Alaska Kayak School

What is the 2009 ISKSS about?
Building on 10 years offering sea kayaking instruction in Alaska and 14 years as professional instructors in the paddling industry in Alaska, we are offering 5 days of high-quality hands-on and get-in-the-water sea kayaking skills training. We use only the highest instructional and safety standards of the American Canoe Association and British Canoe Union, as well as the best paddling gear available, anywhere. Sea Kayaks by Valley, Nigel Dennis, and Prijon, paddles by Werner and Lendal, Kokatat and Palm dry suits, and accessories by Snap Dragon designs, NRS and Glacier Glove. You get to use the same equipment that the instructors use, breathable dry suits and equipment of very high quality with all the acceptable safety features.

At ISKSS 2009 you can spend 5 days on a skills progression aimed at helping you to become a competent sea kayaker in up to moderate sea conditions, and ultimately prepare you for a professional sea kayaking skills assessment in ocean conditions. If you’re not in the mood for a 5-day progression, you can participate a la carte in the courses you are qualified for based on previous training, experience and most importantly, skill. Please contact us for more information or just read on. First check out our guest instructor’s resume.

Where is ISKSS held? Where will you paddle?
Latitude 59º 37’N, Longitude 151º 26’W, Homer Spit, Kachemak Bay, Alaska, see www.homeralaska.org

The kayaking program is normally headquartered on the Homer Spit, in the Homer Spit Marine Terminal. The flat-water events take place in the “barge basin” a tidal basin 2.5 miles south of the base of the Spit. As conditions allow and the week proceeds, more of the events will be held in Kachemak Bay, Kachemak Bay State Park, and Halibut Cove.

Sean Morley, Fairfax, CA
BCU Sea kayak Coach
Expedition Paddler & Racer
riverandocean@hotmail.com

Rob Avery, Bainbridge Island, WA
BCU Level 3 Sea Kayak Coach
ACA Open Water Instructor
www.kayakkraft.com

Ryan Collins, Wasilla, AK
ACA Coastal Kayak Instructor, BCU Sea Kayak Coach, and Prince William Sound guide for 8 years, paddlersrealm@yahoo.com
907.350.2259

Tom Pogson, Homer, AK
ACA Coastal Kayak Instructor, BCU Sea Kayak Coach, and Coastal Alaska Sea Kayak Guide for 10 years, alaskakayakschool@gmail.com
907.299.0061

Support staff, Homer, AK
Long-term students of the Alaska Kayak School from Homer, most of them long-term Alaska residents will be your able assistants.

Who is Sean Morley? Sean was a successful competitive paddler as a youngster in the U.K. As he approached 40 decided to make a splash in the U.K. paddling scene. In 1997, Sean became the first paddler known to circumnavigate all of the inhabited British Isles in one grand long distance SOLO trip. Sean is also World-class kayak surfer placing third in the high performance class at the Santa Cruz Surf Kayak Contest in March 2007, followed that by a World championship in at the World Championships in Spain. To see Sean in action look for him on YouTube or check out the www.Cackletv.com “This is the Sea” dvd/video series nos. 2 and 3 available from the Kayak School Store and most paddle shops. Sean is a powerhouse of skill, experience, and enthusiasm. Currently living in the California Bay area he’s the president of River and Ocean LLC, distributors for many fine-paddling products, including Valley Sea Kayaks. We are very excited for Sean’s visit, and he’s excited to visit. Sean’s most recent landmark in paddling was the record circumnavigation of Vancouver Island in September and October 2008. To learn more about Sean, see his blog and website: http://www.expeditionkayak.com.

ISKSS 2009 is ideal for beginner and intermediate paddlers. ISKSS 2009 is an ideal learning environment for beginner and intermediate paddlers, i.e., those that have developed a safe confident wet exit (see wet exit definition below) and a few other skills.

