Kayaking Skills

Kayaking Flatwater Program

This is a great place to begin your kayaking journey.

Launching and Removing; Entering and Exiting; Pivots; Sideward Displacement; Forward and Reverse Paddling plus Stop; Turning; Lifts and Carries

Coastal Kayaking

Ready to get out and explore the Islands of our Great Lakes?

Prerequisites to enter Level 1: ORCKA Flatwater kayaking, or equivalent certification, comparable skills, and experience (with permission of the course instructors).

Core Skills:

  • Pivoting

  • Sideward Paddling

  • Turning

  • Preventing a Capsize

  • Forward and Reverse Paddling; Stopping

Progression:

Level 1: Introduction
Level 2: Intermediate
Level 3: Advanced

Moving Water

Ready to wade into the world of white water kayaking? ORCKA’s Moving Water progression is a great way to start.

Prerequisites to enter Level 1: ORCKA Flatwater Kayaking, or equivalent certification, comparable skills, and experience (with permission of the course instructors).

Core Skills:

  • Eddy Turn and Peel Out

  • Ferry [Front, Back, Jet]

  • Surf

  • Cross-Stream Momentum and Edge Transfer

  • Running Drops

  • Braces and Rolling

    Progression:

Level 1: Introduction [Class I-II Whitewater]
Level 2: Advanced [Class II-III Whitewater]

Kayak Tripping

A successful overnight Kayak trip starts with the right knowledge and proper planning. The ORCKA Kayak Tripping program begin with a 2 day and 2 night excursion and builds on overnight camping and both flatwater and coastal kayaking skills. Level 2 is a 5 day plus 3 night trip and prepares the student to lead trips.

Prerequisites: ORCKA Flatwater Kayaking, or equivalent certification, comparable skills, and experience (with permission of the course instructors).

Core Skills:

  • Kayaking

  • Food and Menu Planning

  • Navigation

  • Knots, Lashings, Ropes

  • Risk Management and Emergency Response

    Progression:

Level 1: Introduction

Level 2: Trip Leader