Date/Time
Date(s) - 07/23/18
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location
Fountain Point
Categories
Millions of people kayak every day, but few realize there are well proven fundamentals used by all Olympic and professional paddlers to go fast and far with the least amount of effort and by utilizing the entire body. Whether you want to paddle for fitness, paddle leisurely with less aches and pains, race faster, paddle longer distances, or surf waves, this lesson is guaranteed to help you.
At TC SURFSKI we love surfskis and surfing waves, and there is nothing we enjoy more than sharing this passion, but we also realize not everyone is interested in surfing waves or paddling a surfski and that is completely okay. We are also very passionate about helping people to be safe and get the most out of whatever kayaking they do. We are confident that even if you never paddle a surfski, you’ll still learn a lot of valuable tips and tricks by taking this lesson.
If you love the water, if you love to learn, and have an interest in kayaking or surfing, this class is for you!
What Exactly Is It?
A two hour session to introduce you to the basics of surfski paddling and teach you how to:
- Use the large muscles in your legs, core, and back
- Use correct body mechanics to minimize shoulder strain and stress on your arm joints
- Stabilize the boat with the paddle and minimize your risk of ever tipping over
- Remount the surfski with ease, so that tipping over is always fun and refreshing and never a cause for concern
- Use basic concepts of surfing to ride boat wakes and wind waves to propel you forward with minimal effort
Who can participate?
- Anyone 7 Year or Older, No Experience Needed
- Basic swimming skills are required, but all students will wear life jackets while on the water
I have a kayak and don’t plan to buy a surfski, will this class help me?
Yes, we’re very confident that this class will still benefit you. The fundamentals of a good kayak stroke that uses the entire body and minimizes strain on the shoulders and arms is the same regardless of what type of boat you paddle.
I want to start doing kayak races and/or kayak triathlons, will this class help?
Absolutely! Whether your goal is to win races or simply better your time, this class will help, and in fact, is probably the best thing you can do to improve your race results.
I experience shoulder pain when I paddle, will this class help?
The full body technique that we teach will minimize the stress on your shoulders, elbows, and wrists. We focus on using the large muscles of your body including your legs, core, and back
Don’t You Need Ocean Waves to Surf?
What appears as choppy water to the uninitiated, is actually world class surfing conditions once you learn to paddle a surfski. The Leelanau Peninsula is actually one of the best places in the world for surfing on a surfski. We can surf anything from 1 foot waves up to 10 foot waves. In the right locations, just 7 or 8 knots of wind is enough to create excellent conditions. The surfski is designed to surf the wind waves as opposed to traditional surfers who are focused on the shore break. This means we can go point to point and surf for miles on end, or simply paddle out from the beach a quarter mile or more and then surf all the way back in. If there is no wind or you don’t have access to a larger body of water, surfing behind a boat wake is a great way to start and to learn the fundamental skills.
Will We Surf Waves in This Lesson?
This initial lesson on Lake Leelanau is focused on teaching the basic fundamentals that are necessary to surf waves. This includes developing a powerful paddle stroke and learning to be stable in the boat. If a good boat wake comes through we might try to surf it, but generally the focus of this first lesson is not on surfing. However, if you want to take surfski to the next level, then we would love to schedule a follow on lesson to focus on surfing and/or schedule you for a surf session in the Tandem Surfski.
Am I Too Old?
Not likely! We just sold a surfski to a 90 year old guy. Granted he has paddled most of his life, but the fact is, most of our customers are between 50-70 years old. Paddling is a very low impact sport with very little chance of injury.
Still have Questions?
If you still have questions before booking, please give us a call at (920) 744-1144 or send us an e-mail and we’d be more than happy to answer any question or concerns that you may have.
Bookings
Bookings are closed for this event.