ISKSS 2009 is not an ideal learning environment for novices, i.e., paddlers that have not developed a confident safe wet exit and some basic skills, but it may be possible to help you get the training needed so that the 2009 ISKSS symposium will be a perfect fit to your paddling skill needs. Learning a wet exit can be difficult, and learning it in cold water is more difficult. If you’re an Alaskan, check our calendar for pool training courses to learn a safe wet exit: http://alaskakayakschool.com/calendar/index.html

What is a wet exit? Why is it important?
A wet exit consists of a safe confident capsize and easy exit from the kayak, defined as: "exiting the kayak after it is upside down (with the skirt attached) by first removing the skirt, and then exiting the kayak in a forwards rolling motion, with no sign of panic or surprise, while retaining kayak and paddle". To get the most out of ISKSS 2009, it is essential for your safety that you have a safe and automatic wet exit; if you capsize by accident, your skill will take over and you’ll come to the surface smiling while hanging on to your kayak and paddle. If your wet exit is not that well developed, or you’ve never really practiced it much, we strongly recommend you do so before you attend ISKSS 09.

What if you don’t have a wet exit as an “automatic” skill? We may be able to use the pool here in Homer for the remedial work (but there is so little time), but it's equally likely we won't have access to the pool. Not really in our control unfortunately. If you have questions on how to proceed here, please call (907) 235-2090. We will do all we can to help you, and try to accommodate your learning needs. Please see the list of Symposia in the United States in 2009 here for other training opportunities:
http://alaskakayakschool.com/news.htm#symposia

How do I decide what classes to take?
Taking paddling instruction in structured learning programs such as the ACA and the BCU, followed by appropriate practice and experience (code for mindful paddling) to “learn” and consolidate your skills and knowledge, is the quickest way to become a safe competent sea kayaker.

Having taken a class with a particular level of skill or difficulty is not in and of itself a useful way to decide what class you should take next. The issue you need to resolve is whether the skills and information that you “integrated” and learned from any previous training is enough to eliminate the need to re-visit those skills, i.e. fundamental skills, in this example. If you took a fundamentals class once and didn’t take the time to pay attention to the details and really didn’t paddle that much after your training course, chances are good that you did not retain or learn many important fundamental skills. The best approach to developing solid skills is to go back and revisit the fundamentals. You will have more fun and learn tons more than you did the first time; you will be surprised. What’s more, you will likely develop the next level of skills easily now, and not while struggling to keep up.

After offering kayaking instruction in a challenging environment here in coastal Alaska for a decade now, our recommendation is simple. If you have any doubt about what class to take, the best choice is to re-visit your previous level of training. If you 1) “know” the names of the fundamental strokes and maneuvers, and 2) know their application and function as well as 3) the technique to perform the skills, and 4) have a smooth wet exit? Then you’re ready for a “beyond fundamentals” training program. If you’re not sure about your wet exit, and don’t know the names of the fundamental strokes and maneuvers, parts of a kayak, etc. the reasonable choice is to revisit the fundamentals, and not to jump ahead. We are not trying to hold you back; we are trying to make sure you have a safe, positive and rich learning experience that is appropriate for your skill level.

The difference between taking a class and having skills
There is a difference between a) taking a class, and b) being competent and experienced enough to safely and efficiently perform a skill or a series of skills that may be pre-requisites for “the course you’d like to take”. The goal is to make you a competent paddler by helping you learn efficient and safe skills, any pre-requisites we have listed in the course descriptions are aimed at helping you learn at a deeper level that is meaningful, not to slow you down or sell you additional training.

ISKSS 2009 supports the “Ocean Training Program”. All of the training available at the Alaska Kayak School and the ISKSS 2009 supports the training and assessment of the BCU 3 star sea kayak syllabus, see here for more information on the NEW Ocean Training Program, http://alaskakayakschool.com/news.htm#training

Pricing of the 2009 ISKSS Symposium
We have separated the fees for instruction and equipment rental. You can save by registering and paying early, and by paying with a check vs. credit card. If you cannot come up with acceptable equipment on your own, we will be happy to rent individual items on a case-by-case basis, subject to availability. The best price on the event is the Full meal deal for 5 days, including the gear. If you do not have acceptable equipment, you will not be allowed to participate without it – no exceptions. Please get in touch if you have questions about the required equipment so that you can prepare appropriately. This is going to be a really fun weekend, be a bummer if you had a dry suit that wasn’t dry.

