kayak schools

My son bought a kayak last summer. He is already in over his head. For a high school graduation gift I was thinking about springing for a kayak school. I saw Otter Bar in CA. Looked like it might fit the bill. Don't think he really needs all the amenities. He would probably be happier if he could sleep in his tent by the river. Was wondering if someone could recomend a school. No frills just someplace he can learn the basics from experienced quality paddlers.
Thinking a week long course April or May.

[Shameless plug]

http://www.riversports.com/site/adults_schedule.html

Our kayak school is pretty laid back yet very professional, instructors are all taught and certified by Kent Ford, the author of tons of kayak instructional videos, and your son could even camp out on the back lawn (which is right by the river).

We're also doing 20% off if you sign up before May 1st.

Rocky Mountain Outdoor Center, on the Arkansas river in CO. Great people, great instruction, great river!!!

http://www.rmoc.com/

Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City NC practically invented paddling schools. However, to learn the basics thru intermediate, the two above schools would be excellent. Only advantage really for NOC would be a LOT warmer water to learn in. But if he's going to be boating in AK or the north, might as well learn in the cold stuff so it doesn't freak ya out first time that ice cream headache hits...;)

Check out the alaska kayak academy, or kayak center I forget what it's called now. http://www.kayakcenterak.com/ Im not sure it is exactly what your looking for but during the summer they have week long classes/camps that are pretty good.

Worldclassacadamy, Takio Mt

tARKIO, some real heavyies teach and well as learnt there. Near Meca for boating. Zoo town has a school as well.

thank's for the info. The worldclass academy had links to a bunch of schools on their site. I guess we need to find out who offers what that fits his work schedule. Thank's again.

endless river adventures, located just up the road from NOC, is the country's premier paddling school.

the company's founder/owner, ken kastorff, is the man credited with the c to c roll, and was responsible for giving NOC the name it has today. he was NOC's paddling school director until the late 80's. his wife and co-owner, Juliet, has been teaching whitewater kayaking for almost 20 years.

ERA has a curriculum proven to develop the basic skills needed to become a solid whitewater kayaker, and to progress and excel once you are out paddling on your own. ERA only provides private instruction, but the one on one time your son would have with an instructor from ERA would be second to none, and they will almost guarantee his success and enjoyment, especially after a week of instruction.

Ken and Juliet have made it a point to keep the company small, so you enjoy a "home" like feel when you arrive at Endless, and that feeling only grows as you spend more time with ERA. excellence is the standard, and ERA's instructors are never "going thru the motions" as some are at other paddling schools.

check out www.endlessriveradventures.com

Kayak The Nile. Jinja, Uganda.

RMOC on the Arkansas and Otter Bar on the Cal Salmon. Could not go wrong with either one.

I've heard lots of great things about current adventures. I have known some of their guides over the years, and they're all top-notch.

http://currentadventures.com

http://www.cascaderaft.com/kayak.html

These guys are money. If Tom and Chad are both involved you can't go wrong.

When I was working with them, they brought up a guy through the kayak school who started teaching a little later for them. A guy named Brad Ludden.
:fm:

They do have these little hut looking things and more camping type options - or used to anyway.

I have heard good things about some of the others too.

If your kid wants to live out in the woods while paddling, he can visit us at Chewonki in Maine. Tent's (on platforms), cookgroups, dropping scat into plastic bags, and then hiking up as much of the river as we want to paddle that day. And usually some rain. Two different sessions of three week trips (usually). We have a more advanced trip that is 5 weeks where they just take a minibus and explore the NorthEast, too.

What boat did he get?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fenris

.... scat into plastic bags.....

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This is not a legal way to handle waste in Idaho. They let you do that there?

Supposed to use the PETT bags or use a groover type system or a shallow hole at least 100 feet from any running water or....

Can't remember all the details, but since the landfill changes about 10 years ago it all changed around here.

Curious.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by carvedog

This is not a legal way to handle waste in Idaho. They let you do that there?

Supposed to use the PETT bags or use a groover type system or a shallow hole at least 100 feet from any running water or....

Can't remember all the details, but since the landfill changes about 10 years ago it all changed around here.

Curious.

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Well usually it's into a Wag Bag, but sometimes we'll dig a hole when we aren't on an island. Around the ocean we used to do shit-puts. Find a nice flat rock below the high tide line, business onto it, place another flat rock on top producing a nice shit sandwich that the water will really slowly erode away, rather than just having a turd floating around your island.

Edit:If we didn't have Wag Bags, I probably would have had this problem last summer:
http://www.bubblestreet.ca/archive/w...tchmay2306.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SelahJadenCaldwell

The best kayak and whitewater skills school on the Lehigh River in Pennsylvania.

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You smell like a spammer.
Say one thing to prove that you are nothing but a spammer.

Do you use a j stroke to complete a C to C roll or is it used just in a back deck roll?

I vote for NOC or Endless Rivers, but I used teach and guide down there so not entirely unbiased.
Both top notch instruction on warm water with exceedingly professional instructors. Fabulous learning environment.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by blade101

I am a new member here. But pls visit our homepage URL through my Signature and URL Link....

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why don't you shove an attorney up your ass you fucking spam piece of shit.

bye bye.

I am gonna have to go with carvedog on this one.....sure, there are good instructors at the other places mentioned but, tom long and his sons at cascade are the shit. period. My son took his first lesson from them at age 6 and went back every year until he was about 16....often staying several weeks with them in the summer. I think it is a little natural for parents to worry a bit when their young kids are away from home & learning about whitewater without them..but, Tom and his crew run such a solid program I never gave it a second thought. ever. After getting to know the Longs, it wasn't even a consideration to try another school/program so I cant help you with an A/B comparison. Cost = reasonable. Instruction w/ emphasis on safety & respect = two thumbs up. One guys opinion only take it for what it's worth.