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Courses | Committee | Documents | Tacoma Sea Kayaking Community
Puget Sound News Splash
News from the local kayaking scene brought to you by the Mountaineers Tacoma Branch Sea Kayak Committee. Get the latest issue and back issues here
Our philosophy is not to act as a guide service, but to train members to become safe, self sufficient, kayaking enthusiasts, and have lots of fun...
Sea Kayak Committee Meetings: The committee meets on the first Wednesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. This is where the brainstorming takes place as well as plenty of socializing. Come and join us as we plot and scheme new fun things to do. If you would like to be a part of this fun and would like to find out all about the benefits of becoming a valued volunteer on the committee or if you are just looking for a way to be involved, call Christine Burris: 253-651-6610.
Trip Reservation: To sign up for paddles contact the leader listed in the trip write-up or via the online go guide. Please call the leader before 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Feel free to ask the trip leader any additional questions/concerns about the trip.
Equivalency: Mountaineers members who have significant kayak training and experience, yet have not completed a Mountaineers Sea Kayaking course (offered in Tacoma, Everett, Seattle, Olympia, and Kitsap), are encouraged to apply for equivalency. There is a $20 processing and evaluation fee. To apply for equivalency contact Mike Everett, 253-905-0613, for an application form.
Sea Kayaking Web advantages: Some trips may not make it into the printed Go Guide. Keep up with all our activities by searching the on-line activities page 
2010 Basic Sea Kayaking Course
To participate in Mountaineer sponsored sea kayak trips, you must be a graduate or continuing student of the Basic Sea Kayaking Course or have received equivalency (see above). No prior kayaking knowledge or experience is required to participate in the course. Single kayaks are required throughout the course because kayak skills are best learned in singles. If you don't own or have access to a sea kayak, you will need to rent a boat on three occasions (see Additional Costs below).
Enrollment Process: You must be a member of the Mountaineers to register for the course. Enrollment is limited to 36 students and registration for the course began when you received the January Go Guide. Contact Peggy Gablehouse, gablehousep@aol.com, to register. She will answer questions and direct you to the online registration site at www.mountaineers.org. The course typically fills early, so register promptly.
Course Structure and Schedule: The course consists of three lectures, one pool session, and two open water sessions. To graduate, students must also complete two club-sponsored paddles by August 31, 2010. Attendance on the course dates listed below is required. Please review the course dates carefully and confirm that your schedule will permit you to attend all sessions. If you cannot commit to all these dates, you will not be able to complete the course and graduate.
Tuesday, April 13, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Basic Sea Kayaking Classroom Instruction (Pierce County Chambers Creek Environmental Services Building, University Place)
Thursday, April 15, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Basic Sea Kayaking Classroom Instruction (Pierce County Chambers Creek Environmental Services Building, University Place)
Sunday, April 18, 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. Pool Session: swim test and rescue techniques (Clover Park High School Pool, Lakewood)
Wednesday, April 21, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Basic Sea Kayaking Classroom Instruction (Pierce County Chambers Creek Environmental Services Building, University Place)
Saturday, April 24, 8:30 - 4:00 p.m. Open water session: wet exit/recovery and paddling/bracing skills - instruction, practice, and critique (American Lake)
Sunday, April 25, 8:30 - 4:00 p.m. Open water session: wet exit/recovery and paddling/bracing skills - instruction, practice, and critique (American Lake)
Graduation Requirements:
- Attend all three evening classes.
- Successfully complete one pool session, including a pool swim of 50 yards without flotation.
- Successfully complete two open water sessions, including demonstrating cold water exit, solo re-entry and assisted re-entry.
- Successfully complete two club-sponsored paddles, one of which must be at least four hours on saltwater.
Course Fee: Mountaineers member cost: $199; Non-member cost: $249
Additional Costs: : While boats are provided at no extra cost for the pool session, each student will be required to provide a single sea kayak or rent one for both open water sessions (April 24th & 25th). The Committee will make arrangements to have kayaks brought to these day-long open water sessions for those who wish to rent. Kayak rental costs will be approximately $85.00 for the weekend. Students will also be required to have a wetsuit or dry suit for the open water sessions. We have also made arrangements for the rental of dry suits if you wish at a cost of approximately $45.00 for the weekend.
Finally, students will also be encouraged to purchase the optional book, Derek C. Hutchinson "The Complete Book of Sea Kayaking" Fourth Edition, The Globe Pequot Press (approximately $20). For the two qualifying club-sponsored paddles, students will be responsible for providing their own boats. For those who do not own or have access to a kayak, this will mean renting boats two additional times.
While the Committee will schedule a limited number of qualifying trips at locations where rentals are available, it will be the student's responsibility to make arrangements to rent a boat for those trips. For most trips, students will be responsible for making their own rental arrangements and bringing boats to the trip put-in.
Any questions about the course may be directed to Peggy Gablehouse, gablehousep@aol.com.
Intermediate Training and Special Events: Although each season provides new opportunities for training and courses, Tacoma Sea Kayaking provides summertime free Wed. night Skill Sessions in Gig Harbor to work on perfecting techniques such as boat control, rescues and rolling. For a $10.00 admission during fall and winter we provide weekly pool sessions. During the 2008-2009 season we have sponsored courses by Derek Hutchinson, Dubside, Nigel Foster and Body Boat Blade as well as provided our own in house training on Navigation, Trip Planning and Rolling, and even a surf clinic. Keep abreast of upcoming Tacoma special events by signing onto the Tacoma Mountaineers Communities to receive email notices.
Like to go someplace not offered? Call Howard Owen, 253-851-2677, hvo_guitar@yahoo.com. If there’s a paddle you’d like to see offered he will try to get it incorporated into future trips.
Courses
| Course |
Start Date |
Sign-Up |
| Basic Sea Kayaking |
Check Back March 2011 |
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Sea Kayak
Committee
| Position |
Name |
Contact |
| Chair |
Christine Burris |
253-651-6610
christineburris@centurytel.net |
| Secretary |
Alex Otto |
202-253-1493 |
| Finance |
Peggy Gablehouse |
253-884-2987
gablehousep@aol.com |
| Web Master |
Howard Owen |
253-851-2677
hvo_guitar@yahoo.com |
| Training |
Bob Burnett |
206-321-0011
sktrainingcoordinator@yahoo.com |
| Equivalency |
Michael Everett |
253-905-0613
mikeedvm@aol.com |
| Pool |
Christine Burris |
253-651-6610
christineburris@centurytel.net |
| Basic Course |
Laurie Davis |
206-403-6924
laurieinseattle@hotmail.com |
| Safety |
Gary Peniston
Jurgen Herweg |
Gary 253-851-8348
Jurgen 253-853-3399 |
| Roll Class |
Gary Peniston |
253-851-8348
ghpghp@earthlink.net |
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Documents
| Documents |
Download |
| No Documents at this time |
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