Paddle Canada Basic Kayak Skills

This is the primary starting point of the Paddle Canada Sea Kayak skills progression. With a focus on foundation skills and knowledge, Basic Kayak Skills inspires students to go out on short paddling excursions in class-0 or calm and sheltered waters.

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to confidently paddle in calm, sheltered waters in the company of peers with similar abilities.

Course Length

8 hours of instruction (1 day).

Course Water Class

This course runs in Class-0 conditions which are described as:

Non-challenging protected waters with limited wind effect, little or no current, easy landings, and ready access to land-based assistance. Wind and sea state is calm to rippled (<15km/h or 8 knots).

Learn more about our water classification system.

Course Topics

Re-Entry Skills

• Wet exit
• Assisted re-entries

Paddling Skills

• Lifting and carrying a kayak
• Launching and landing
• Emptying the kayak
• Forward and reverse strokes
• Stopping
• Forward and reverse sweep strokes
• Pivots
• Draw stroke
• Low brace
• Edging

Course Prerequisites

• None

What's Included?

• 1 full day of instruction by a certified Paddle Canada instructor, certification upon successful completion of the course
• Kayak
• Paddle
• Sprayskirt
• Pump
• Paddle float
• PFD
• Whistle
• 15m buoyant heaving line