Goldwater Expeditions in Sioux Lookout will be offering ORCKA (Ontario Recreational Paddling and Kayaking Association) Kayak lessons on July 22, 2007.
9:00 am – 1:00 pm Flatwater Level 1
1:30 pm – 5:30 pm Flatwater Level A
Registration is required, so please contact Sheri at (807) 737-4598 to confirm. Courses include rental of kayak and paddling gear if needed. Visit www.GoldwaterExpeditions.com for more info.
What Is The National Kayaking Program?
The National Kayaking Program consists of a number of skill levels, beginning with kayaking fundamentals (Flatwater Level) and progressing to the highest kayaking skills level (Level II River Kayaking or Level IV Sea Kayaking) and Instructor status.A novice kayaker would begin kayaking instruction at the Flatwater Level, concentrating on kayak fundamentals. When the Flatwater Level skills have been mastered, the kayaker would choose to follow one or both of the two disciplines of skill—River Kayaking and Sea Kayaking. There are two skill levels in River Kayaking and four skill levels in Sea Kayaking. Level I introduces the skills of that particular kayaking discipline. Level II represents the highest kayaking skills level in the River Kayaking Program. Level IV, the highest in the Sea Kayaking Program. Instructor Levels are inserted after each of the skill levels in each discipline. The instructor courses emphasise teaching, leadership and course administration, in addition to all of the safety, skills and theory of the preceding levels. The instructor certifications are for those who wish to pursue the teaching of kayaking skills; they are not a requirement for progression through river kayaking or sea kayaking for those who wish is to concentrate on skills acquisition and improvement.
A kayaker may progress through the National Kayaking Program from the Flatwater Level to Instructor II (Instructor IV in Sea Kayaking) or may enter into the Program at a level appropriate to his/her skills and experience and progress from there.
For more info, visit: www.orca.on.ca
If you’re interested in learning to roll or just want to improve your technique, the Rolling Clinic in the Twin Cities is the place for you. The clinics are free and held at various lakes in the summer and indoor pools in the winter. Alex Pak is the main instructor but the members of the clinic collectively help one another improve their rolling skills.
The Rolling Clinic website has several video clips demonstrating various rolls. There are videos for everything from the standard Greenland roll to hand rolls to behind the head rolls.
If you’re going to be in the Twin Cities, make sure to sign up on their website for a rolling sessions.
Paddling in Lake Superior? Before you head out, be sure to check the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory website for near real-time info on water levels, temperatures and currents. The Great Lakes Coastal Forecasting System displays surface temperatures, surface currents, temperature transects, temperature profiles & water levels for all 5 of the Great Lakes. You can also check ice cover, air temperature, wind and wave info. The information is provided as a nowcast (updated four times a day) as well as forecast (posted twice a day).
Here are the direct links for the Lake Superior info:
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