1.5 
Schedule: Thursday Skill sessions are on most (but not all) Thursdays. Check Schedule.
Location: Annsville Creek Paddlesport Center, Cortlandt Manor, NY
Price: $30 with our equipment, $20 with personal equipment.
Frequent Paddler Program: Pay $150 for all sessions or $100 with personal equipment. Space is limited each Thursday. You must still pre-register for each session. Not showing up for a registered session will count as a session.
Teens are welcome: Minimum age is 14 except for the Family Fun Workshops. Parental consent and parental signing of a liability form will be required.
Start Time: The Theme usually starts at 6:30 and ends between 7:30 and 8:00, but the time may change because of weather or staffing limitations. Arrive any time after 5:00. We start to allow people on the water at 5:30. 5:00 to 5:30 is to sign in, get changed, get equipment ready. From 5:30 to 6:00 is open session to paddle, try out equipment and to warm up.
Venue: Unless with a Staff member everyone must stay between the two bridges in Annsville Creek. Some sessions will be done in Peekskill Bay, just outside of Annsville Creek.
For these sessions we ask that you come with an open mind, willing to learn and have fun. Aside from the evening's Theme(s), activities can include client-helping-client skill practice sessions, testing different kayak equipment, and other special sessions organized by various staff members. These evenings are for you to play games, work alone and with other clients, and to take part in impromptu staff-led sessions. Staff members will be coming to work on their own coaching and personal skills and might want to share that work with you.
This is not a replacement to a regular instructional program, but a way to practice what you have learned on previous lessons and for the staff to test out new ideas.
Extended Themes
Extended Themes are a series of Thursday Night Session to cover a single topic. Space is limited and you must sign up and pay for the full series of sessions a minimum of two weeks before the first session.
Equipment
Equipment will be available on a first come first served basis. We cannot honor requests for specific kayaks on Thursday night programs. Some boats may not be available because of another program or regular rental. We ask that if someone wants to try the kayak or paddle you are using, please give it up after 30 minutes using it. If you are interested in a longer demo, please read our Demo Policy.
Pre-registration is required
To sign up, E-mail Annsville@AtlanticKayakTours.com. Our response will be your confirmation. Registration is required by Noon on the Wednesday before the session. We need to know;
- how many people
- approximate arrival time
- contact information in case of cancellation because of weather.
- Fee will be paid on site along with the signing of a liability form.
- Minimum age for these session is 14, parental consent and parental signing of a liability form is needed.
- Please e-mail us if you need to cancel.
Session Themes will be offered from 6:30-7:30.
Dates of Themes may change.
| June | |
| 27 | Theme: Forward Stroke> |
| July | |
| 4 | No Session as Annsville gets full with people looking to see fireworks. |
| 11 | Theme: Rescue Workshop
Extended Theme: Power Paddle (session 1 of 3) |
| 18 | Theme: Getting the edge on boat control Extend Theme: Power Paddle (session 2 of 3) |
| 25 | Theme: Support Skills Extend Theme: Power Paddle (session 3 of 3) |
| August | |
| 1 | Theme: Forward Stroke |
| 8 | Theme: Control Strokes
|
| 15 | Theme: Getting the edge on boat control |
| 22 | Theme: Fun Strokes & games |
| 29 | Theme: Blending Strokes |
| September | |
| 5 | Theme: Open Session |
Theme Descriptions
The Novice
This is for the first time paddler. If you have never been in a kayak or have only kayaked a couple of times, this session will give you the basics.
Coaches will be on the water running mini sessions and helping as needed. No specific Theme, but a chance for Coaches to work with students on what they feel will help.
A fun evening for the family. Introduction to kayaking with kid-centered games and activities. Parents and kids will paddle and play together. Ages 5 and up. Space for kids is limited by the number of kids' kayaks. Sign up early to assure your space. We need to know how many kids, their ages and approximate sizes. Parents will be required to sign consent and liability forms.
Want to have fun in a kayak? Polo will develop your paddling skills as we play this fast paced game. It is open to all skill levels. Every Thursday Session has polo going on as well as the main theme and other activities. If you played last year, come and help the new players learn and develop the needed skills.
