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KAYAK INSTRUCTIONAL PROGAMS :: SKILLSummit SYMPOSIUM
SKILLSummit Symposium
with
Karen Knight and Alison Sigethy
Whatever your motive - whether it is to add precision, efficiency, fluidity, and grace to your paddling or to just impress your family and friends with cool paddling tricks; moving up from basic competence to the next level of paddling begins with mastering the fundamentals. For some, the next level is a more powerful forward stroke, for others it may be linking maneuvers.
We have crafted the SKILLsummit symposium to assist every paddler to get to their next level by providing a sensible progression through sound body mechanics; body and blade position; hull shape manipulation (heeling) to achieve better kayak performance through better strokes.
We are pleased to have Karen Knight back once again and are happy to introduce Alison Sigethy as an addition to our esteemed guest instructor list for the SKILLSummit Symposium.
Karen will lead participants through a concise progression of foundation skills in Sessions 1A & 2A with application of these skills and advancement in Session 3A. For those interested in going somewhere fast with less effort, Session 4A will help refine your forward stroke. We also have added Traditional Skills (Greenland Paddle Skills) to the mix with the help of Alison. Alison will guide participants through Traditional SKILLs in Sessions 1B and 3B and introduce the many variations on the Eskimo Roll in Sessions 2B and 4B.
SKILLSummit Symposium Itinerary
Friday Night, September 18, 2009
5:30pm to 7pm
Cost: Free.
As ACA Instructors and an ACA Pro Paddlesports School we believe smart paddling with good body mechanics is so important for all paddlers we are offering this session at no charge.
Karen Knight: Body, Boat & Blade (DryLand Lecture with On Water Demo)
Proper blending of body position, boat position and blade position will effect the best stroke. Kayaking is a balance of these three elements. Paddling from the core provides power; heeling the boat changes its performance and blade position can change everything. Learn some of the secrets of kayaking from one of the Masters of the Sport of Kayaking. We encourage session participants to wear comfortable clothes and footwear and to bring a towel or other sit-upon cushion to this dry land session.
Alison Sigethy: Freestyle Greenland Rolling Demonstration
Alison will dazzle us with her Greenlandic Rolling Skills with a freestyle demonstration of some of the many rolls that can be done. This is a unique opportunity, do not miss it.
Session 1a: Gateway Techniques to Cool Kayak Moves with Karen Knight
Saturday Morning Session, September 19, 2009
9am to 12 noon.
Fee: $75. per person
Pre-requisite: Participants should have at least one season of paddling experience
Open up a whole new realm of kayaking by learning these gateway techniques for better, more efficient kayaking. Participants in this session will develop better boat maneuvering skills through body posture techniques and hull shape modification (heeling the kayak). Learn to work with your kayak instead of against it.
SKILLs: skidding and carving turns; both style turns with the addition of boat heel and low or high brace for support.
Session 1b: Introduction to Greenland Style Paddling with Alison Sigethy
Saturday Morning Session, September 19, 2009
9am to 12 noon.
Fee: $75. per person
Pre-requisite: Participants should have at least one season of paddling experience
If you already know how to kayak with a euro blade, find out what you can do with a stick. Greenland paddling is fast, efficient, easy on your joints and just plain fun. Find out why so many paddlers are stuck on the stick.
SKILLs: propulsion stroke; stopping stroke; turning strokes and; simple bracing techniques.
Session 2a: Pivotal Kayaking with Karen Knight
Saturday Afternoon Session, September 19, 2009
1pm to 4pm.
Fee: $75. per person
Pre-requisite: Participants should have at least one season of paddling experience
Ok, maybe the name of this session is a silly pun, but it is an appropriate moniker for this session. Building on the principles and SKILLS developed during Saturday morning’s session with Karen; participants will experiment with techniques to change the pivot point of the kayak with paddle blade position and angle together with boat heel. These SKILLs allow for fantastically fun ways to maneuver your kayak; but perhaps more importantly, will really impress your paddling compadres. Obtaining Pivotal SKILLs will allow even a pond setting to become a fun and challenging slalom course.
SKILLs: bow and stern rudders; sideslips (moving abeam); introduction of both onside and cross blade position.
Session 2b: Greenland Rolling with Alison Sigethy
Saturday Afternoon Session, September 19, 2009
1pm to 4pm.
Fee: $75. per person
Pre-requisite: Participants must demonstrate an effective wet exit and have one reliable roll.
Greenland Rolling is fun, addictive, and a great way to build your body awareness and confidence on the water. If you already have a solid roll, the fun is just beginning! There are dozens of Greenland rolls. Come out and clean up the rolls you know, learn a new one, or and challenge yourself to a bunch more that you never knew you might be able to do.
