These one-on-one courses are open to anyone who has a touring or sea kayak and wants to learn to perform the basic layback roll or improve the roll they already have. Students will sign up for individual sessions. Beginners should sign up for at least two classes.
Each session is a one-hour, individual lesson with a trainer. The classes will take place in a separate, shallow pool that will be set aside for the course at the Rodale Aquatic Center in Allentown. The pool facility is on the Cedar Crest College campus.
Students do not need any prior experience, but they must be club members and have the following equipment:
- A touring kayak with least two bulkheads, one at each end of the cockpit. The kayak needs to be 14’ or longer and have a seat that allows the paddler to lean back so the head touches or almost touches the rear deck. The deep cockpits and high seatbacks on some hybrid or transitionalrec/touring boats prevent this and are not appropriate for this course.
- Life jacket
- Spray skirt
- Paddle – euro or Greenland style are fine
We recommend wearing a nose clip and goggles. If you have a kayaking helmet, bring it. If not, the club has loaner helmets in various sizes.
INSTRUCTORS
Cie Stroud – ACA Level 3 paddler, ACA Rolling Endorsed Instructor, and head of Cie Kayaks Instruction
Dave Dawson – ACA Level 1 paddler and kayak and paddle builder
THE INSTRUCTION
The training will be entirely in-water, hands-on exercises. We will start with making sure the student is comfortable in the water in an inverted boat. If they are not proficient with the wet exit, that will be taught first. The course will then proceed to learning the basic dynamics of the layback roll and running through a series of exercises to acclimate the body to the mechanics and feel of the roll. This will include bracing and sculling maneuvers. The final stage will be to take on the roll itself. Success is not guaranteed, but beginners who complete two sessions will have a solid grasp of the technique and will be able to continue working by themselves until they perfect the maneuver.
Paddlers who have a roll will start by improving their current skills and can move on to the storm roll or other recovery techniques.
COST
The fee is $30 for each class. This includes the $15 fee for use of the pool and access to the open play session in the big pool.
LOCATION
The Rodale Aquatic Center, on the campus of Cedar Crest College, 100 College Drive
Allentown, PA 18104-4471
CLASSES
All classes will be held Sunday evenings, with session 1 starting at 5 p.m. and session 2 starting at 6 p.m. If you want to sign up, please select your preferred dates and email your selections with your name and phone number to Dave Dawson: dl-dawson@rcn.com
After signing up for classes, you will be sent a PayPal invoice for the fee. It can be paid with a PayPal account or by credit card.
Available dates:
Jan 19, 26
Feb. 2, 23
March 2, 9