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669-2338 info@carpediemkayaking.com |
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Fundamental Skills Series Getting Started Brand new? Never kayaked? Great! This is the course for you and the emphasis is on fun. Learn about kayaks, essential gear, wet exits, getting in and out, and the basics of moving them on calm flat water. Duration: Full day Experience Required: None. Basic Strokes and Rescues A good follow-up to "getting started", in this course, we'll review wet exits, then delve more deeply into the art of boating handling on calm flat water. We'll also invest time into honing our assisted and self rescue techniques. Duration: Full day Experience Required: None. Basic Chart and Compass - Applied Get out of the classroom, learn the basics of using a chart, compass and ranges on the water. Duration: Full day Experience Required: Basic boat handling skills. Kayaking Touring for the New Paddler You've learned some new skills, you're anxious to get out and paddle, but what else should you know before you venture out? With this class you'll apply your new skills under the guidance of an experience coach and guide. Discover the joy of paddling in this amazing environment, but learn what you should consider when planning your outing based on your skill and level of experience. This is learning on the go and will take you on a modest day-trip in protected waters. Duration: Full Day Experience required: Basic boat handling skills and a confident panic-free wet exit. Basic Greenland Rolling Come learn why people get so excited about rolling with a greenland paddle (it's unbelievabley fun!). It's also one of the surest ways to improve your rolling with any paddle. You'll have plenty of time to practice Duration: 3 hours Experience Required: A controlled (panic-free) wet exit. Rolling We love to roll! Whether it be with "Euro" blades , Greenland paddles, or hands only. Rolling is the best of all self-rescue techniques, and on a hot summer's day there's nothing better than a little "rotary cooling." Whether you're a beginner, or an experienced kayaker with an urge to expand your repertoire, this class is for you. You'll have plenty of time to practice Duration: 3 hours Experience Required: A controlled (panic-free) wet exit. Just for Fun Series Exploring the Coastal Environment A full day class focused on experiencing the geology & fauna of the amazing coast of Maine, but from a sea kayak. Paddle near ancient sea bottoms, large cliffs exposed by the last ice age and caves left by thousands of years of the sea scuplting those same cliffs. Discover a rich diversity of sea birds and perhaps spot sea mammals. Duration: Full day Experience Required: Basic boat handling skills, a comfortable and controlled wet-exit, and have learned an "assisted rescue" Sea Kayak Nature Tour Looking for a chance to simply enjoy the beauty and nature of the Mount Desert Island waters? Or would you like a low-key way to apply some of your new skills? Take some time to relax and go paddling with us. This is what sea kayaking is about anyway. Duration: 1/2 day Experience Required: None. BCU Series The British Canoe Union is an internationally recognized governing body for paddlesports, whose courses are becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. The BCU certifies paddlers at specific skill levels. This "star" system is recognized internationally. First, take a training session, then go and practice. When you're ready, take an assessment. For more information about the BCU, go to www.bcuna.com 2-Star Assessment A terrific goal along the way to further develop you skills in paddlesports (kayaking and canoeing). This milestone assesses your skill at refined basic strokes and rescues on flat water in a variety of craft. You might find yourself jumping in and out of recreational kayaks, canoes, whitewater boats, and yes sea kayaks. Discover the joy and benefit of experiencing a broad based exposure to paddlesport. Experience Required: see 2-star syllabus Duration: Full day Additional Cost: BCU fee if passed 3-Star Sea Kayak Training Take your flatwater skills into bumpy water. You'll practice rescues and maneuvering in current and chop, work on navigation and learn to launch and land through surf. Ready to put the "sea" in your sea kayaking? This is the training you need. Duration: Two days Experience Required: A consistent two star kayak standard of performance. See 3-star syllabus Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning This is the new prerequiste for the 4-Star Sea Kayak Leader award. An excellent course to give you a great foundation for leading groups on the sea. Taught by one of the countries recognized authorities on Sea Kayak Navigation, John Carmody. Duration: Full day Experience Required: none Additional Cost: BCU fee if passed 4-Star Leader Sea Kayak Training Learn to lead a group of paddlers on short journeys in moderate conditions. Learn to judge those conditions, assess the standards of the group and make appropriate decisions. Duration: Two days Experience Required: 3-Star or old 4-star. |
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5th Annual Downeast Sea Kayaking
Symposium - Course Descriptions
