2024 26th Annual SK-102 CPA On-Water Kayak Skills Workshop Pre-registration

26th ANNUAL SK102 - April 26th - April 28th, 2024

SK102 offers on-the-water skills classes covering wet exits, basic strokes, basic and advanced rescues, stroke improvement, rolling and more. Additional on land courses (i.e. navigation, kayak camping, etc) are offered. SK102 is designed to teach beginner or intermediate kayakers proper paddling technique and the skills they need to kayak safely.

CPA's 26th Annual SK102 skills clinic will be held on the warm waters of Lake Anna. Lake Anna is the cooling waters of a nuclear power plant, so the water is not only very clear, it is heated – allowing you to practice wet exits, rescues, and rolling in warm water in early spring! The location is private property on which you are welcome to camp.

Cost: $120, which includes the cost of two days of all volunteer instruction, camping on-site, morning coffee, Saturday night dinner, and a one year CPA membership.

How to Pre-register: You must pre-register through Eventbrite by clicking the register button above. You will receive a pre-registration confirmation via email. If your registration is accepted, you will be emailed an invitation to pay for the event through PayPal. Your registration and SK102 slot will not be secure until your payment is received. Prior to the event, you will receive an information packet email with all the information you need. Participants must be 18 years or older.

PRE-REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE ON April 25th and waitlist registration will open.

SK102 is an extremely popular event and always fills up quickly. You are required to bring a kayak (sea or light touring), sprayskirt , life vest, paddle, pump, and paddle float to SK102 for use during your classes. You will be required to sign a release of liability.

Because of space and parking concerns due to unforseen changes in ownership in the SK102 location, we are changing the format of SK102 this year. There will be a spring and a fall SK102. We will be prioritizing new paddlers (both new to paddling in general or new to paddling instruction), new CPA members, SK101 attendees and those that can carpool for the April 2024 SK102. For the fall SK102, we will be prioritizing intermediate paddlers and active CPA members (through participation or volunteering). We will determine the roster based on those who sign up, so even if you aren't a new paddler, please sign up. We will accomodate those we can as space allows.

Saturday Instruction Tracts: Sign up for your level of kayaking knowledge when you register:

Introduction to paddling “Starting to Explore”:

If you are new to paddling and/or have not had kayaking lessons:

Boats and paddles

PFD design and fit

Spray skirts

Wet Exits

Strokes

Self and Assisted Rescues

Basic trip planning

Intermediate Paddling “Moving into the Bay”:

Stroke refinement

More maneuvering strokes

Rescue refinement

Trip Leadership.

Saturday Class schedule (Examples):

Morning Session: 9:00-12:00

BLOCK 1: Kayak Design, Wet Exit, Basic Strokes

If you are new to paddling and/or have not had kayaking lessons

• Discover features separating various kayak designs and their value to you

• Wet Exiting is the most critical kayak skill for safety—a requirement for attending CPA trips

• The proper basic strokes will make your paddling much more fun and efficient

BLOCK 2: Stroke Improvement, Intermediate Strokes, Bracing

For those who have been paddling for a year or more and are proficient in basic strokes.

• Improve your basic strokes to increase your efficiency and form

• Learn intermediate strokes such as hanging draw, draw on the move, bow rudder

• High and low bracing not only keep you upright but are the foundation of several kayak rolls

BLOCK 3: Self Rescues, Group Rescues, Towing

Be able to get yourself and others back into a kayak in deep water. A required safety skill.

• Become a self sufficient paddler, able to recover from wet exits

• Be able to rescue another kayaker who had to exit. Several methods are demonstrated

• Learn types of tow systems, methods and how to use them

BLOCK 4: Greenland Style Paddling

What is that thin paddle anyway?

• Advantages of Greenland style paddling

• Design of the Greenland paddle

• Proper Greenland style strokes

Afternoon Session: 1:00-4:00

BLOCK A: Stroke Improvement, Intermediate Strokes, Bracing

For those who have been paddling for a year or more and are proficient in basic strokes.

• Improve your basic strokes to increase your efficiency and form

• Learn intermediate strokes such as hanging draw, draw on the move, bow rudder

• High and low bracing not only keep you upright but are the foundation of several kayak rolls

BLOCK B: Self Rescues, Group Rescues

If you took Block 1, this is the best follow up course for new paddlers.

• Become a self sufficient paddler, able to recover from wet exits, learn importance of floatation

• Be able to rescue another kayaker who had to exit. Several methods are demonstrated.

BLOCK C: Advanced Rescues

For those proficient in self and group rescues, take it to the next level

• How to rescue a boat without floatation that “sank”

• Techniques to rescue an injured paddler

BLOCK D: Foundations of Rolling

For more advanced paddlers who are ready to transition to rolling:

• Access to Rolling class is restricted

• The best form of rescue is to never exit the boat
• Braces and hip snaps are the foundations of several kayak rolls
• Bow and Paddle Rescues

Sunday Class schedule:

• Schedule to be announced, sign up at the event.

For more information about the Chesapeake Paddlers Association and SK102, please visit CPA's home page and the CPA forum. Photos from previous years SK102 can be seen here, here and here. A release of liability must be signed in order to participate.

For specific questions, please email Catriona M, Event Organizer and Brian Blankinship, Registrar at sk102@cpakayaker.com

This eventbrite page and the www.cpakayaker.com homepage are the only official places to obtain information about SK102.