Sea Kayak Skills Symposium

The Alaska Kayak School's "Burn"

On Saturday Meghan and I participated in the first of a four day intensive kayak class offered by the Homer-based Alaska Kayak School. The financial constraints of an upcoming relocation prohibited us from attending all four days of classes. Unfortunately, the weather turned wet the day before the class, soaking Kodiak in rain, while fog and low clouds clung to the hills and mountains. Fortunately, the Alaska Kayak School provides each student with a full-body dry suit that keeps body and limb dry and warm in very cold North Pacific seas. Our instructor Tom, however, claimed that the water surrounding Kodiak was refreshing, almost warm compared to the glacier-fed water around Homer. During the class we learned several rescues and maneuvers including the sweep stroke, draw stroke and low brace turn to increase our comfort and safety while on the water. Special thanks to Island Trails Network; a local nonprofit instrumental in bringing the Symposium to Kodiak.

Prepared to paddle