Full gear rental, 5 days $150*
A la Carte - $35/day *

Kayak, paddle, skirt, booties, helmet, pump, pfd, dry-suit, helmet liner, boat compass, etc

* Equipment we provide includes: Nigel Dennis Sea Kayaking UK Sea Kayaks, Valley Sea Kayaks, Prijon Sea Kayaks, Werner and Lendal paddles, Kokatat and Palm dry suits, Pro tec helmets, NRS booties and Glacier Gloves, the same equipment the instructors use.

NOTE: If you provide all needed cold water personal protective gear and kayaking equipment, you can save $$. See the ppg and kayaking gear list below.

Even if you rent kayak and equipment from us, you still must provide you own …

Silicone earplugs or facsimile
- As cold water protection during capsize/rescue drills
Appropriate layers under the dry suit
Food and water each day
Dry bags to carry in the kayak with
- Extra warm clothing
- Food and water
- Thermos w/ hot drink
- Personal first aid kit
- Warm jacket and hat
- Simple handheld compass
- Waterproof notebook and pencil

Required kayaking gear and clothing

A. Sea Kayak with functional flotation in each end (air bags may work but only if fully inflated and firmly attached to the inside of the kayak), sea socks might work if student can do an easy wet exit from sock and kayak, plus B. deck lines, and C. toggles at the end for retaining the kayak in rough water. Note to self: Dry compartments are much better than float bags.
Functional Dry Suit, it must keep you dry.
USCG approved Personal Flotation device, properly fitted.
Helmet for protection during capsize drills and rescues.
Gloves, booties and helmet liner.
Bilge Pump.
Waist mounted dedicated sea kayaking towline.
Paddle and spare paddle.
Properly fitted skirt appropriate for open water paddling.
Boat mounted compass.
Dedicated waist mounted towline w/ quick release mechanisms.

**Symposium Discounts **

Instruction Fee Discounts

5 –Day Symposium
$525 w/ credit card, $500 w/ personal check
Daily rates, A la Carte
3% discount if pay w/ check
Register and pay by 31 December 2008
10% off instruction fees
Register and pay by 31 March 2009
5% off instruction fees
A la Carte, take more than one class,
Pay full price on first class and
Get 5% off 2nd, 3RD and 4th class.

Equipment Rental Discounts
10% discount if pay by 31 December 08
5% discount if pay by 31 March 2009

Full meal deal: Instruction and Equipment
10% discount if pay by 31 December 08
5% discount if pay by 31 March 2009

Ocean Training Program candidates receive substantial discounts on many Alaska Kayak School programs, contact us for more information about the OTP, or see here: http://alaskakayakschool.com/news.htm#training

2009 ISKSS Symposium Schedule

• 21 May, Thursday, 7-8 PM,
Symposium Participants Welcome Social, location TBA

• 22 May, Friday,
Fundamental Skills, 9 PM – 5 PM
Tuning Fundamentals, 9 PM – 5 PM
Alaska Kayak School Film Festival, time TBA

• 23 May Saturday,
Fundamental Skills, 9 PM – 5 PM
Skill Refinement w/ Rescues - Force 2, 9 PM – 5 PM
Skill Refinement w/ Rescues - Force 4, 9 PM – 5 PM
Skills and Rescue Demonstration – 12 to 1230 PM
Sean Morely Welcome Social, time TBA

• 24 May Sunday
Fundamental Skills, 9 PM – 5 PM
Rescues and Open Water – Force 2, 9 AM – 5 PM
Rescues and Moving Water – Force 4, 9 AM – 5 PM
Sean Morely Expedition Report, “Paddling in Circles”

• 25 May Monday
Rescues and Moving Water – Force 2, 9 AM – 6 PM
Rescues and Open water Force 4, 9 AM – 6 PM

• 26 May Tuesday, 9 AM – 5 PM “The Crossing”, Open Water Crossing of Kachemak Bay for Symposium participants with Sean Morley and all the Alaska Kayak School team of instructors

2009 ISKSS Course Descriptions

COURSES

Force 2
Introduction to Sea Kayaking: May 22, 23, 24
Skill Refinement with Rescues: May 23
Rescues and Open Water: May 24
Rescues and Moving Water: May 25
The Crossing: May 26