Core Skills
We will put it all together here. Propulsion, Control and Support all starts to blend together.
In this program, we'll cover some of the fine points of directional control. We'll fine-tune the core skills that make for effective sweeps, rudders, brace turns and draws.
This skill that is so important that you need coaching on it whether you are new to kayaking or have thousands of miles under you boat. We will help fine tune your forward stroke to be as efficient as possible.
Kayak Balance
Session on focuses on balancing exercises in a kayak. We’ll use the kayak in new ways. Be prepared to get wet.
Getting the edge on boat control
This session will demonstrate how to use edging and leaning for better, easier boat control. We'll show you how edging makes many strokes and maneuvers easier and more effective. You will learn how to be comfortable with edging, and we'll provide tips on how to improve your edging skills on your own.
Prevent your kayak from capsizing. Be ready for a swim as we push the limits.
Learn some basic yoga principles, which will improve posture, lower-body action, and upper-body rotation while paddling. These techniques can also help kayakers reduce risk of shoulder dislocation as well as relieve lower-back tension, knee and leg discomfort.
Skill Improvement
This Theme is for people that have taken the Basic or Core instructional program or have equivalent skills. We will work in groups fine tuning these skills.
Most of these strokes have little use in real paddling. They will make you a better kayaker, by understanding the Body, Boat and Blade interaction. Be ready to get wet.
Has this ever happened to you?
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Your kayak veers when you want to go straight.
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When you want to turn, your boat refuses.
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You back paddle on one side to correct your course, which slows you down, and then have to paddle harder to catch up.
This evening we'll develop effective turning and correcting strokes that will get you where you want to go accurately and with less effort. We'll look at the elements of effective turning: blade angle, paddle position, edging, lower body control, and (of course) torso rotation. Then we'll put them together to carve beautiful turns in the sunset.
Safety & Rescue
Navigation is an important skill that many paddlers lack. This is a two part theme. In part one you will learn to: read a chart, plan tides & currents, take a bearing, plot a course, use transits. and many other important skills. Navigation equipment will be provided. Part one will be held at the Annsville Creek Paddlesport Center on an earlier date (e-mail for information). The following evening, put your navigation skills to work in a kayak road rally. Groups of 2 to 4 will work as teams using many navigation skills to follow the course.
Self Rescues
Session focuses on self rescues – reentry and roll, paddle float, cowboy. This session is for paddlers to fine tune their self rescue skills. Dress to be wet.
Get Comfortable Upside Down
This is a session for people who want to become more comfortable being upside down in their kayak
Peer Rescues
This session emphasizes assisted versus self rescues. It's for paddlers to fine tune their group rescue skills. Dress to be wet.
Have you taken 2 Star or Canoe Safety and need to brush up on your rescue skills?
This theme is for paddlers that have a semi-reliable roll at a minimum. It will work on improving your roll and learning new rolls. It will not teach non-rollers how to roll, but you can watch.
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Strong Eskimo Rescue skills needed.
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A solid foundation in the low brace, high brace, and sculling for support is necessary.
- Others are welcome to watch and learn.
Extended Theme
Week 1: How fast are we?
We will do time trials to establish our current speed.
Week 2: Improve your Forward Stroke
Improving your stroke with better boat fit posture and technique.
Week 3: Fine Tune your Stroke
Follow on to the previous week we will work out the remaining issues.
Week 4: How did we do?
A final race will help to quantify any improvements.
Week 1: An introduction
Introduction to the basics of Canoeing. A bit about the craft and paddles. Basic Strokes.
Week 2: Improving Skills
We will move your skills ahead so you can start to enjoy all canoeing has to offer.
Navigation is an important skill that many paddlers lack. This is a two part theme. In part one you will learn to: read a chart, plan tides & currents, take a bearing, plot a course, use transits. and other important skills. Navigation equipment will be provided. Part one will be held at the Annsville Creek Paddlesport Center and will last about 2 hours. Part two, on another evening, will put your navigation skills to work in a kayak road rally, working in groups of 2 to 4 to follow the course by applying various navigation skills. We recommend reviewing the Navigation Skills Expert Center at www.atlantickayaktours.com/pages/expertcenter/navigation/Navigation-1.shtml.