Why Should I Take a Lesson?
Millions of people kayak every day, but few realize there are well proven fundamentals used by Olympic paddlers to go fast and far with the least amount of effort. 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.
What are my Options?
We offer both private and group lessons. Private lessons are scheduled ad-hoc on evenings and weekends from April through October. We can accommodate 1-6 individuals in a private lesson. Our standard location for the private lessons is on North Lake Leelanau in Leland, MI. Depending on the circumstance , we can also be flexible to meet at a location that works best for you.
Group lessons will be scheduled from July through August. We try to provide morning and evening options on both weekends and weekdays. The group can be anywhere from 1-6 students. Discounts are available to groups of 4 or more coming together. The group lesson calendar will be published as we get closer to summer and you will be able to register on-line.
What does it cost?
- $200 for a dedicated private 2 hour lesson
- $150 per person for a group of 2
- $125 per person for a group of 3 or more
- $100 per person for a group of 4
Note: This season we have not hired a separate instructor so all lessons will be taught by Nick Murray. If you request a lesson when we don’t have one already scheduled and are open to others joining, we will make every attempt to add others and reduce the cost for all.
What Exactly Is It?
A two hour session to introduce you to the basics of surfski paddling covering the following:
- A basic overview of the features and functions of the surfski and wing paddle
- How to use the large muscles in your legs, core, and back to paddle the boat
- How to use correct body mechanics to minimize shoulder strain and stress on your arm joints
- How to stabilize the boat with the paddle and minimize your risk of ever tipping over
- How to 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
What do I need to bring?
TC Surfski will supply boats, paddles, PFDs, Wetsuits and Leashes for this class. Just bring your swimsuit and enthusiasm to learn, and we’ll cover the rest.
Who can participate?
- Anyone 7 Years 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 surf 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?
The 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
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 send us an e-mail and we’d be more than happy to answer any question or concerns that you may have.