Force 4
Fundamentals Tuning: May 22
Skill Refinement w/ Rescues: May 23
Rescues and Moving Water: May 24
Rescues and Open Water: May 25
The Crossing: May 26

EVENTS

Alaska Kayak School Film Festival
Sean Morely’s Expedition Report, “Paddling in Circles”
Sea Kayaking Skills and Rescue Demonstration

Introduction to Sea Kayaking: Force 2 (Day 1)
Learn and practice fundamental skills and rescues for sea kayaking in this 1-day class. Learn about safety features of kayaks and equipment, cold-water injuries and prevention, fit to a kayak and use of a paddle, safe carrying and launching, the WET EXIT, effective forward paddling, stopping, back paddling, and turning. Learn a bit about balance and preventing a capsize, as well as how to move the kayak sideways, spin the kayak in place, do some ruddering and some simple assisted rescues. This is the class to take if you have not perfected the skill of capsizing effectively retaining your kayak and paddle, OR if you have not had instruction in sea kayaking skills before. These skills are the foundation the sport is built upon. Please read about wet exits in the FAQ. All equipment can be provided, ask about providing your own gear.
When: Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, 22, 23, or 24 May
@830 AM – 430 PM
Where: Homer Spit Marine Terminal
Pre-requisites: Willing to capsize, can follow verbal instructions and can swim.
Fees: $100/day for instruction, $30/day for the gear, see FAQ for gear provided
Registration: Alaska Kayak School, PO Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603; e-mail: info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online registration) (907) 235-2090

Fundamentals Tuning: Force 4 (Day 1)
Examine the details of the fundamental skills and break down your sea kayaking skills in component parts so as to explore the limits of body actions, blade awareness and sea kayak performance. This is a class for experienced paddlers, intended to coach the details of your basic skills: forward & back paddling, stopping, stern rudder, the sweep stroke, low brace turn, draw stroke, low and high recovery, balance and edging, and 2 rescues: t-rescue and yank rescue.
When: Friday 22 May
@830 AM – 430 PM
Where: Homer Spit Marine Terminal
Pre-requisites: previous sea kayaking instruction and a confident, competent and relaxed wet exit into cold water.
Fees: $100/day for instruction, $30/day for the gear, see FAQ for gear provided
Registration: Alaska Kayak School, PO Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603; e-mail: info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online registration) (907) 235-2090

Skill Refinement w/ Rescues: Force 2 (Day 2)
This is your second day of sea kayak instruction. You can refine your wet exit, and start to explore the technical details of the fundamental skills: forward, back, stop, etc. while adding a few important skills to your paddler’s toolbox: increased body and blade awareness, increased torso rotation, edging, balance, and a few more core maneuvers: sculling draw, sculling for support, Eskimo rescues, towing, and bow rudder. This is the level of skill training where many counter-intuitive details of your posture and performance come into play and start to become intuitive. You get introduced to self-rescues, practice yank and t-rescues with variations, and an introduction to towing.
When: Saturday 23 May
@830 AM – 430 PM
Where: Homer Spit Marine Terminal
Pre-requisites: Fundamental skills or Introduction to Sea Kayaking course, especially a confident and competent wet exit.
Fees: $100/day for instruction, $30/day for the gear, see FAQ for gear provided
Registration: Alaska Kayak School, PO Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603; e-mail: info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online registration) (907) 235-2090

Skill Refinement w/ Rescues: Force 4 (Day 2)
You’ve had a bit of sea kayaking skills training or just took the Fundamentals Tuning Course on Friday 22 May. This course explores the limits of all flat-water skills and maneuvers with an emphasis on fine-tuning and focus on the details. This is your chance to prefect the performance of al flat-water skills and rescues, including towing in protected water. Self and assisted rescues reviewed: paddle-float rescue, cowboy scramble, t- and yank rescues, scoop rescue, and more. Towing options explored and tested. Eskimo rescues made to work on a consistent basis. This course is not for the uninitiated to performance paddling.
When: Saturday 23 May
@830 AM – 430 PM
Where: Homer Spit Marine Terminal
Pre-requisites: Strong beginner or intermediate skills, or Fundamentals Tuning. If you know the names of the core strokes and how to use them, this is the class for you.
Fees: $100/day for instruction, $30/day for the gear, see FAQ for gear provided
Registration: Alaska Kayak School, PO Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603; e-mail: info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online registration) (907) 235-2090

