Learn Kayaking: Skills, Safety & Instructional Guides
Instructional Guides
​Learn the skills that make paddling safer, easier, and more enjoyable.
These guides cover the fundamentals we teach in our classes and use whether we are paddling on Lake Union or Puget Sound, and the inland waters of Washington. Whether you're new to kayaking or preparing for longer trips in the San Juan Islands, start here.
The articles below walk though the skills paddlers build over time—from basic strokes and boat control to trip planning, safety and paddling in wind and current. We'd recommend progressing through these skills in stages. Start with the fundamentals, then move into safety, boat control, and eventually trip planning for long adventures.
​
These guides are meant to help paddlers understand the basics whether before getting on the water or as a refresher after taking one of our Seattle kayaking classes. Trying to distill all of our instructors collective knowledge, tips, and tricks, into a digestible, reader friendly format is impossible. These guides are a starting point. Nothing replaces time on the water with an instructor.
The Foundations of Kayaking
If you're new to kayaking, these are the most important skills to learn first. These guides form the foundation of efficient paddling and safe boat handling.
​
Essential Kayaking Safety Skills
Cold water and open water environments like Puget Sound require preparation and awareness. These guides cover the safety skills and every paddler should understand before heading out.
​
Building Touring Skills
Once you're comfortable paddling and controlling your kayak, these skills open the door to longer trips and more exposed water.
​​​​
-
Kayak Bracing: How to Stay Upright (guide coming soon)
Learn These Skills in a Class
Our classes focus on practical skills for paddling on Lake Union, Puget Sound, and throughout the Pacific Northwest. If you're just getting started, these guides are a great place to begin. But the fastest way to build confidence is to learn on the water.
Explore our kayak classes in Seattle and build the skills to paddle safely on Puget Sound.
​