Crosscurrents Kayak

Last' weekend's Gabriola Island Learning Expedition -- the first Learning Expedition we've run here at Crosscurrents Kayak -- was both a great challenge and a resounding success! Three paddlers joined coach Caroline to circumnavigate Gabriola Island in the Southern Gulf Islands on a 22-nautical-mile route that includes two current stations and 6 nautical miles of exposed outer shoreline with a long section of cliffs. We tackled the trip well prepared, spending two pre-trip planning meetings gathering and assessing tide, current and weather data, and crafting a trip plan intended to minimize risk and make the best use of the current and weather conditions we were given. The weather didn't exactly cooperate, giving us an unexpected headwind on Day 1 and some strong southeast winds ahead of the forecast on Day 2, but we were able to work with what we got, adjust as needed, and complete the loop in both good time and good spirits. I am incredibly proud of this team of paddlers and their accomplishment: they contributed to the route planning and decision making, led sections of the trip, met our launch timelines flawlessly despite some unique challenges, asked all sorts of relevant questions to facilitate learning, paddled consistently and keenly every day, and supported each other throughout. The memories from this trip will be sweet and long-lasting! 👏😎

Interested in a future Learning Expedition with us? Our Maurelle Island Circumnavigation is coming up in late June. It's a great opportunity for intermediate-level paddlers to practice and refine trip planning, navigation and on-water leadership skills in a peer-based setting and in areas involving tidal current.
https://crosscurrentskayak.ca/learning-expeditions/maurelle-circumnav/

We had a fun private lesson with a skilled and keen returning student from the Northwest Territories last week. We tackled some current + wind dynamics at Dodd Narrows, refined intermediate strokes including high brace recovery, high brace turn and bow rudder, and ran through solo re-entries to tune-up for the tripping season. Bravo, Jenny, for rocking it out there! 👍😎🌊

We had a wonderful group for our Paddle Canada Basic Kayak Skills course last Saturday in Nanaimo. Smiles all around as we worked on paddle strokes, controlled wet exits, assisted re-entries and more. By the end of the day, these new paddlers were zipping around the lake, looping the floating dock and rafting up like they'd been doing it for years. Bravo!!
Our next Basic Kayak Skills course runs June 14 in Nanaimo! Kayak/gear rentals available.
https://crosscurrentskayak.ca/paddle-canada/pc-basic/

That's a wrap on our first Paddle Canada Level 2 Skills course of the season! We capped off the course with an overnight camping trip in the Gulf Islands, during which our students practiced peer leadership and scenario management, then cooperated to implement a route plan they jointly created. The group gelled very well on this trip and were working together like a well-oiled machine. Congratulations to four newly minted Paddle Canada Level 2 paddlers: Jenny, Jill, Greg and Steve. Bravo! 👏👍😎