Teaching

Often we are asked “why take a kayak class” when retailers, people, and electronic media proclaim that it is easy to kayak. It is easy to kayak when a person uses efficient technique. Our goal is to share our love and knowledge of kayaking and the outdoors with others. And one of the best ways to achieve that goal is to help others learn how to kayak safely and without pain.

We focuses on you. A private class is preferred. Information can be lost in large groups and often there are questions left unanswered. If you have a group and want to experience a comical educational duo then book both of these men. They will never leave a student behind. And every one will discover how to keep having a safe and fun time outside.

Jeff and Sean are a comical team and experienced Florida men that have paddled some of the most unique Florida waterways. We have certifications from the American Canoe Association (ACA) and, or the British Canoe Union (BCU) and the school of hard knocks.

Being outdoors is the dream, passion, and means of relaxation for Jeff and Sean

Private Kayak Classes: These are classes that we have created to work specifically for a paddler who only want to work on a specific thing. $195

Group Kayak Lesson: This is a class with three to five students. $69

Every student will have the opportunity to focus on safety and the following skills:

Confidence Skills
- This unique kayak builds on paddlers knowledge of their known paddling techniques and stroke development
- The goal is to increase fun and a paddlers time on the water while decreasing shoulder and back problems
- Learn tricks on how to enjoy paddling from lakes, rivers, protected flat water environments, and slightly windy ocean environments

Foundation Skills
- Develop the foundations needed for easy, skillful kayaking in most conditions.
- Learn efficient forward paddling, turning, reverse paddling and stopping.
- Stability and preventing capsize
- Rescue, assisted, and self-rescue
- Lifting, launching, and landing your kayak

Directional Skills
- learn how movement is effected by the placement of the paddle
- degree of edging, and blade angle

Rolling Recovery is a different set of skills

Rolling $79 one hour of instruction
- by appointment
- The Private class is about 1 hour in duration
- The roll requires little upper body strength
- Paddlers will develop a safe capsize recovery by using their hips to roll
- If you paddle mostly in flowing seas we will focus more on bracing to decrease the need of rolling
- ($35 for repeat sessions)
- you must have your own kayak, skirt, PFD, and paddle

Greenland Kayak Classes
- Greenland Qajaq Classes are a specialty classes that teach people a relaxed style of paddling. Five different types of classes on the third and fourth Saturday of every month.
- Basic / Intro Paddling Strokes, $75
- Rolling “Self Recovery Techniques in the event of a capsize”, $50
- ACA Intro to Traditional Qajaq Skills kayak class, $85
- Greenland Kayak weekend package

* * *

Presently in the evening and weekends we get the opportunity to share our love and knowledge of kayaking and the outdoors with others. Like many of our guests, we have have day jobs. Sean works as an Orthotics and Prosthetics registered fitter at St. Petersburg Limb and Brace; where as, I work as an administrative assistant at Saint Petersburg College. Due to this working arrangement we come with fresh eyes and understanding that our students want to get outside for a few hours to escape the day to day grind.

Sean loves to talk about a variety of unique and timely skills. Even though, Sean may never get back into a kayak or stand on a SUP due to injury he has a wealth of knowledge in helping others find the perfect gear to extend their fun on the water. He is still in high demand as a premier Stand up Paddling and kayaking instructor.

You can come by Bill Jackson’s on Saturdays and Sundays to explore gear with me and test paddle kayaks and sups on Freedom Lake. It is easy to get lost within Bill Jackson’s; there is so much to see, touch, and learn about.

On the weekends we are available for private and group youth lectures. Sean and I get together to take our friends out to local parks and islands off of Dunedin or Maderia for an informative camp out. During campouts we discuss the past lecture topics and put into practice some skills.

If you would like to talk over the phone, or schedule a video conference, contact Jeff at jeffreystillwater@gmail.com

– Jeffrey