Rescues and Open Water: Force 2 (Day 3)
We start this course with a short trip planning primer, and then learn to rig your sea kayak for open water paddling. In this course you will learn and practice increased group awareness, and develop the skills to paddle in wind and waves (to prevent weather or lee cocking). Practice rescues in open water or in low wind conditions and small waves. Become proficient at assisted rescues, and practice easy self-rescues. Towing is a big part of your open water rescue skills, so expect a bit of towing. Practice and refine Eskimo rescues for use in open water. This course covers lots of details on rescues and towing and is a chance to consolidate your boat control skills and learn about paddling in wind without skeg or rudder.
When: Sunday 24 May
@830 AM – 430 PM
Where: Homer Spit Marine Terminal
Pre-requisites: This is your second or third day of sea kayaking skills instruction, or you have just taken the progression: Introductory Skills, Skills Refinement Force 2.
Fees: $100/day for instruction, $30/day for the gear, see FAQ for gear provided
Registration: Alaska Kayak School, PO Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603; e-mail: info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online registration) (907) 235-2090

Rescues and Moving Water: Force 4 (Day 3)
Learn to maneuver a sea kayak in fast tidal streams with no over falls or tide races, i.e., the details paddling in moving water, AND practice rescues in fast moving water. This is a dynamic course where paddling fast water and dynamic rescues are the focus of the day. Various towing scenarios and rescue strategies are explored to give you a wide range of options for enjoying tidal stream paddling safely. We will review sources of tide and current info and learn how to use tide and current tables to make tide predictions.
When: Sunday 24 May
@830 AM – 430 PM
Where: Mako’s Water Taxi, Homer Spit
Pre-requisites: You’re an experienced paddle with strong beginner or intermediate skills, or Skill Refinement w/ Rescues Force 4.
***Fees: $175/day for instruction, $30/day for the gear, se FAQ for gear provided
Registration: Alaska Kayak School, PO Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603; e-mail: info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online registration) (907) 235-2090

Rescues and Moving Water: Force 2 (Day 4)
Learn to maneuver a sea kayak in fast tidal streams with no over falls or tide races, i.e., the basics of paddling in moving water, AND practice rescues in moving water. This is an introduction to paddling sea kayaks in moving water: ferries, peel out, eddy turns, low brace turns, etc., and a chance to use teamwork to practice rescues in a dynamic environment with eddy lines and small whirlpools. Learn what causes tides and currents and make tidal predictions using tidal constants.
When: Monday 25 May
@1000 AM – 6 PM
Where: Mako’s Water Taxi, Homer Spit
Pre-requisites: Beginner skills, this is your 4th day of sea kayaking skills training, and is perfect for less experienced kayakers developing their skills for the first time, as a minimum you have taken our Introduction to Sea Kayaking recently, and MUST have a confident & well practiced wet exit.
***Fees: $175/day for instruction, $30/day for the gear, se FAQ for gear provided
Registration: Alaska Kayak School, PO Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603; e-mail: info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online registration) (907) 235-2090

Rescues and Open Water – Force 4 (Day 4)
We’ll start with a primer on sea kayak navigation and trip planning. We go on to help you practice your flat-water skills, rescues, and towing in open water, and focus on controlling your course in moderate winds, up to Force 4 (11-14 knots) and sea state 3 (waves to 1 meter in open water), plus if we’re lucky, a chance to learn how to launch and land through surf up to 1 meter.
When: Monday 25 May
@830 AM – 430 PM
Where: Homer Spit Marine Terminal, Homer Spit
Pre-requisites: Moving and Water and Rescues Force 4.
Fees: $100/day for instruction, $30/day for the gear, see FAQ for gear provided
Registration: Alaska Kayak School, PO Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603; e-mail: info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online registration) (907) 235-2090

