Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium logo

July 17 - 21, 2024

"This place will change your life"

 

 

 

what to bring to the great lakes sea kayak symposium image
  What to bring to the Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium

 

Must Haves:
  • Kayak – Appropriate for the environment    
  • Paddle 
  • Spray skirt 
  • PFD/Life jacket 
  • Whistle 
  • Adaptability 
  • Ability to pack a lunch
  • Laminated emergency card – with information you want emergency services to have (ie. insurance, blood type, emergency contact, etc.)
  • Pictured Rocks Parking Pass (Any vehicle that will be in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore will need to purchase a park pass)
  • Smile and open attitude to learning
Strongly Suggested:
  • Good water shoes or wetsuit booties. Required if renting a drysuit.
  • Gloves or pogies 
  • Helmet – required for the surfing, playing around rocks or in caves but – it’s a good idea!
  • Drysuit/wetsuit
  • Nose plugs
  • Water bottle
  • Drybags for lunches, spare clothing
  • Sunscreen
  • Tow Belt – not strictly mandatory but you want one, or more specifically, your paddling friends really want you to have one.
  • Synthetic layers underneath drysuit can be tailored by thickness for the right amount of warmth.  
  • Hat or helmet visor
  • Sunglasses with retaining strap
  • Bug Spray 
  • White light – required if you paddle at night (sunset paddle)

*Kokatat and NRS are providing  a limited number of demo drysuits to the event.  These are available on a first come first served basis and sizes are not guaranteed.  If you want to rent a drysuit for the event, we recommended contacting Kayak Academy in California