Kayaking

Kayaking along the Vancouver coastlines is an activity that anyone can enjoy. Wether your motivation is fitness, exploration, making friends or just plain fun, joining Locarno kayaking makes it easy to get on the water.

Fleet

We have built up a fleet of over 15 ocean kayaks that are seaworthy, durable and available to take on trips. This is the first year Locarno is introducing fiberglass kayaks. For a small rental fee, our members can take our kayaks away for the week or weekend. For more information on kayaking, you can contact the Kayaking Director at the club's Contact Us webpage.

New for 2009, we have added two fiberglass touring kayaks, and will be adding a couple of ultra-stable plastic touring kayaks.

Necky Eskia Outfitter: Our most stable single kayak, making it great for beginning kayakers. Lots of volume makes it a great touring kayak. Fits tall and heavier bodies. Looksha Sport: Small, light, and stable. Can turn on a dime, but doesn't track in a straight line easily. Too small for touring.

Necky Eliza: Designed by women for women, the Necky Eliza day touring kayak empowers amateur to seasoned female kayakers to paddle farther more efficiently. One of our best kayaks - also suitable for light-framed men.

Necky Amaruk Double: Our most stable kayak, great for taking out guest, or for going father, faster with less effort.

Necky Elaho High Volume: Feels a little wobbly, which may be disconcerting for beginner paddlers, however it doesn't flip easily. Designed for touring, but small hatch openings and an extra bulkhead limit the amount of gear it can accommodate.

Atlantis WaV: The Wav is great for medium size paddler but still has lots of legroom for tall people as well. The WaV tracks like a longer boat but responds well to a lean. Outfitted with Atlantis' form fitting thigh braces, bomber deck rigging and rugged rudder assembly makes the WaV a great boat for daytrips or multi-day paddling.

Atlantis Titan VI: Large and stable, a great boat for longer trips.

Performance Kayaks: Requiring more balance and technique, these kayaks are built for speed:

• Think Fit Fitness Kayak
• Think Evo Surf Ski
• Epic V10S Surf Ski

Great for experienced kayakers who want to challenge themselves, try racing, or just get into great shape. Requires Level 2 plus Surf Ski/ Fitness Kayak clinic, which you signup for at the Clinics section at the bottom of this page.

Lessons

This year we have revamped our kayaking lesson structure: Lessons are going to be both shorter and less arduous, while still retaining essential skills training, both for your safety as well as your enjoyment of the sport. We have also added a Fast-Track Check-out option for experienced paddlers who can demonstrate a self-rescue.

The course is divided into 2 levels:

Level 1 is mandatory for novice kayakers before using kayaks, and is recommended for all kayak fleet members, regardless of experience. Class size is capped at 5 per instructor.

The focus is learning basic paddling skills to be able to maneuver in any direction, basic bracing to stay stable, and self-rescue. You will need to demonstrate 2 capsize and self-rescues, so be prepared to get wet.

Prerequisite: Willingness to have fun and get wet. No experience necessary.

Requirements: Must wear lifejacket and wetsuit. We provide lifejackets, you must bring a wetsuit (either your own you can rent).

Level 2 is optional. Successful completion of Level 2 is required for:

• Taking guests kayaking
• Signing the kayaks out for trips
• Using the fiberglass kayaks

Level 2 Lessons focus on improving skills, more bracing techniques for staying stable in rougher water, wet entry/exits, and rescuing another kayaker using a 2 boat rescue (which is why you MUST complete this level before taking out guests).

Prerequisites: Level 1 or equivalent.

Requirements: Must wear lifejacket and wetsuit. We provide lifejackets - you must bring a wetsuit (either your own or you can rent).

Note: Members who do not pass on their first attempt are able to repeat the lesson at no charge. Once a member passes a level, they may repeat the lesson in subsequent years free of charge.

Returning members who have successfully completed Level 1 in previous years may take level 2 this year free of charge.

Sign-up:

One or more lesson sessions are listed below. Click on the table's Show link to see the list of lesson sessions, their dates, and other info, and to signup right here online!

To sign up, first find a session date that you are certain that you can attend, then fill out the signup form (located at the bottom of the session list).

See the section below titled "Notes on Signup, Payment, and Confirmation" below for some important details.

Looking for Checkout and other clincs? Scroll to the bottom of this page to the Clinics section.

 

 

Notes on Sign-Up, Payment, and Confirmation

Sign-Up

To sign up for a lesson, first find a session date that you are certain that you can attend, then fill out the signup form (located at the bottom of the session list).

If a session is full check back as we may add more spaces. Also, be sure to check check 24 hours before your lesson, as it might be cancelled due to insufficient registration, weather, etc.

Payment

It's best to have paid for the lessons when you joined the club, or by cheque into the main clubroom dropbox AT LEAST 10 DAYS before the lesson date. These advance payments enable us to Confirm your spot. If you meet these advance payment requirements, then in the signup form be sure to select the "Paid" option for Sign-up Type (it faciliates prioritization of signups).

In the event that you are unable to deliver payment at least 10 days in advance, then please pay at the lesson (cheque preferred). Note that we will be unable to Confirm your spot, so you may get bumped from a spot in order to make way for other members that paid before the 10 day deadline (or that paid when joining). In the signup form, be sure to select "Pay at Lesson" option for Sign-up Type.

If you are signing up to take the class as a Repeat, there is no payment required (we will check your records to see that you have previously taken Level 1). Please note that Repeat lessons are not Confirmed and are subject to availability, with paying members getting priority. In the signup form, be sure to select the "Repeat" option for Sign-up Type.

Confirmation

If you've paid in advance revisit this webpage to check for "Confirmed" besides your name. This may take up to one week. This delay occurs because we do not have a fully automated sign up system, nor do we have online payments. Signup requests are planned to be reviewed periodically (Tuesday and Thursday evenings) to verify that you have paid.

Free Kayaking Clinics

Members of the Layaking Fleet are eligible to take part in various free clinics, depending on their level of experience. Currently we have Checkout Clinics and Surf Ski/Fitness Kayak clinics.

Checkout Clinic:

If you have previous kayaking experience and want to access the kayaks without taking a lesson, you can sign up for a Checkout Clinic. You MUST be able to do a self-rescue and to balance and manoeuvre a kayak. Checkout cliinic participants will go out with an instructor, demonstrate their skills and a self-rescue, and be shown care and storage of equipment. Partiicapnts will either pass (Level 1 clearance) or be required to take Level 1 Lessons.

Surf Ski/Fitness Kayak Clinic:

These kayaks are described above in the Fleet section. These kayaks are for experienced kayakers who want to challenge themselves. Prerequisite: Level 2.

Click on the table's "Show" link to see the present list of clinics, their dates, and other info, and to signup right here online. If you do signup, we ask that you make a note of it on your calendar, and show up!