If you’re not sure about which classes to take or want to talk about choosing classes to get the most out of the symposium, call Mark or Mel at (207) 669-2338. We look forward to hearing from you. New This Year! To make planning a little easier for you we've introduced a "series" approach to the symposium. Beginning with our "Fundamental Skills" series you'll find the right courses for new or novice paddlers. Our "Beyond the Basics" series has a wide variety of courses for the beginner through advanced intermediate paddlers. Then we have the "Masters" series, which is aimed directly at a more experienced and trained seakayaker. Many of you have come to expect quality BCU courses so check our "BCU" series Of course, for those of you who want a more relaxed experience try something "Just for Fun". Beyond the Basics Series  Tidal Currents With the state’s second largest set of reversing rapids in our backyard, we have the perfect training ground for learning to handle sea kayaks in tidal currents, Sullivan Falls. An ideal training venue for paddlers of all skill levels. This is the course for being introduced to moving water or for tuning up your basic skills, such as moving in and out of eddies, ferry gliding, and some surfing. Duration: Full day Experience Required: "Old" BCU 3-Star or equivalent training and experience. Rocks and Ledges A full-day of playing in the rocks! Pure joy. You’ll soon get the full measure of your boat handling skills. Not for those trying to keep their kayaks scratch-free. This course introduces you and provides an opportunity to further develop safe and effective boat handling skills around the rocks. You'll practice bracing, timing, rescues, and safety considerations when playing in the impact zone. Duration: Full day Experience Required: "Old" BCU 3-Star or equivalent training and experience. Combat Rolling and Bracing So your roll works great on the lake, in the pool, on calm days. Maybe you can roll on both sides or hand roll, but when mother nature knocks you over whether in rough conditions, in surf, or in moving water, somehow it just doesn't want to work. Let's do something about that! Come with us to Sullivan falls where we can review basics in the huge eddies and then dial in the conditions to practice rolling and bracing. There's not a better place for exactly this kind of training. Duration: Full day Experience Required: A reasonably reliable flat-water roll and solid boat handling skills. Tips and Tricks for Long-time Paddlers Been paddling awhile, but have no or minimal professional instruction? This is the class for you. Come work with a leading coach to put some polish on your paddling, make your strokes more efficient and maybe pick up some rescues or techniques that are new to you. This is the perfect class to help you get the most out of your time on the water. Duration: Full day Experience Required: A controlled (panic-free) wet exit and have paddled for "awhile". Rockin', Rollin' & Rescues A full day class focused on rescue techniques -- from rolling and other self rescues to assisted rescues and braces. Duration: Full day Experience Required: None. Paddling with Power and Finesse Join us for a day of exploring how to improve your kayaking by bringing both of these elements into balance. You’ll get the most out of this class if you’ve already developed your basic skills and are looking to “push you envelope”. Duration: Full day Experience Required: Solid flatwater boat handling skills (confident edging, turning maneuvers, bracing, etc) recommended. Open Water Skills Want to venture out onto the sea, but aren't interested in formal "ACA" or "BCU" courses? This is your chance. Move safely from inland waters to the sea with this informal, but comprehensive offering. Duration: Full day Experience Required: "Old" BCU 3 star or equivalent experience. Open Water Skills Tune-Up You've spent time on the sea, perhaps you've had some training and you want to touch up old skills or polish new ones. This the perfect class for those of you not interested in an intro course, but don't feel ready for an advanced course. Work on strokes in conditions, bracing, rescues, navigation skills, etc. The instructor will assess your skills and the others in the class and proceed from there to help each of you move forward. Therefor each class will be a different experience. Duration: Full day Experience Required: "Old" BCU 3 star or equivalent experience. Open Canoe A course to expose beginners to the very basic paddling and safety skills necessary to have when paddling a canoe on calm and protected water. By doing this over a full day you get a more comprehensive learning experience than a typical intro course. Duration: Full day Experience Required: None. Boat Repair If you've discovered the excitement of Rocks and Ledges and you've put the beautiful fiberglass seakayak in places you never thought you would when it was new, you might be interested in this class. Taught by Marc Bourgin, owner of Maine's own Lincoln Canoe and Kayak, this is a great way to learn how to keep your boat on the water for many more years. (oh, by the way, feel free to bring your own boat to class so you can take it home looking good.) Duration: 3 hours Experience Required: None. Masters Series The Masters Series is aimed at an experienced and trained paddler looking to push the performance envelope even further. If you feel you qualify, please call us as enrollment in these courses will be limited, with prior approval required. Masters Tidal Currents Get that wave earlier, stay longer, read and use the water to your advantage. Put that boat with confidence into the bigger, pushier stuff. Duration: Full day Experience Required: Previous training in tidal currents or whitewater. Masters Rocks and Ledges No landing zones, seal landings, swimming on and off rocks. This is more extreme than the standard Rocks and Ledges. Duration: Full day Experience Required: previous rocks and ledges training and abiltiy to move a seakayak with purpose in conditions. When it all goes wrong, horribly wrong: Incident Management and Survival How do you handle it when a simple rescue becomes an "epic"? Scenario-based training for incidents and survival strategies. Duration: Full day Experience Required: BCU 3 star (sea) or equivalent experience. The Art of the Long Paddle: forward stroke effectiveness over distance A day of sea kayaking, whether on a day-trip, multi-day camping trip, or full-on expedition most often means being able to put in the distance. Learn by doing, in this master class you'll work on your technique while cranking out a 15 to 20 nautical mile trip. Duration: Full day (very full) Experience Required: BCU 3 star (sea) or equivalent experience. Greenland Competition Rolling Forward finishing, hand rolls, sculling rolls, etc. If you're serious and already have a number of greenland rolls under your command, this is the next level for you. Duration: Full day (very full) Experience Required: competent basic greenland rolls |
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