SKILLs: effective Greenland blade positions for rolling; discovery of a multitude of Greenland rolling techniques.
Saturday Open Paddle
Saturday Late Afternoon Session, September 19, 2009
4:30pm to 6pm.
Fee: Free for those in attendance on Saturday programs
Open Practice session in the Harbor with your kayak or one of our fleet kayaks. Karen and Alison will be available for fine tuning during this open session. The Open Paddle is not intended to completely replace any of the sessions, but to provide a fine tune for skills introduced and developed during Saturday’s Sessions.
Session 3a: Kayak Dancing with Karen Knight
Sunday Morning Session, September 20, 2009
9am to 12noon.
Fee: $75. per person
Pre-requisite: Participants should have at least one season of paddling experience
Building on the full bag of paddling moves and tricks from the Saturday Sessions; in this session, participants will learn how to add precision, efficiency, fluidity, and grace to their paddling. By the end of this session, you will develop skills to link and connect stroke to stroke to make your kayak dance on the water forward, backwards, sideways, and spin without missing a beat. This class is a must for anyone who loves to kayak: it will set your spirits free and you will never want to paddle in a straight line again.
SKILLs: linking strokes; forward and reverse maneuver strokes; rudders and prys.
Session 3b: Introduction to Greenland Style Paddling with Alison Sigethy
Sunday Morning Session, September 20, 2009
9am to 12 noon.
Fee: $75. per person
Pre-requisite: Participants should have at least one season of paddling experience
If you already know how to kayak with a euro blade, find out what you can do with a stick. Greenland paddling is fast, efficient, easy on your joints and just plain fun. Find out why so many paddlers are stuck on the stick.
SKILLs: propulsion stroke; stopping stroke; turning strokes and; simple bracing techniques.
Session 4a: Propel (Forward Stroke Clinic) with Karen Knight
Sunday Afternoon Session, September 20, 2009
1pm to 4pm
Fee: $75. per person
Pre-requisite: Participants should have at least one season of paddling experience
Having an efficient, correct forward stroke with correct body mechanics is a must for most paddlers. This session will introduce you to proper body mechanics and paddling style to keep you paddling for hours at a time with ease and grace. In this class Karen will demonstrate how to go farther faster and more efficiently with a comprehensive building block approach through all phases of the forward stroke.
SKILLs: effective forward stroke development, including proper body mechanics.
Session 4b: Greenland Rolling with Alison Sigethy
Sunday Afternoon Session, September 20, 2009
1pm to 4pm.
Fee: $75. per person
Pre-requisite: Participants must demonstrate an effective wet exit and have one reliable roll.
Greenland Rolling is fun, addictive, and a great way to build your body awareness and confidence on the water. If you already have a solid roll, the fun is just beginning! There are dozens of Greenland rolls. Come out and clean up the rolls you know, learn a new one, or and challenge yourself to a bunch more that you never knew you might be able to do.
SKILLs: effective Greenland blade positions for rolling; discovery of a multitude of Greenland rolling techniques.
If you wondering "Is this class for me?" please do not hesitate to call The River Connection 845-229-0595 or email marshall@the-river-connection.com for more information.
These are all BYOBoat, paddle and PFD programs. If you are in need of equipment arrangements can be made with The River Connection for any equipment that you may need for this program. Space is limited and reservations are required. Please call ahead for additional instructions and clothing requirements, thanks.
Important Notes: Each of these classes will be at The River Connection Boathouse in Hyde Park, NY. Prior to attending the class please check in at The River Connection Showroom, 9 West Market Street, Hyde Park, NY and plan enough time to get your kayak off your vehicle and gear together prior to the class. Classes will begin promptly so plan your arrival time accordingly. There will likely be insufficient time to go off site to grab lunch between sessions, previous participants have brought a bag lunch with snacks for the days activities.
CURRENT OFFERINGS
- Sorry you could not attend the SKILLSummit Symposium. Please call to find out about other programs
Submit a Reservation Request
Learning to kayak safely, effectively and efficiently is best done with the help of a qualified instructor. The lead instructors for River Connection Kayak Instructional Courses are American Canoe Association (ACA) Certified Instructors.
Skills development courses are worth months of just paddling around. After your course, get out and practice your strokes. If you are interested in sightseeing and going places, consider one of our
guided Kayak Tours.
See our Policy Page for additional information.
We have put together a FAQ for our guided kayak tours and instructional programs that answers most quesions about these programs. If you need additional information or make a reservation, please Call our showroom at 845.229.0595.
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- Sorry you could not attend the SKILLSummit Symposium. Please call to find out about other programs