Basic Sea Kayaking Course

The Mountaineers' once-a-year class is loaded with practical information, hands-on education, introduction to kayak gear, and an emphasis on paddling safety. Learn the basic paddling strokes, how to get back in your boat when you go over, basic trip planning & navigation, and how to recognize & avoid dangerous situations. No prior kayaking knowledge or experience is required to participate in the course.
The course consists of one classroom session, one pool session, two open water sessions and two kayak paddles. The classroom session will be held on April 23, 2016 from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm at the Tacoma Mountaineers Clubhouse, 2302 N 30th St. Tacoma, WA 98403. The pool session (including a swim test) will be held from 10:15 am – 4:30 pm on May 1, 2016 at the Peninsula High School pool in Gig Harbor. Lake sessions will be held from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm on May 14- 15, 2016 at American Lake in Tacoma. To graduate, students must attend all the above listed sessions and complete two club-sponsored student paddles of at least four hours duration by September 30, 2016.
Contact Alison Reinbold, areinbold@comcast.net to register for this class. You will then receive a registration form to fill out. When that has been received you will be notified that you can sign up for the class.
The course is $225 for Mountaineers and $300 for non-members. We recommend that you pay for the course via credit card on the Mountaineers website, to ensure your spot in the class.
Additional costs: Boats are provided at no extra cost for the pool session. Students are required to provide single sea kayaks, or rent them, for both lake sessions (May 14-15). If students have their own sea kayaks, they must be at least 14' and have deck lines, foot rests and flotation at both ends. A spray skirt, paddle, coast guard-approved PFD, paddle float and pump are also required. The Kayak Academy will provide kayaks and gear for lake sessions at a rental cost of $TBD for the weekend. Students will also be required to have a dry suit for the lake sessions. The Kayak Academy's rental cost for a dry suit, cap and a pair of booties for the weekend is $TBD. A course manual and course syllabus will be emailed to you upon completed registration and payment. For the two qualifying club-sponsored paddles, students will be responsible for providing their own gear and kayaks and for providing their own transportation to the trip put-in location. There will be at least 2 paddles scheduled that will be near or at rental locations.