products that we frequently recom-mend to our beginning sea kayak students. Have a look, and if there's any-thing 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!
|
Checkout
