SUMMER FUN ON THE WATER WESTPORT AND ROWAYTON
575 Riverside Ave Westport (203) 956-6217
157 Rowayton Ave Rowayton (203) 642-3660
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Downunder – Specialists in Kayak Lessons and Stand-up Paddle Board Lessons
Downunder kayaking instructors have been trained by the leading authority in Paddle Sports, the American Canoe Association. In 2011, the ACA developed a new curriculum for Stand-Up Paddling. All of our staff members are trained by our instructors in skills, group management, and safety. They are first aid and CPR certified.
Downunder offers a range of group kayak lessons and stand-up paddle board lessons. We also offer private instruction– either on-site or off-site – as well as provide guides to show you or a group around the local area.
KAYAK and SUP LESSONS
Take a lesson and learn all you need to know to have a safe and comfortable paddling experience.
What you'll learn:
- Equipment: boat/board, paddle, lifejacket
- Safety: Local area, weather, tides
- Paddle Plan: based on the conditions, destination
- Posture and stretching
- Strokes: forward, backwards, turns, rudder, sideways
- Bearing: paddling straight towards an object, stroke refinement
- Rescues and Capsizes: how to assist someone that needs help - boat swapping, towing. What to do if you capsize, how to self rescue and how to perform and assisted rescue. Demonstrated by instructor - participation is optional.
Quickstart Ocean Kayak Lessons - 2 hours, maximum 5 participants per class. $100 includes kayak rental.
Sit-on-top kayaks are also referred to as ocean kayaks. They are far easier and safer than cockpit-style/sit-inside sea kayaks. This class is for beginners and focused on the recreational kayaker who wants to learn the skills to make their paddling experience optimal: paddling right requires less effort and there is less of a chance of injury. These lessons focus on safety –how to get on and off the kayak, in open water, on a dock or beach.
Quickstart Sea Kayak Lessons - 3 hours, maximum 5 participants per class. $125 includes kayak rental. Kayak for a Cause (KFAC) participants receive a 25% discount.
Kayaks with a cockpit are also referred to as “sea kayaks.” They're a bit trickier to get back into if you capsize, so a class can be very important. Sea kayaks are traditionally longer and narrower, so faster, but not as stable. They are suited to those who want more speed and control over their boat, would like to paddle in a variety of conditions, and go longer distances than recreational kayakers. In this class we teach you more skills such as edging in your turns, bracing for waves/chop, paddling in strong winds. In a sea kayak rescues are more complicated - the kayak will most likely take in water making it harder to get back in and the need for equipment such as a bilge pump and paddle float. The T rescue will be taught, an assisted rescue. Rescues will be demonstrating with paddlers assistance. Getting in the water is optional - unless you are training for KFAC. These participants also practice capsizes while wearing a spray-skirt. This is one of our favorite classes.
STAND-UP PADDLE BOARD LESSONS
Stand-up Paddle Board (SUP) Instruction
SUP Beginner: 1 hour, maximum 5 participants per class. $45 includes SUP rental. Learn the fundamentals of SUP boarding in a safe flat-water environment. This class follows the outline of the Kayaking Quickstart class, with extra emphasis on balance and coordination. We begin with balance skills on the dock, and take things gradually – leaving the dock in a kneeling position until fully clear, and then coming into a standing position, as we move out into the river. We carry a wide variety of boards and traditionally start our clients off on the softop rental fleet to ensure a successful first experience. These boards are stable and very forgiving!
SUMMER FUN ON THE WATER WESTPORT AND ROWAYTON
575 Riverside Ave Westport (203) 956-6217
157 Rowayton Ave Rowayton (203) 642-3660
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