Introduction to Currents - Deception Pass

This course is BEGINNING CURRENTS. Beginners and early learners welcome, no experience in current required.  This is part of the Tacoma DP Kayak weekend. Learn about, and sign up for group camping booking  here. 

First year students are welcome if:

1. Fairly stable in boat.
2. All Student paddles are done.
3. Conditioned enough for moderately active paddle.

We will learn how to enter and exit current for maximum benefit, eddy hop, and ferry glide. Bracing skills will be covered including how to use a low brace in current. Assisted rescues will be practiced before entering current (and almost certainly after entering current). For those who desire to be challenged rolling, bow rescue and self-rescue in current are all possible. All exercises are “challenge by choice”.  Some people learn well watching, others by trying and learning by their mistakes.

I highly recommend participants take this clinic with the Incident Management clinic offered the day before in Bowman Bay.

Current is one of my favorite places to play.  Come see what all the fuss is about in a safe and supportive environment.

Participants should do their best self-assessment.  Participants should feel they are ready to paddle in SK IV conditions Should be willing to get wet, practice skills, try new things, push limits and be safety support for others. Let’s all support each other in developing skills and stretching limits, where ever they are.

Please click on the blue tab for "equipment" required. No helmet, no go. 

Any boat composition is fine, but a bump or scrape is possible so plastic slightly preferred if you have one.

We will probably portage over the thin ribbon of land to get to the Pass faster, so bring carry straps if you have them.

Bowman Bay, show up when gates open at 6:30 with launch time expected at 7:15am.  Check for updates to this, we might get the rangers to let us in earlier. Note, there is no trailer parking at Bowman Bay. discover Pass is required for each vehicle.

Participants must attend a 2 hour zoom meeting, Wednesday, May 27 from 7-9 PM. This is new this year, and there just won't be time to cover this material in a shore talk. Slack before Ebb is 8:06am, and often starts 15 minutes early in Canoe Pass so we need to get there quickly.

Cancellations before May 4th fully refundable other than admin fee. Cancellations after that no refund.