At Turnagain Kayak, we are committed to enhancing your Alaskan adventure.  We offer classes fit for everyone from absolute beginner to the most experienced “water warrior”.  All of our classes are taught by paddle sport professionals that are certified through the American Canoe Association (ACA) in White water, Coastal kayak and Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) (and some through the British Canoe Union too). You can expect premier instruction that will not only utilize today’s best practices but also cater to your specific needs and goals.  Please contact us for more info.

Sea Kayaking

Kayaker Cove Kayak Camp

Come join us for five nights at the Kayaker Cove Hostel in Resurrection Bay. This course is student focused with the ability to cater to different skill sets and student objectives. We will journey around Resurrection Bay to work on skills ranging from advanced boat control to leadership and advanced rescues. There will be exploring, visiting the marine life and maybe even hiking.

Pre-requisites: 

This is not an optimal venue for novices. Due to the dynamic area, the potential for interesting weather exists. Participants need to have intermediate (ACA level 3, BCU 3*) skills at a minimum.

 

Sea Kayak FUNdamentals

ACA Level 2

This class is for everyone.  The fundamentals of efficient paddling, while keeping your body strong and safe, will be introduced.  We will work on safely getting into and out of a closed cockpit sea kayak, above and under water. We will also learn self rescues, assisted rescues and bracing.   The core skills introduced and refined in this course are the building blocks for long- term development.

Intermediate Skills

ACA Level 3

We will build on the skills learned in Sea Kayak Fundamentals; effective edging will be refined and applied to all strokes and maneuvers. Towing and navigation will be introduced. In this course we also hope to introduce some variable conditions: wind up to 10-15 knots, waves 1-2′ and current up to 2 knots are all possible.

Pre-requisites:

ACA level 2, BCU 2* or equivalent

 

Advanced Skills

ACA Level 4

It is time to have fun! We will actively search for areas with surf, current and wind and learn to paddle safely in them. This course will utilize the skills from previous classes and apply them in moderate conditions. There will be a focus on leadership, navigation and rescues in moderate conditions.

Pre-requisites:

ACA level 3, BCU 3* or equivalent

Packrafting

Packrafting Safety Course

Are you ready to explore an Alaska that most people will never see? This is the place to start. We will spend two full (and fun) days introducing, practicing and refining new skills. These skills will build the foundation for everything you learn later.

Here a few of the things we cover:

  • Appropriate equipment and gear
  • river types, and classes
  • how to locate information about local rivers
  • how to choose an appropriate river
  • introduction to hydrology
  • safety and rescue techniques
  • strokes and maneuvers

Venue: Class 1-2
Who is it for? Everyone

What you need to bring: Drysuit, PFD, paddle, helmet, pack raft. No gear?  No problem – Equipment may be available at an additional cost.  Please contact us to check availability.

Intermediate Packrafting, Style Over Survival:

This twp day class works on blending strokes and building blade dexterity. Paddlers will work on river reading and river running strategy. This is a great course for people who have taken the packraft river safety class, or for experienced paddlers who are looking to take their river running to the next level.

Here are a few of the things we cover:

  • Rescues in conditions and setting safety
  • More advanced river reading and hydrology
  • Separating the body, boat and blade
  • Advanced edging


Venue: class 2-3
Who is it for? Those who have taken an intro class or have the equivalent skills.

Advanced Packrafting Course

This class is designed to teach advanced river running and safety strategies in class III to IV whitewater. This course gets paddlers catching eddies and maneuvering on the river with slalom boater precision as well as covering how to set safety for more advanced whitewater.

Venue: Class 3-4
Who is it for? Paddlers who are comfortable on class 3

Whitewater Kayaking

Introduction to Whitewater Kayaking

Are you ready to get your feet wet in a fun and exciting activity! This is the place to start. Our intro class (spend) enjoy… two fun days introducing, practicing and refining new skills. These skills will build the foundation for everything you learn later. (Prerequisite-A rolling or wet exit class is required before taking this course.)

