Clinics
About the Clinics
- PLEASE READ ALL CLINIC LEVEL GUIDELINES before you make your clinic selections.
- Clinics are two hours long. There are two clinic time slots per day: one in the morning (10am until 12pm) and one in the afternoon (2pm until 4pm).
- You should get ready 30 minutes before your clinics begin and be at the meeting point ready to go on time.
- You may participate in two clinics per day.
- Organizers reserve the right to alter or cancel clinics, pending demand. Please check final schedule when you arrive to receive your wristband at the festival.
- PLEASE REGISTER ONLY FOR CLINICS YOU ARE SURE TO ATTEND.
How to Choose the Right Level of Clinics?
All clinics are organized into four very different skill levels—Level 1, 2, 3 and All. Choosing the correct level insures the best experience for you and the other paddlers in your clinics.
- Level 1 is for people who have very little or no sea kayaking or canoeing experience.
- Level 2 is for those have a basic understanding and have had some formal instruction—these are designed to build upon and refine your basic skills.
- Level 3 are clinics that teach advance skills or concepts and are designed for strong intermediate paddlers.
We would love to tell you which clinics are best for you but we don’t know your skills or experience. Please don’t sign up for clinics that are beyond your skill level. If you find yourself enrolled in a clinic beyond your ability you may be asked by your instructor that you audit the clinic.
If in doubt we suggest being modest, it is easier for our instructors to teach to a higher level for you than it is for them to bring an advanced clinic down to a basic level for one person in the group. In the past we’ve had people who couldn’t get their spray skirt on sign up for advanced surfing courses. Again, in cases like this, for the benefit of the group, our instructors may ask you to just audit the clinic.
Please read each level description and decide carefully being honest about your experience and ability, when selecting your clinics. If you do this you’ll have a rewarding and extremely fun weekend.
Clinic Level Guidelines
Level 1 Clinics= Level 1 clinics are designed for first time paddlers who haven’t had any or very little previous experience or sea kayak or canoe instruction. These clinics are designed so that new paddlers can start from scratch and take all four, building upon the concepts and skills throughout the weekend. Even if you’re an experienced lakewater canoeist or whitewater paddler you should begin here if you are taking clinics in other disciplines. Even though these are entry-level clinics entrants should be comfortable with the idea of exiting an overturned boat and be able to swim independently to safety. Entrants should be prepared with appropriate safety gear and cold water paddling clothes for your safety and enjoyment.
Level 2 Clinics= Level 2 clinics are designed for paddlers who have some experience or formal instruction, perhaps a weekend course, and have been paddling on a short-term regular basis. You grasp the basic concepts and skills of canoeing or sea kayaking. Expect to learn things that help you teach yourself to become a confident paddler ready to learn the entire scope of the sport. Most of this instruction will fine-tune core strokes and skills.
Level 3 Clinics=Level 3 clinics include advanced techniques, skills or concepts designed for experienced intermediate sea kayakers and canoeists. Advanced clinics are for skilled paddlers looking to improve certain aspects like strokes, or they are clinics teaching advanced concepts or moves, like surfing, tides, rescues, rolling, whitewater canoe tripping etc. You need not be an advanced paddler but you should be an experienced and competent weekend paddler ready to learn advanced moves. You should understand much of the terminology related to instruction and paddling at an intermediate to advanced level. In fairness to the group, if you belong in Level One or Level Two clinics you may be asked to just audit the clinics.
ALL-Level Clinics=These clinics are for all levels of paddlers. These clinics included concepts, skills and techniques that apply to all skill levels of paddlers, such as navigation, trip planning and trip safety. Instructors will assess the needs of the group and teach accordingly.
Continuing Clinics
We offer a number of clinics that build upon one another so that new or improving paddlers can progress through two or four clinics acquiring real skills and knowledge—almost like the first day of a paddling course. We offer these clinics for introduction to sea kayaking and solo and tandem canoeing. We also have a series of clinics for intermediate paddlers looking to improve their skills. You may even have the same instructor in each clinic.
How will I know what I’ll learn in each clinic?
Use the clinic description and skill level as a guide. Our instructors will assess the level and desires of paddlers in the group and try to tailor the clinic accordingly. Anyone new to paddling should consider the Level 1 beginner clinics. Level 2 and Level 3 clinics are for paddlers with previous sea kayaking and canoeing experience, such as a season of paddling or at least a prior sea kayaking and canoeing course.
Can I take the same clinic all weekend?
Sure, why not? If this is your weekend to master your roll or perfect a certain stroke or skill, you can register for two, three or four of the rolling or strokes clinics. Some of the clinic topics are very general, so that you could work on completely different things each clinic, or just spend four clinics just getting comfortable with one concept.
What about the kids clinics and kids in adult clinics?
We’re proud to offer both kayaking and canoeing clinics for kids ages 7 and up. These clinics may be split into two skill groups to allow more advanced young paddlers to progress. Older kids may participate in adult clinics but kids under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian (with the parent in another kayak, solo canoe or with them in a tandem canoe). We will try to round up as much kids equipment for them to try, however we do not guarantee equipment for these clinics. Please have kids set up with boats and gear—including safety gear and cold water paddling gear. If we want them to be lifelong paddlers, it is important that they have a safe and enjoyable time on the water.
Note: Upon registration you’ll be required to sign a RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WAIVER OF CLAIMS, ASSUMPTION OF RISKS AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT, please download and read this legal document in advance. You will asked to read and sign this legal document when you arrive and check in. Review this document in advance, 
Palmer_Fest-Waiver_2010.pdf bytes
