Whitewater Kayaking 101

With this class, we’ve successfully created river kayakers for 30+ years. Our proven teaching method takes you through a gradual progression that maximizes the fun. We’ve designed our beginning class for those who have never river kayaked before, or who have played around with kayaking some but have not had formal instruction in the fundamentals of river kayaking. Take this class if you are a sea kayaker or surf kayaker paddling on the river for the first time.

The 101 class starts on the flat water of Isabella Lake or flat pools of the Kern River, where you learn essential boating skills such as the wet-exit, self-rescue, partner-assisted rolls, and efficient stroke technique. At the end of the morning session, we break for a hearty lunch and preview the afternoon’s challenges. We spend the afternoon on the lake developing more of the steering and balancing skills needed to do river maneuvers such as peel-outs, ferries, and eddy turns. These and other techniques are required to become a safe, efficient whitewater kayaker.

Begin your second day with a review of the first day’s progress and an introduction to river reading and more safety skills. We progress to the river to practice our new techniques on moving water. After lunch, the two-day class graduates take an exciting run down a class II-III whitewater section of the Kern. Upon completion of this Sierra South kayaking class, students receive a free kayak package rental and are eligible to rent a kayak in the future.

Those wanting the third day will use this time to hone their newly acquired skills while under the watchful eye of the instructor. Get that extra river time to work on roll techniques or other important skills. All it takes is three enthusiastic paddlers that would rather get in an extra day on the Kern River, rather than endure the Monday morning commute. Work on your roll, ferries, eddy-turns, and surf a wave or two! What are you waiting for? Come out and learn a great new way to play!