The Crossing – Force 2 & 4 (Day 5)
We’ll start with a trip planning session, and a navigation review. We’ll make a plan to cross Kachemak Bay as a group and plan to return to the Spit by paddling. If you only want to paddle 1-way you’ll need to pay for a 1-way water taxi return, this is an extra fee, please ask. This is a 4-5 mile crossing and it take 45-minutes to an hour depending on where we cross.
When: Tuesday 26 May
@830 AM – 430 PM
Where: meeting place to be announced
Pre-requisites: Rescues and Open Water force 2 or 4, or permission. No novices or beginners.
Fees: $100/day for instruction, $30/day for the gear, see FAQ for gear provided
Registration: Alaska Kayak School, PO Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603; e-mail: info@alaskakayakschool.com, (online registration) (907) 235-2090

Alaska Kayak School Film Festival – Ten years of paddling and teaching in South Coastal Alaska and 7 years producing & publishing video we will share with you: technique, expedition reports, and recent productions never seen before. All are Alaska Kayak School films, and all are fun and uplifting. Join us for a 10-year retrospective of the kayak school’s history in the Region; great music !!!
Where: Alice's Champaign Palace
When: Friday 22 May
Time: 7:30 - 9
Cost: $3 for symposium participants, $5 for members of the public

Sean Morely’s Expedition Report, “Paddling in Circles” Come hear the incomparable Sean Morely talk about his extensive expedition sea kayaking history. This is not a show you will want to miss.
Where: Islands and Ocean Visitor Center
When: Sunday 24 May
Time: 7:30
Cost: $5

Sea Kayaking Skills and Rescue Demonstration
Observe coaches and instructors of the Alaska Kayak Schools demonstrate a series of flat water skills and rescues for your enjoyment and learning. This is a big draw on the crowd of spectators, and we’ll have an announcer giving you a blow by blow so you can follow the moves and their significance. Come see why we love and enjoy sea kayaking; there’s way more to the sport than paddling forward !
When: Saturday 23 May
Time: 12-1230 PM
Where: Homer Spit Marine Terminal
Fees: FREE

2009 ISKSS Registration Form <Register Here>
You can send in this online form to our secure server or call to register and or arrange payment. Please study all available discounts to get the best bang for your buck. If you want to improve your kayaking skills, and you’re going to be on the Keknai Peninsula Memorial Day weekend this is not an event you’ll want to miss.

What people said @ ISKSS 2008, and other Alaska Kayak School Programs - Coming soon

Symposium participants can demo kayaks. As a symposium participant you’ll have a chance to try models that fit you in an instructional setting. Thus, you get to try all manner of maneuvers and rescues giving you a direct evaluation of how a given model works for you. This is an opportunity to develop the skills needed to evaluate if a sea kayak is right for you or not. Hope you can make it; we have some very nice kayaks to try: Nigel Dennis - Sea Kayaking UK, Valley Sea Kayaks, Prijon.

BCU 3 Star Sea Kayak Assessment, May 20th, Wednesday, Homer. If you are interested in the Ocean Training Program and are ready for the BCU 3 Star Sea Kayak Assessment, we will offer the assessment on Wednesday 20 May 2009, before the Symposium. OTP candidates receive much-reduced rates on most Alaska Kayak School training programs. Please contact us for more information re: OTP and the training and assessment system.
If you are hoping to use the ISKSS 2009 Symposium to prepare for the BCU 3 Star Sea Kayak Assessment and the Ocean Training Program, we suggest you take part of the summer to practice and consolidate your knowledge and experience before taking the assessment so close to your training. We will try to schedule a minimum of 1 3 Star Assessment a month. Sea conditions in September and October are consistently conducive to productive sea conditions for the test. Summer assessments are possible, just need to have the conditions.

Contact: Tom
Alaska Kayak School
PO Box 3547, Homer, Alaska 99603
alaskakayakschool@gmail.com
(907) 235-2090, (907) 299-0061

Alaska Kayak School’s
ISKSS 2009 4th Immersion Sea Kayaking Skills Symposium
May 21-26th, 2009 Homer, Alaska

Introduction to ISKSS 2009

Alaska Kayak School’s ISKSS 2009 4th Immersion Sea Kayaking Skills Symposium May 21-26th, 2009 Homer, Alaska

Introduction to ISKSS 2009

Alaska Kayak School’s
ISKSS 2009 4th Immersion Sea Kayaking Skills Symposium
May 21-26th, 2009 Homer, Alaska