February: Classes (4) & Trips (5)
Saturday, February 5
Cockroach Bay (north & south)
Sat, February 5, 1:00pm – 5:00pm
End of Cockroach Bay Road
(map)
Mary's Lake, Mags Hole, and a bunch of short mangrove tunnels to negotiate and visit. We will be surrounded by many, many mangrove islands.
The birds, and the fish should be plentiful, plus we will add some adventure allowing you to try to find your way through part of it. What a hoot!
If the wind and waves aren't too bad, we may venture into Tampa Bay and head to the south. If the water conditions are not good enough we will stay in
protected waters and head south and for Beacon Key and the estuary on the south end.
It should be a great paddle.
Snacks provided. $25 guide fee plus $30 rental
Register at 727-403-7046 or (register online)
Sunday, February 6
Big D's Turning Strokes
Sun, February 5, 1:30pm – 4:30pm
Snug Harbor - near Sweetwater Kayaks
(map)
You will learn how to more easily turn your kayak using a variety of turning strokes.
You will learn your most effective turning tool, and it may surprise you.
We will cover the sweep turn, low brace turn, bow rudder turn, stern rudder pry and stern rudder draw turns.
And, we will cover how to make each of these strokes much more stable.
$59.00 Register at 727-403-7046 or
(register online)
Tuesday, February 8
EG Simmons Park
Tue, February 8, 1pm – 4pm
EG Simmons Park ($2.00 per car daily fee)
(map)
Just north of Ruskin, FL is a wonderful little mangrove island estuary. We can access it from EG Simmons park.
We'll check out Double Bayou Pass and also look for a remote pond further south of the park. This will be a quiet, relaxing paddle.
$25 guide fee/ $30 kayak rental for single kayak
Register at 727-403-7046 or (register online)
Saturday, February 12
Introduction to Kayaking
Sat, February 12, 2011, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
War Veteran's Memorial Park
(map)
This is a combination of on-land & on-the-water sessions. You will learn about unloading and carrying your kayak, the types of kayaks, safety features, safe practices, getting in and out of your kayak, simple strokes to get you started and securing your kayka for transportation.
We will have about 4 students per instructor.
This class is conducted in a protected pond.
Class Tuition: $59.00.
Register at 727-403-7046 or (register online)
- about 2 hours.
Sunday, February 13
Crystal River with Manatees
Sun, February 13, 10:00am – 3:30pm
Hunter Spring Park, South end of NE 1st Ave Crystal River, FL
(map)
Manatees are nature's snow birds. They must be in water above 70 degrees to live. So, when the gulf gets colder, they seek warm waters.
Kings Bay is the largest gathering place in the US for these wonderful sea cows. As many as 500 have been counted in Kings Bay.
Let's see how many we can find in the morning, have lunch, then proceed to explore the remote beauty of Kings Bay.
We usually paddle about 2.5 miles in the morning and 4 to 4.5 miles after lunch. If it is cold, Big D has some extra fleece and
paddling jackets to share. Lunch provided - and maybe a skills demo too.
$25 guide fee plus $30 rental
Register at 727-403-7046 or (register online)
Saturday, February 19
Big Ds - Foundation Skills
Sat, February 19, 10:00am – 1:30pm
Snug Harbor - near Sweetwater Kayaks
(map)
FUNdamentals of Foundation Skills - about 3 hours
Get better paddling forward, turning, paddling straight, stopping, paddling sideways, and backwards.
Then, go further and learn to stay upright and make all your turns much easier.
Develop the foundation strokes needed for easy, skillful kayaking in any conditions.
$75 - Register at 727-403-7046 or (register online)
Bracing, Edging, Recoveries, and Sculling
Sat, February 19, 1:30pm – 4:30pm
Snug Harbor - near Sweetwater Kayaks
(map)
Ever wish you had an emergency, almost-instantaneous outrigger to help you balance and stabilize your kayak.
In this class you will build your own. You will then learn to use it to make your strokes much more easily
and all of your paddling more confident, more secure, and more stable. We will help you improve your sweeps,
low and high brace turns, bow rudders, hanging draw, and stern rudders. Students have been amazed how much their strokes improved.
$59.00 Register at 727-403-7046 or
(register online)
Sunday, February 20
Siesta Key and Lido Key
Sun, February 20, 9:30am – 4:00pm
Siesta Key Park (map)
We'll depart from Siesta Key Park heading north to Lido Key. At the southern tip of the key we usually have wind driven waves on a shoaling area and possibly reflected and refracted waves as well. It is a real hoot. We'll pick the gulf or mainland side to proceed based on the conditions that day. We usually include a rest with lunch on a beach and a relaxing paddle through wide mangrove tunnels before heading back to Siesta Key.
Lunch Provided.
$25 guide fee plus $30 rental
Register at 727-403-7046 or (register online)
Thursday, February 24
Weeki Wachee River
Thurs, February 24, 10:00am – 3:30pm
Weeki Wachee River State Park canoe livery, Paddling Adventures
(map)
Crystal clear water, easy trip down stream, cool water (72°), chilled air, snorkeling possibilities, maybe otters and/or manatees.
For the more adventurous there are also trees to jump out of and others from which to swing on ropes into the river.
We usually go on week days to avoid the boat traffic present on weekends.
Search for "Weeki Wachee" on blog for postings from prior trips.
$30 guide fee (includes launch fee) plus $30 rental ($3 parking is extra) Lunch provided, water cannons, too.
Register at 727-403-7046 or (register online)
Thursday thru Sunday, February 17-20
Pre
Symposium: ACA Coach Training
Feb 17 – 20, 2011
Click here for details.
Monday thru Friday, February 21-25
Pre
Symposium: BCU Coach Training
Feb 21 – 25, 2011
Click here for details.
Friday thru Monday, February 25-27
Sweetwater Symposium
Feb 25 – 27, 2011
Click here for details.
Monday, February 28
Post
Symposium: 3 & 4 Star Canoe Training
Feb 28 – Mar 2, 2011
Call the shop at 727-570-4844 for details.
Events, sometimes in future months, are also shown in http://www.bigdskayaking.com/calendar.html.