Here a few of the things we cover:

  • Appropriate equipment and gear
  • river types, and classes
  • how to locate information about local rivers
  • how to choose an appropriate river
  • introduction to hydrology
  • safety and rescue techniques
  • strokes and maneuvers

Venue: Class 1-2
Who is it for? Everyone

What you need to bring: Drysuit, PFD, paddle, helmet, whitewater kayak. No gear?  No problem – Equipment may be available at an additional cost.  Please contact us to check availability.

Intermediate Whitewater Kayaking Class

This one day class  continues to build on the skills that you learned from the intro class. This course works on reading water and using the river to your advantage.

Here are a few of the things we cover:

  • Rolling
  • More advanced river reading and hydrology
  • Separating the body, boat and blade
  • Advanced edging

Venue: class 2-3
Who is it for? Those who have taken an intro class or have the equivalent skills.

What you need to bring: Drysuit, PFD, paddle, helmet, pack raft, inflatable river kayak or river specific enclosed cockpit kayak (with floatation). Equipment may be available at an additional cost.

Advanced Whitewater Kayaking

This class is a great way to step up your game with the guidance of a certified advance whitewater instructor. This course teaches students how to paddle with precision as well as how to set safety in dynamic river environments. With the aid of video, we will analyze your movements and strokes so you can slow it down and fine tune your motions.

Venue: Class 3-4
Who is it for? Paddlers who are comfortable on Class 3

Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP)

Stand up paddle boards are one of the fastest growing areas of paddle sports, and for good reason. They are fun, just about anyone can do it and they are great exercise. Learn to explore the Alaska waters safely from a different perspective.

Intro to Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP)

Come spend a few hours with Turnagain Kayak’s ACA certified SUP instructors. We will go over equipment, strokes and skills, stances, safety, choosing an appropriate venue and launching and landing.

Venue: Hope, Alaska, Six Mile
Who is it for? Everyone

What you need to bring: Not much…We’ll provide the board, paddle, leash and pfd. You come dressed for the water with food and water.

 

River SUP

This is the place to start. Our intro class (spend) enjoy… two fun days introducing, practicing and refining new skills. These skills will build the foundation for everything you learn later.

Here a few of the things we cover:

  • Appropriate equipment and gear
  • river types, and classes
  • how to locate information about local rivers
  • how to choose an appropriate river
  • introduction to hydrology
  • safety and rescue techniques
  • strokes and maneuvers

Venue: We start on a lake and go to a class I to II section of river.
Who is it for? Everyone

What you need to bring: Drysuit, PFD, paddle, helmet, Stand Up Paddleboard, leash. No gear?  No problem – Equipment may be available at an additional cost.  Please contact us to check availability.

ACA Swift Water Rescue

From search and rescue to recreational paddling, this course can be customized to focus on a variety of needs depending on students’ professional and personal boating goals. Whether you spend most of your time in a packraft, kayak, raft or stand up paddleboard this course introduces methods that can help keep you and other river users safe. If you are going to be spending time near moving current, then we highly recommend taking this course as a way to help you find ways to mitigate risk (thereby reducing rescue scenarios) as well as to deal with swift water rescue situations. 

At the end of the course you will be given a certificate from the American Canoe Association verifying your participation in the class to fulfill professional requirements.

Here a few of the things we cover:

  • Appropriate equipment and gear
  • River types, and classes
  • Swimming in current
  • Hydrology
  • Safety and rescue techniques
  • Throw rope rescues
  • Baited rescue
  • Knots
  • Mechanical advantage

Venue: Hope, Alaska, Six Mile
Who is it for? Everyone

ACA Instructor Training Courses

ACA Level 1-4 Whitewater Kayaking Instructor Certification

Venue: Hope, Alaska
Who is it for? People who are enthusiastic about sharing their passion of whitewater with others, or people who are looking to improve their personal paddling skills. Ideally comfortable on Class III whitewater.

ACA Level 2-3 Sea Kayaking

Venue: Hope, Alaska and other areas with appropriate conditions
Who is it for? People who are enthusiastic about sharing their passion of sea kayaking with others, or people who are looking to improve their personal paddling skills.

Register Today!  Call 907-715-9365

 

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