Kayak Instruction | Northwest Paddling

October 13, 2009

River Class October 17th!

Deschutes 4th of July 2009 Multiday

Fall’s here and that means rain, and that means the rivers are rising! It’s nectar of the GODS! Soon, our rivers will be refreshed, recharged, re-energized with life-giving water! And that water is what we need to enjoy whitewater.

To prepare yourself for the Northwest’s best season for paddling – winter – you should take some professional instruction with Northwest River Guides! We’ll take you down the “bunny slopes” near Portland in water that will give you confidence to tackle the blue squares and black diamonds. There, we’ll tune up your peel outs, eddy turns, your river roll, your edging and your bracing.

We’ll also provide you with all the equipment you need to enjoy your time on the river – the kayak, paddle, spray skirt, PFD, helmet. You’ll be all set. And, if anything should go awry our instructors are there LICKETY SPLIT to help you out!

Call 503-722-1122 to reserve your place. Our weekend classes run 9-1 Saturday.

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June 25, 2009

ACA Instructor Development Workshop

Filed under: Instruction, Kayaking- Flatwater — Tags: beginning kayaking lessons, Kayak Instruction, kayaking instruction, Kayaking Oregon, kayaking portland, oregon kayaking, Portland Kayaking — Rod @ 9:00 am

Surfing at the IDW

I just returned from an incredible experience. I spent three jam-packed days in Ilwaco, WA participating in an ACA Instructor Development Workshop. I’m looking forward to teaching beginner kayaking lessons and guiding Willamette River kayak trips in Portland, Oregon, with Northwest River Guides.

The weekend consists of three days of kayaking instruction and evaluation. It’s fun, grueling and humbling. Days start at 8:00 and end at 11:00 p.m. Every stroke is reviewed and videotaped so it can be critiqued, perfected and then modeled to students. Rescues of various types are practiced – both self rescue and assisted rescue. Then there is group management – part of the curriculim are role playing games where the student’s ability to manage a group of kayakers on the water is tested. At least half of the program is about developing teaching/coaching skills. Various teaching methods are explained, and the students all must practice teaching and presenting informatition. They took us out in progressively challenging conditions ranging from completely flat water in a lake to ocean surf.

There is a big difference between being a skilled kayaker and an instructor. Oregon kayaking is full of great paddlers, but only some possess the talent to teach kayaking classes. I look forward to leading beginner kayak trips around Portland and introducing others to this incredible activity. I can’t wait to get started teaching recreational kayak classes on the Willamette River in downtown Portland, OR with Northwest River Guides, the best kayak school in Portland!

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Ross Island Paddle 6/28 with Next Adventure

Filed under: Instruction, Kayaking- Flatwater — Tags: beginning kayaking, Kayak Instruction, Kayaking Oregon, kayaking portland, kayaking willamette river, Paddling Oregon, paddling portland, recreational paddling, ross island, sellwood park, willamette river kayaking, willamette river paddling — Rod @ 8:00 am

On Sunday morning we lead a recreational paddle out of Sellwood Park in Portland, Oregon for a tour of the Willamette to Ross Island. This is a beginner level paddle, no experience necessary! You’ll get introductory information on kayaking, paddle strokes, safety and equipment. Check out the wildlife at Ross Island – bald eagles, blue herons, ospreys, beavers and more. Kayaks are provided by Next Adventure – call 503-233-0706 or register online at Next Adventure’s website to reserve space!

Time: 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.

Cost: $40 (includes kayak, paddle, PFD, guide)

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June 24, 2009

Skills Social Thursday

Filed under: Instruction — Tags: Kayak Instruction, kayak lessons portland, Kayaking Oregon, kayaking portland, sellwood park — Rod @ 12:55 pm

Join NRG this Thursday June 25th at 6:30 p.m. for our weekly skills social at Sellwood Park! One of the best secrets of Portland kayaking, Northwest River Guides’ Thursday evening skills socials are a great way to hone your skills and beat the recession. Come and meet fellow paddlers. Call the office at 503-772-1122 to reserve your spot and a boat!

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June 18, 2009

Deschutes River Adventure – July 3-5

Filed under: Kayaking- Whitewater, Multiday Trips, inflatable kayaking, rafting — Tags: deschutes river kayaking, deschutes river rafting, Kayak Instruction, kayak lessons portland, oregon kayak adventure, oregon paddling, whitewater kayaking oregon, whitewater rafting oregon — Rod @ 3:38 pm

Join Northwest River Guides in celebrating Independence Day weekend 2009. We’re paddling THE classic desert river in Oregon – The Deschutes! Spend three days and two nights in this wild and scenic high desert environment!

Let us show you the fantastic whitewater and unique adventures that dot this Central Oregon river. Our trip starts at Warm Springs and takes us downstream to Maupin. This stretch includes 50+ miles of exciting class I – III rapids. We’ll be traveling in rafts, inflatable kayaks and hardshell kayaks. We can accommodate any experience level on this great river. This section of the Deschutes is filled with great rapids like Box Car, Wapinitia, White Horse, Bucksin Mary and Oak Springs, just to name a few.

NRG Instructors will provide top-notch instruction throughout this trip. The warm waters and sunny skies of the Deschutes Canyon are fantastic for learning new skills and enjoying the occasional flip.

Don’t miss this unforgettable experience! Contact the office at 503.772.1122 or email northwestriverguides@gmail.com for more information or to register for the trip.

