Sea Kayak Rolling Lessons in Victoria: Your questions answered

Answers about our Lessons

Below you’ll find answers to common questions, but if you have others, please don’t hesitate to get in touch us.

What is your availability?

Our lessons are on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays on most weeks with availability listed in our booking calendar. Morning or afternoon sessions respectively start at:

10am for two hours, or
1pm for two or three hours

Please note that we require at least 48 hours notice for bookings.

How do I pay for a session?

Once you've made a kayak lesson Booking Request, we will follow up with an invoice including payment instructions and a waiver. When we've received your payment, your session will then be confirmed by email.

We accept email money transfers, PayPal and Visa.

Do you offer discounts?

We do not charge tax, and unless an item is already discounted, we are happy to provide 15% off of our services for members of Vancouver Island sea kayak paddling clubs: SISKA, the Nanaimo Paddlers Group, or any Paddle Canada / ACA / BCU Instructors.

Note that we also offer a 25% discount for 4 bookings per person!

What is your cancellation policy?

If you need to cancel your session for any reason, please get in touch with us as soon as possible as we require at least 24 hours notice to provide a 100% refund. With less than 24 hours notice we can give a 50% refund.

We reserve the right to cancel kayak lessons due to inclement weather where safety is a concern. In this case, we will issue a full refund to each participant.

Can I rent equipment from you?

Although you're best off with your own sea kayak, paddling clothing, and safety equipment, depending on availability, we can rent* out the following with at least 48 hours notice:

A sea kayak: $50
Euro or Traditional Paddle: $10
PFD: $5
Paddle float: $5
Manual bilge pump: $5
15m (50ft) buoyant heaving line: $5

* Rentals are for lessons only.

Where do you teach?

In Victoria, we teach lessons at one of the three following places,

... as each of these locations provides easy parking access and bathrooms.

We may be available for teaching in other places around Vancouver Island, such as Sidney, Nanaimo, and others. Please get in touch to ask us about your local area.

What are your credentials?

Raj:

Paddle Canada Skills, Level 3
Paddle Canada Skills, Level 1 Instructor
Paddle Canada Kayak Rolling Instructor
Teacher mentoring with James Manke
Teacher training with Gordon Brown
Remote First Aid, CPR

Rebecca:

Paddle Canada Skills Level 3
Teacher training via Gordon Brown
Wilderness First Aid, CPR

What does 'traditional style' paddling mean?

Greenland kayak rolling is deeply rooted in Inuit culture and history. The kayak (qajaq), the traditional paddle (pautik) and the art of rolling a kayak (qajaasaarneq) are more than just tools and techniques; they embody centuries of Indigenous knowledge, survival skills, and cultural traditions.

We greatly admire and follow the techniques of kayak rolling that originated from eastern Greenland, but we are not Inuit, and so, out of respect for their culture, we prefer to say we teach traditional styles inspired from this region. For us, it's a subtle but important distinction.

There is an association which oversees specific Greenland kayak techniques, known as the Qaannat Kattuffiat (the Greenland Kayaking Association) if you'd like to learn more.

Do I require a waiver?

Yes. Each participant will be required to fill in our waiver before they can undertake lessons with us. Both electronic and print versions are available using the link above.

What should I bring?

For Rolling::

Your waiver
Your own kayak and paddle (Greenland or Euroblade)
Drysuit or wetsuit (no cotton while on/in the water)
Swimmer's nose plug
Kayaking helmet

Highly Recommended:

Neoprene gloves (3mm min) for cold water
Earplugs (see recommendations)
Ginger - crystallized or pills
Goggles or snorkeling mask

If Paddling:
Items with asterisk * are Mandated by Transport Canada:

* Personal Floatation Device (PFD)
* Buoyant heaving line at least 15m
* Bailer or bilge pump
* Sound signalling device (whistle)
Paddle float
Snacks in a drybag, water, perhaps a hot drink.
Dry change of clothes including shoes.
Optional: Kayak trolley / wheels

Do you offer Gift Certificates?

Are you wanting to puchase lessons for someone? You can purchase a gift certificate for any amount towards lessons. Get in touch with us to learn more.

Who are your mentors?

We draw on instruction from many resources but feel especially fortunate to have trained with incredibly talented instructors such as: James Manke, Gordon Brown, JF Marleau, Justine Curgenven, Yves Aquin, Patti Stevens, Faroe Des Roches, and Amber Champion.