Spring is Here!

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A note from Ted:

As I write this blog entry, it’s mid-March.  The weather has been volatile, to say the least, with hurricane force winds, blasting rain and intermittent sunny days — all in the last week!  One day will be in the 60s and the next morning down in the 30s.  Yay for Spring in the PNW!

However, all that means is that prime sea kayaking season is just around the corner, and that makes me think about scraping off the rust (figuratively speaking).  Two principal topics immediately come to mind.

First:  all those little boat and gear maintenance tasks that had been promised to be addressed over the winter are now a bit more urgently awaiting attention.  It’s time to inspect deck lines, hatch covers, rudder components, any leaky bulkheads, and so on.  Better to fix them NOW, before a problem shows up on the water!

Second:  while paddling strokes and maneuvering techniques “should” come back with some on-water time, some coaching can really help.  Perhaps more important are recovery and rescue skills, as those are easily eroded without regular practice; and they’re so vital to your personal safety while paddling!

So, consider booking one of our Rescue Practice & Refresher sessions to revisit and practice those skills.  SSKS is also happy to put together a longer session that goes over basic strokes, maneuvers, and the rescues if you desire.  Just contact us for scheduling and a price quote.

Happy Paddling in 2025!

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CLASSES BEGINNING SOON & WHY TEACH ON THE LAKE?

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CLASS ROOM OBSERVERS

The 2025 teaching season for SSKS is about to be underway, with scheduled classes available on the Calendar.  Of course, custom scheduling, as well as content, can be arranged.  Don’t forget that unique service available from SSKS!

A frequent question is “why do you teach ‘sea kayaking’ on a lake instead of on the bay?”  Since SSKS specializes in beginner and intermediate skills development, Lake Whatcom has a number of advantages.  First, the lake doesn’t have currents that make kayaking more difficult for beginners.  There’s also the fact that the lake water gets considerably warmer than Bellingham Bay, which makes wet exit and rescue sessions more comfortable.  The area of the lake where most sessions are held is generally sheltered from the wind and less subject to rough water, conditions that increase stress and make learning those all-important basics harder.  As well, our teaching area has MUCH less motorboat traffic in the immediate vicinity.  More advanced classes and Fun Paddles generally are done at various salt water locations.

KAYAK LESSON GIFT CERTIFICATES

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Any time of the year is good for giving presents, and sea kayaking lessons make great gifts. Even though it’s blustery, chilly, and rainy right now, we can be as certain as possible that warmer weather will return. How about giving a family member or friend the opportunity to learn how to enjoy sea kayaking, or to improve on their existing skills? A Salish Sea Kayak School Gift Certificate is a popular gift and can be used throughout the coming year. Simply go to Our Classes, and you’ll see the link to the Gift Certificate form on the right side of the page. Fill out the information requested, including the amount of your gift, then go to Cart. Please manually add in 8.7% sales tax. That’s all there is to it! Happy Giving, everyone!

2025 APRIL THROUGH JULY CLASSES POSTED

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The weather is returning to more hospitable conditions, so it’s time to be thinking about our Pacific NW kayaking again. So, the calendar of classes, for the first portion of the 2025 season, is now up. Of course, SSKS continues to offer classes outside the dates and times published, because I understand you may have scheduling around other parts of your life to consider. I also am happy to discuss with you custom content for your instruction; just get in touch! Both Private and Group lessons may be customized. In particular, there’s lots of availability during the week, including day and evening times. I look forward to working with you to share the enjoyment of sea kayaking! Happy Paddling!

Buying a Sea Kayak – Pros & Cons of Plastic Boats

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buying a sea kayak

Plastic Sea Kayak Storage

Buying a sea kayak can seem like a complicated process.  We often are asked about the differences in the materials used to build sea kayaks, and many people are drawn to plastic boats because of their comparatively low price and reputation for not needing much care. While the first consideration is true, a “put away and forget” attitude toward a plastic kayak may result in future unhappiness!

So, let’s talk briefly about what a “plastic” kayak is. They’re made of polyethylene plastic, heat molded by various processes so that the hull and deck form a single unit that only requires cutting out the hatch and cockpit openings and attaching the outfitting (seat, deck and carry lines, bungee cords, etc.). By contrast, composite boats made of fiberglass and other materials, have the deck and hull made separately, then joined together. The composite materials are more expensive and require much more labor to construct. Consequently, the resulting boats are more expensive.

The advantages of plastic kayaks are durability, particularly if dropped on a hard surface or from impact while paddling; and as mentioned before, this construction results in the lowest prices for both brand new and used boats. There are limits to the “no care” concept, however, as you’ll see below.

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Women in Sea Kayaking – 6 Reasons to Take the Plunge and Learn to Paddle

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sea kayaking for women

Kelly Paddling on New Year’s Day

In the second grade, my PE teacher told me I didn’t have to try to do a pull up or push up in class.  “It’s ok,” he said, “girls can’t do that.  They’re not strong enough.”  Needless to say, I’ve spent a good part of my life since then proving I can “hang with the boys.” Guys are strong and athletic, and I’m in no way discrediting their achievements.  Rather, I want to address all the women out there who have thought “I can’t do that,” or even “I’m not strong enough.”

Shortly after entering the sport of sea kayaking, I learned that not only can women paddle, they can be kickass paddlers.  Some of the most talented, accomplished paddlers I’ve met have been women – including one who’s solo paddled Alaska’s Inside Passage from Anacortes, WA to Juneau, AK.  Learning to sea kayak has been one of the most amazing and empowering  experiences of my life, and teaching sea kayaking has only made it better.

There are few things better than watching a self-doubting student grow.  I’ve had students who, on the first day of class, told me “I’m too heavy to paddle, really.  I probably won’t fit in the boat, and besides, I’m scared of the water.”  Some of those women have become so strong in their paddling skills that they learned to enjoy whooping it up while surfing waves in Deception Pass.  In other classes, I’ve worked with students who were so afraid to do their first wet exit from a boat, they cried.  After a couple of days, they were teaching their husbands how to do a proper wet exit and self rescue!

So, in the interest of supporting all women out there who are interested in entering the “intimidating” sport of sea kayaking, I’ve written a list for you to dispel what may be your reasons for not jumping in (pun intended) and giving it a shot: Continue reading

Clothing for Paddling in Cold Water: What We Wear to Stay Warm

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Paddling in cold water conditions presents all sorts of safety (and comfort) challenges. We are often asked “What do you wear to stay warm?” – especially when paddling in chilly conditions. While there is some variation in what we wear, depending on the type of paddling/teaching we are doing, we will cover the basics, today – those tried and true layers we turn to on regular basis. We’ve listed below the layers we each wear under and over our drysuits when paddling in cooler or colder conditions. We’ve also listed what we wear with our wetsuits. Keep in mind, our base line temperatures are very different. Ted is fairly warm blooded, and Kelly is ALWAYS cold.

We don’t receive any sort of commission from recommending gear or clothing. We just want our students to be safe and have fun out there! If you have questions about a specific piece of gear, we’d be happy to answer them for you. Continue reading