This trip includes guiding and instruction from NRG instructors, all meals, shuttle, permits, raft space or IK/kayak rental.
You’ll need your own camping and personal river equipment.

Cost: $450 – Price drops to $400 with 10 or more guests.
Logistics: Meeting in Maupin, OR Friday July 3 at 10 am. We’ll arrive back in Maupin on Sunday July 5 in the late afternoon.

Some Photos from our Lower Deschutes Trip in September 2008.

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June 11, 2009

Team River Runner Roll Session

Filed under: Instruction, Kayaking- Whitewater, Uncategorized — Tags: Kayak Instruction, Kayak Instruction Portland, Kayaking Oregon, kayaking portland, Paddling Oregon, Paddling Veterans, team river runner — Rod @ 3:33 pm

Kayak Classes Portland

I joined Sam the afternoon of June 5th for a pool session with some members of Team River Runner. All the members of Team River Runner are veterans; most have experience in Iraq or Afghanistan.

First, Sam had us stretching. A good stretch is an important start to successful kayaking – especially whitewater. Once we launched, it was time to practice strokes, warming up. Then we proceeded to learning various paddle strokes. Sam taught forward, backward and sweep strokes. Then the maneuvering strokes like the skull and draw. We also practiced low bracing, high bracing, rudder strokes and even the Dufek stroke.

Next, to the harder stuff. We practiced hip snaps and then rolling. I rolled up every time, some uglier than others, but I never struggled. It was my first time in a Liquid Logic Remix, which seems very user friendly. The outfitting was real comfortable too. Anyway we worked with the students and dialed in their rolls.

Next it was on to attempting a hand roll. Of course Sam could get one done. The rest of us never got it…but I was really close! Maybe next time. Looking forward to more experiences with the veterans this summer.

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March 2, 2009

Whitewater Kayak Classes with NRG Kayaking

Filed under: Adventures, Kayaking- Whitewater — Tags: Instruction, Instructor, Kayak Instruction, Northwest River Guides, Portland Kayaking, whitewater kayaking — Instructor @ 8:48 am

This is a photo of my good friend and kayaking buddy Josh just below Thrasher on Canyon Creek, WA. What I like some much about this photo is the swirling water, dark and deep, yet white and aerated. This is the kind of special, unique thing you get to see when you are whitewater kayaking. In the isolated river gorge near Portland you can really feel how special these wilderness areas are. Unfortunately, clear-cut logging caused a large landslide above where this photo was taken. Now the gorge is filled with literally thousands of trees. It is still possible to get down the river but much more dangerous and harder work. Still, Canyon Creek remains one of my favorite places to kayak. If you’d like to get started whitewater kayaking, give me a call at the Northwest River Guides office (503.772.1122) or check out our website. I hope to paddle with you soon. -Dave

PDX Winter 2008 00118

Could the water be any cooler looking?

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March 1, 2009

Portland Kayak Classes

Filed under: Instruction — Tags: Add new tag, Kayak Instruction, kayak school portland, portland kayak lessons, Portland Kayaking, Portland paddling, Sea Kayaking, whitewater kayaking — Instructor @ 8:00 am

For me, this is what it is all about – teaching folks to kayak. With my job I certainly have some tasks that I don’t enjoy that much – cleaning out the van, cleaning gear, entering class info into our database – but all of those tasks allow me to do what I really love: teach students to kayak. The passion for instruction that we have here at Northwest River Guides is truly special. We won’t try to sell you kayaks or gear and we won’t try to get you to take endless lessons. Our only goal is for you to learn as fast as you can and have as much fun as possible. We figure if that happens, you’ll recommend us to all your friends and then I’ll get to teach even more kayak lessons! That would be awesome. If you’d like to take a kayak lesson with Portland’s best kayak instructors, give me a call at the office, 503.772.1122 or check out our website. I hope I see you on the water soon! -Dave

Northwest River Guides instructor Ben Liotta teaches the sweep stroke to a student.

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February 25, 2009

Ross Island Kayaking with Northwest River Guides

Filed under: Instruction, Kayaking- Flatwater — Tags: Kayak Instruction, kayak lessons, kayak school portland, learn to kayak, portland kayak lessons, portland kayak school, ross island kayaking, willamette kayaking, Willamette River — Instructor @ 8:00 am

Northwest River Guides teaches intro kayaking classes on the Willamette River in downtown Portland. These kayak lessons are a great way to get some exercise, enjoy nature and view Portland from another angle. All ages and abilities levels are welcome as recreational kayaking is a very beginner-friendly sport. For more info, call our office at 503.772.1122. NRG also has beginner trips to Vancouver Lake, the Columbia River, Willamette Falls and Sauvie Island.

Just another beautiful day on the water with Northwest River Guides.

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February 16, 2009

Willamette Falls

Filed under: Instruction, Kayaking- Flatwater — Tags: kayak classes, Kayak Instruction, kayak lessons, Portland Kayaking, Portland paddling, Willamette River — Instructor @ 8:00 am

Take a sea kayaking class with Northwest River Guides. NRG teaches flatwater kayaking lessons close to Portland, OR on the Willamette River, Columbia River, Vancouver Lake, Nehalem Bay and other waterways. Give us a call at 503.771.1122 for more info. Northwest River Guides also does whitewater rafting trips on local Portland rivers – the Sandy, Clackamas and Santiam.

Amazing sunset at Willamette Falls during a NRG trip.

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