CLASS: Karen Knight & Bob Foote (PART II)

Good technique, balance, and efficiency developed and practiced on flat water are the building blocks for solid and effective ocean paddling. Two of the best paddling instructors in the business, Karen Knight and Bob Foote join forces for this intensive two-part class. You may sign up for one or both parts depending upon your skill level (see requirements below)

Part I

On the first day of this workshop we'll begin by revisiting the basic strokes, leans and braces, filling in the gaps, fine tuning and polishing them for greater effectiveness. You’ll learn to steer your kayak with ease and lean your boat with confidence. Then we'll build from there and begin linking strokes together to create maneuvers (turns). This part covers the same material as Karen Knight’s “Dancing on Water” class given in prior years.

Part II

On the second day of this workshop we will revisit some of the skills from first day and then build from there. We’ll explore different stroke variations, more advanced maneuvers and possibly even link maneuvers together turning our sea kayaks into quiet water play boats. By the end of the class you'll feel more at one with your boat, paddle and the water than you ever thought possible.

Requirements:

Participants signing up for Part I or both days must be proficient in executing forward, reverse, sweeps and draw strokes and be comfortable doing a wet exit. An Eskimo roll is not necessary but good bracing skills are a plus.

Participants signing up for only Part II must have the above skills AND have previously taken a “Dancing on Water” class from Karen Knight or be very comfortable leaning your boat and performing braced turns under way.

If you have any questions about whether your skills meet these requirements, please ask the class facilitator.

Fee: $100 per day for NSPN members, $125 per day for non-members NOTE: Priority will be given to NSPN members. Any slots not filled 2 weeks before the class will be made available to non-members.

Class size: 10 maximum

TO REGISTER send an email to the class facilitator, Paula Riegel at [email protected]:

Include your ACA#

Boat description

Emergency Contact name and phone

Paula will tell you where to mail check and will keep the registration list and a waiting list. Paula will only hold your slot when she receives your check made out to NSPN. Write clearly on the memo line that the check is for the Karen Knight/Bob Foote class and SPECIFY WHICH DAY(S). If you cannot attend you will receive a refund only if your slot can be filled from the waiting list. If the class is oversubscribed Paula will ask if you want to be placed on the waiting list.

All NSPN-sponsored commercial events are run on a “pass-through-the-cost-basis.” NSPN may include a very small markup over actual costs to cover incidental expenses and support club activities that benefit the membership as a whole. These classes are still priced well below what commercial outfitters charge for comparable activities. The club does not subsidize activities that benefit only the participants in classes with limited enrollment. Therefore, in the highly unlikely event that the class is canceled due to extreme weather, there will be no refunds. Lightning will obviously keep us off the water, but much can be learned from these talented teachers on shore.

Instructor Qualifications:

A National Champion in Interpretive Freestyle canoeing from 1996 until her retirement in 2000, Karen Knight has been described as “a ballerina on the water.” An ACA Instructor Trainer in Open Water Coastal Kayaking and Freestyle Canoeing, as well as a whitewater canoe instructor and Maine Guide, Karen is a versatile paddler with over 20 years of teaching and guiding experience. Along with her partner, Bob Foote, Karen travels throughout North America and Europe offering instruction in kayaking and canoeing, as well as guiding trips on the Grand Canyon, Honduras and beyond

Bob Foote is an Instructor Trainer Educator in Whitewater Canoeing for the American Canoe Association and is in the process of becoming an Instructor Trainer in Coastal Kayaking. Bob is on the ACA=s Coastal Kayaking Committee and Chairs the River Instructional Sub-Committee of the National Safety, Education and Instructional Committee. Well known for 25 years in the whitewater canoeing arena, Bob has also been a kayaker, whitewater and coastal, for almost 15 years. Bob spends his days traveling around the United States, Canada, and South America teaching or leading trips, writing articles and designing boats. Bob has also been the ACA National Mens Champion in Interpretive Freestyle Canoe.