Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium logo

 July 12-16, 2023

"This place will change your life"

 

 

 

FRIDAY/SATURDAY/SUNDAY AM

HALF-DAY SESSIONS

9-12 AND 2-5 ON THE BEACH

NOTE: THESE OPTIONS ARE OFFERED BASED ON DEMAND AND WILL NOT ALL BE AVAILABLE EACH DAY. PLEASE CHECK THE SIGN UP TABLE.

30 SECOND KAYAK RESCUE

  • It is NOT about going fast. But, if you get the core components dialed with a focus on smooth and clean…you will be completing your assisted rescues in under a minute.

BOAT CONTROL

  • Boat control is the foundation for every kayak skill you will ever learn. Developing the relationship between you your paddle and your boat will enable you to instinctively put your boat where it needs to be. This session will also explore the most effective strokes for the challenge at hand.

FORWARD STROKE ANALYSIS

  • Let a trained eye and the TRUTH of video take you to another level of power and efficiency. This session will provide individual video feedback and the opportunity to put it to work.

OPEN WATER BOAT CONTROL

  • Translate your skills and comfort on flat water into enjoying the wind and waves. This session will focus on strategies for dealing with conditions to include: Application of Draw strokes, Bracing and rudders in adverse conditions – Edging vs. Leaning and when to do either.

RESCUES AND TOWING

  • Rescues are the last line of defense between happy paddling and sad hypothermia. This session will teach you the various forms of self and assisted rescues including the basics of towing. You will get wet as you see these fantastic safety techniques from both sides of the water.

SURFING

  • Yep, if there is surf we will all be out there playing and learning. The beauty of the harbor is that we will be able to tailor the challenge level to all expectations. So whether the waves are what you seek or you just want to be able to land in small surf without capsizing your loaded tripping boat, we can make the magic happen.

ROLLING FOR REALS

  • There is no better self rescue than a roll. Period. Three seconds and a dry boat, that is good thing. BUT, there is nothing worse than a roll that fails when it needs to work. This session is designed to trouble shoot the kinks and vulnerabilities in your flat water roll and put you on the path to bombproof combat rolls. And yes, we all swim sometimes…some more than others.

INCIDENT MANAGEMENT

  • So sometimes things don’t play out the way we expected. How we respond in these situations is the difference between a great campfire story and I do not ever want to paddle again. We will approach this from a global perspective with some specific scenarios and challenges thrown into the mix.

SUP

  • If you want to become a better kayaker, learn how to paddle a SUP! No better way to experience the crystal clear water of Grand Marais Harbor than by standing up. We have plenty of boards available.

LET’S ROLL

  • Get started on a path to success. Learn the secrets of developing a roll that will let you skip the ROLLING FOR REALS class. It is all about blade awareness and free hips. Come see what all the rage is about, you will at least get better at not tipping over.

PERSONAL COACHING CONSULTATION (SUNDAY ONLY)

  • One on one skills consolidation. Practice does not make perfect, it makes permanent! So let’s make sure we are practicing the most effective things. Perfect practice makes perfect.