Skills Clinics & Development Coaching

Skills Clinics & Development Coaching

Skills Clinics

If you enjoy paddling, learning new skills, pushing your limits, working on your technical proficiency and getting feedback. This program will be great for you. Our skills clinics are great for refreshing your skills, getting the winter dust off and making sure you’re ready for the upcoming paddling season.

  • Full Day
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    $100 (plus GST & Booking fee)

  • Full Day
    BOOK NOW
    $100 (plus GST & Booking fee)

  • email: amber@bluedogkayaking.com to inquire further. Pricing dependant on private groups needs. Group option payment available or individual option

  • This is a two day program ran from our Mill Bay Location. This program will consist of day one which will have a heavy focus on the fundamental stroke technique in the morning with Video Feedback, followed by turning stroked.

    Day two will consist of stroken blending and stroke combinations while receiving feedback along the way.

    Program will have 6 students maximum.

    Cost: $250 +tax.
    Time: 10am- 3pm
    Location: Mill Bay Marina

    Recommendations: Participants have a L1 skills and actively paddle/ practice strokes.

Current Clinics

This is a uniquely designed program to provide the opportunity to gain or build on your abilities in current and more dynamic conditions. Introducing paddlers eddy lines, S-turns, rescues and more in these environments helps build confidence and gain a greater understanding and ability in these conditions. The program takes part at Discovery Island Lodge using Surge Narrows and the surrounding current to build out the skills. Not to mention video feedback, great food, amazing paddlers and a great ratio of coach to participant. This weekend program won’t disappoint.

  • In many places along the East Coast of Vancouver Island massive bodies of water are forced between narrow gaps of land and around islands, these narrow passes are famous for their currents. For many kayakers these places can be intimidating and looked on with fear, for others they are a playground where skills can be gained and refined.

    Our intro current clinic is run over 3 days during which we will use both ebb and flood currents to practice and apply a full range of strokes for effective paddling in moving water. Skills include; ferry glides, S- turns, J- turns, entering and exiting current, rolling in current and rescue scenarios in dynamic water.

    There will also be a theory presentation on tides and currents during which, participants will learn how to read and interrupt current tables in relation to safe paddling.

    This clinic presents the intermediate paddler with an excellent opportunity to accelerate the learning process in a safe and controlled environment

    Accomodation included for April 8th, 9th & 10th.

    Breakfast & Dinner provided, lunches and beverages not included.

    $980 (plus GST & Service fee)
    Optional add on: April 7th accommodation (apply at checkout).

    Booking Terms

  • In many places along the East Coast of Vancouver Island massive bodies of water are forced between narrow gaps of land and around islands, these narrow passes are famous for their currents. For many kayakers these places can be intimidating and looked on with fear, for others they are a playground where skills can be gained and refined.

    Our current clinics are run over 2 or 3 days during which we will use both ebb and flood currents to practice and apply a full range of strokes for effective paddling in moving water. Skills include; ferry glides, S- turns, J- turns, entering and exiting current, rolling in current and rescue scenarios in dynamic water.

    There will also be a theory presentation on tides and currents during which, participants will learn how to read and interrupt current tables in relation to safe paddling.

    This clinic presents the intermediate paddler with an excellent opportunity to accelerate the learning process in a safe and controlled environment

    On water days; March 14, 15th & 16th.
    $980 (plus GST & Service fee)

    Booking Terms

Rolling Clinics

If you enjoy rolling, or the idea of rolling we offer private rolling sessions with up to 2 people for two hours. This will help you build out the fundamentals to get you to rolling your kayak. If you already know how to kayak but are looking to refine the roll or work on another, we can also do this. Our rolling clinics are 1:1 or a private of two people 2:1 ratio. We can do a private group if you would like to know how support one another in your rolling ventures after the clinic.

  • $100 (plus GST & Service fee)

  • $80 per person (plus GST and booking fee)

  • Email amber@bluedogkayaking.com for pricing breakdown.

Broken Islands Rough Water Clinic

If you enjoy paddling, learning new skills, pushing your limits, working on your technical proficiency getting feedback and advancing your rescues and proficiency in rough water. This program will be great for you. This is designed for paddlers who have a L2 skills or higher, this program is based from the broken islands lodge. Includes all food, water taxi transfers and video feedback.

Rough water coach: Amber Champion

  • October 14-17th 2024.
    Includes all food & Water Taxi Transfers

    Day One:
    Strokes with Video Analysis & Stroke Blending

    Day Two:
    Coastal Exploration, with rock gardening & Advanced Rescues

    Day Three:
    Judgement & Incident Management in Dynamic Environments

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“Dave and Amber ran a very well organized and challenging course for our Level 2 Sea Kayak Instructor certification. For higher level courses the paddling and teaching experience of your instructors really matters and in this regard we could not have asked for better instructors. I'd highly recommend other prospective instructor candidates consider Blue Dog Kayaking for a hands-on course using proven teaching methodologies."

-Dan Wong, Owner of Jackpine Paddle