Concepts Developed for quality kayak instruction

Know you would like to spend some time in a coaching environment, but not sure where to begin? Let us help you refine your day. We provide a goal’s sheet for you to help work through where you are going with your paddling. In addition, the following topics are available as focus issues to be addressed during your instruction time:

Tweaking the Roll

Whether it is working towards reinforcing the fundamental steps of the roll or gaining consistency in moving water, working under in our coaching environment will help you clean up your technique, reinforce good practice maneuvers, and gain confidence using your roll on whitewater.

Suggested Training Rivers: flatwater lake time for technique work, and a river you feel comfortable paddling so that the rapids are not an issue and focus can be on roll technique.

Check out Staff Articles on the roll.

Directional Rolling

Once you learn how to roll, the next goal is directional rolling.  This is a mandatory addition to an advanced boater’s skills, but we encourage learning directional rolling at the earliest possible point in your boating.  Tools we address during directional rolling include tuning up the roll on both sides, stern squirts for reinforcing direction, and some good upside down time.

Suggested Training Rivers: Tuckasegee, Nantahala or Ocoee Rivers.

The Center Line Theory

The theory behind maintaining/regaining balance in your boat, finishing the roll, stroke technique, boofing and play boating.

Suggested Training Rivers: This theory is appropriate to address on any river-beginner to advanced.

Check out Staff Articles on Center Line Theory

Learning how to Boof

Waiting until you hit your first big must-do boof to learn how to boof is not advisable. We use eddy lines, waves, rocks and drops to help you tune up your use of stroke, stroke timing and boat angle management in order to improve your technique. 

Suggested Training Rivers: Nantahala or Ocoee. And/or similar runs

Check out Staff Articles on Boofing.

Paddle Smarter not Harder

Throw away the myth that you should always have a working blade in the water. More important is that you take the right stroke at the right time in order to maximize your efficiency.  Addressing this topic will include a review of your strokes: do you have all the strokes you need to be an efficient paddler; do you think through when to use a stroke for correction versus momentum; is stroke timing part of your decision making process entering eddies/leaving eddies, as well as during advanced moves like boofing.

Suggested Training Rivers: Tuckasegee, Nantahala, Ocoee, and/or similar runs.

Check out Staff Articles on Paddling Smarter.

Flat water Training for Improving your Advanced Skills

Flat water training is good on two levels:  1) for breaking down then improving technique; and 2) for spending productive time in a boat when it is not possible to get to the river. Techniques used for flat water training include the English Gate Series, balance and stroke drills, and flat water play boating drills.