Sea Kayaking Instruction

Taking classes is an excellent way to get into kayaking. Our Basic Classes (Introduction to Sea Kayaking, and Beach Entry & Exit) gives you the necessary skills to begin exploring sea kayaking. Once you have learned these skills you need to keep practicing to gain knowledge and experience. These components -- skills, knowledge, and experience -- together with common sense, will make you an excellent kayaker.

Information for those new to sea kayaking classes:

Kayak Basics Course

A fun beginning class for individuals or the entire family! This half day class emphasizes proper paddling technique, and will also cover posture, carrying the kayak, launching techniques and other safety issues . The instructor will acquaint you with the gear and clothing used for kayaking and a variety of local paddling locations. This class is very hands-on and most of the time is spent on the water. Great for first timers! This class will not cover open water rescues. Cost: $45.

Basic Classes

Each of these classes includes an ocean outing with all equipment. They are taught out of our Santa Cruz shop. You should take the classes in the order presented. We also offer private instruction at your convenience. Please call for prices.

Introduction to Sea Kayaking

Learn the anatomy and history of a sea kayak, accessories necessary, and proper paddling techniques. After a brief break for lunch, we'll review safety equipment needed for kayaking and possible hazards one may encounter while sea kayaking. Next you'll learn the braces used to prevent capsizing, and practice open water rescues, including self rescues and two person rescues out in the bay. $95. 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.

Beach Entry and Exit

This lesson involves studying wave dynamics, lulls and sets, then practicing surf landings and launchings. We also review braces and rescues. These are all much needed skills for sea kayakers who plan on paddling in coastal waters. $55. 8:00 am, at Santa Cruz.

First and third Sunday of each month.

 

Sit-on-Top Kayaking

Come and learn the fun of using a Sit-on-Top sea kayak. We will start with a review of the basics of Sit-on-Top kayaking. The course will cover learning all of the paddling strokes and basic safety and kayak rescues. The class will culminate with a visit to the local kelp beds and possibly a snorkel for any adventurous souls in the group.

Prerequisites: None

Price: $40.00

First Saturday of every month, at 9:00 am

Introduction to Open Ocean Skills

As you begin to venture out on longer more advanced tours, your kayaking skills should be more advanced as well. We'll practice bracing and all of the traditional re-entry skills you learned before as well as other new techniques in more challenging conditions. This class is approximately 5 - 6 hours long. $100

Surf Skills

Bring: Booties or wool socks, fleece top, change of warm clothing and snack. Kayak Connection will provide: wetsuit, surf kayak, paddle, paddle leash, life jacket, helmet, thigh straps, spray jacket, and surf safari.

Requirements: No experience necessary. Must know how to swim and be comfortable in the ocean. We'll be using open deck kayaks for these classes.

This 3 hour class will teach you the fundamentals of wave dynamics, how to read waves and peaks, sets, surf self rescues, how to catch a wave and how to get off the wave, and the all important surfing etiquette. This class is also designed to help you adjust to kayaking in rough conditions.  Taught in open deck surfing kayaks, this exciting fun class will keep you coming back for more. $95.  

Second and fourth Sunday of each month.
Call for specific times and locations.

Kayaking for Kids

We're back for our sixth year. Children in kayaks within a safe environment is a natural success story. We teach children the fundamentals of kayaking skills in small kayaks within the Santa Cruz Harbor. Games, stories, and fun activities abound. Two guides for 10 kids aged 8-12. We also offer more advanced classes: Surf Kayaking and Advanced Kayaking. We also offer a program for 13-15-year-olds. Please see our special Kids Korner web page.

Private Instruction

If our schedule of classes doesn't work for you, take a private class. You will have your own instructor, and you can schedule the class when it's convenient for you. All equipment and gear is included in the cost. Learn at your own pace and receive personalized instruction from our ACA certified instructors.

4 hour minimum for combination intro class and safety class.

4 hour minimum for beach entry and exit for 1 person; 5 hours for 2 people.

4 hour minimum for private surf class.

How to Sign Up

Please call us at 831-479-1121 to sign up. We will send you a letter of confirmation with directions and other pertinent information.

When you sign up for a class, we need full payment before your reservation can be confirmed. This may be done by phone with a credit card, or you can mail us a check. If you have to cancel a class and cannot reschedule, we will give you a full refund if you cancel more than 48 hours before the start of the class.

If we do not have more than 3 people for a tour or class, we reserve the right to postpone or cancel.

Class Confirmation Forms

[an error occurred while processing this directive]