December Classes (6) Trips (8) and "SWK Presents" (3)

Thursday, December 2

Sweetwater Presents - Subject to be announced.
Thu, December 2, 6pm – 9pm
Sweetwater Kayaks (map)

Thursday evening kayak presentations, classroom sessions, and discussions. Join us on this free learning and social event.

Call the the shop at 727-570-4844 for reservations!

Saturday, December 4

1st Manatee Paddle of the season
Sat, December 4, 10:00am – 3:30pm
Hunter Spring Park (map)

Whoopee! The first time paddling with the manatees this season. Manatee are nature's snow birds. They must be in water above 70 degrees to live. So, when the gulf gets colder, they seek warm waters. Kings Bay is the largest gathering place in the US for these wonderful sea cows. As many as 500 have been counted in the Kings Bay. Let's see how many we can find in the morning, have lunch, then proceed to explore the remote beauty of Kings Bay. We usually paddle about 2.5 miles in the morning and 4 to 4.5 miles after lunch.

If it is cold, Big D has some extra fleece and paddling jackets to share.

Lunch provided - and maybe a skills demo too.

$25 guide fee plus $30 rental Register at 727-403-7046 or (register online)

Sunday, December 5

Big Ds - Foundation Skills
Sun, December 5, 10:00am – 1:30pm
Snug Harbor - near Sweetwater Kayaks (map)

Get better paddling forward, turning, paddling straight, stopping, paddling sideways, and backwards. Then, go further and learn to stay upright and make all your turns much easier. Develop the foundation strokes needed for easy, skillful kayaking in any conditions.

About 3 hours - $75

Register at 727-403-7046 or at "http://BigDsKayaking.com/Register%20Online.html"

Bracing, Edging, Recoveries, and Sculling - NEW CLASS
Sun, December 5, 1:30pm – 4:30pm
Snug Harbor - near Sweetwater Kayaks (map)

Ever wish you had an almost-instantaneous outrigger to help you balance and stabilize your kayak? In this class you will build your own. You will then learn to use it to make your turns much more easily and all of your paddling more confident, more secure, and more stable. Students have been amazed how much their strokes improved.

$59.00

Register at 727-403-7046 or (register online)

Saturday, December 11

SWK - Foundation Skills
Sat, December 11, 10am – 1pm
Meet at the Sweetwater Kayaks (map)

Step 1. Foundation Skills - about 3 hours - $75 Develop the foundation strokes needed for easy, skillful kayaking in any conditions. This class is conducted in the shallow, warm water of Snug Harbor.

Call the the shop at 727-570-4844 for reservations!

Sean & Jeff Tour
Sat, December 11
Details TBA.

$30 guide fee (includes launch fee) plus $30 rental. Lunch provided.

Sunday, December 12

Big Ds - The 4 Principles of Effective Paddling - NEW CLASS
Sun, December 12, 1pm – 4pm
Snug Harbor - near Sweetwater Kayaks (map)

This on-water session focuses on the four principles of effectively paddling as taught by the BCU: - Active Posture - Connections - Power Transfer - FEEL. Learn by doing. Participate a series of exercises that will show you the effectiveness of using the Four Principles while you paddle. You will breath, turn, and go straight while sitting upright, tilted slightly back and tilted slightly forward and measure for themselves the results of each posture. The result will be knowledge of when to sit upright and when not to. You will also discover how to pay attention to where their body is touching the kayak and how to change these pressures to get even more performance out of their kayak. Then you will learn how to effectively transfer the power of their torso through their body and into the kayak. This is all tied together by increasing their sense of feel as you paddle.

Class Tuition: $59.00.

Register at 727-403-7046 or (register online)

Thursday, December 16

Sweetwater Presents
Thu, December 16, 6pm – 9pm
Meet At Sweetwater Kayaks (map)

Thursday evening kayak presentations, classroom sessions, and discussions. Join us on this free social event.

Call the the shop at 727-570-4844 for reservations!

Friday, December 17

Weeki Wachee River
Fri, December 17, 10:00am – 3:30pm
Weeki Wachee River State Park canoe livery, Paddling Adventures (map)

Crystal clear water, easy trip down stream, cool water (72°) chilled air, snorkeling possibilities, maybe otters and/or manatees. For the more adventurous there are also trees to jump out of and others from which to swing on ropes into the river. We usually go on week days to avoid the boat traffic present on weekends.

Search for Weeki Wachee on blog for prior trips.

$30 guide fee (includes launch fee) plus $30 rental ($3 parking is extra)

Lunch provided. REgister at 727-403-7046 or (register online)

Saturday, December 18

Big Ds - Foundation Skills
Sat, December 18, 10:00am – 1:30pm
Snug Harbor - near Sweetwater Kayaks (map)

Get better paddling forward, turning, paddling straight, stopping, paddling sideways, and backwards. Then, go further and learn to stay upright and make all your turns much easier. Develop the foundation strokes needed for easy, skillful kayaking in any conditions.

About 3 hours - $75

Register at 727-403-7046 or (register online)

The Four Keys of Effective Paddling
Sat, December 18, 1:30pm – 4:30pm
Snug Harbor - near Sweetwater Kayaks (map)

Explore the 4 keys to effective paddling. Learn how to make your strokes much more effective, with way less effort. Learn how to use you posture and contact with your kayak to make your paddling more effective. Learn how to get more from your body, with less effort. Learn how to monitor these keys during every paddling event.

About 3 hours - $59

Register at 727-403-7046 or (register online)

Sunday, December 19

Cockroach Bay (north)
Sun, December 19, 10:00am – 3:30pm
End of Cockroach Bay Road (map)

Mary's Lake, Mags Hole, and a bunch of short mangrove tunnels to negotiate and visit. We will be surrounded by many, many mangrove islands. The birds, and the fish should be plentiful, plus we will add some adventure allowing you to try to find your way through part of it. What a hoot! It should be a great paddle.

Lunch provided. $25 guide fee plus $30 rental

Register at 727-403-7046 or (register online)

Wednesday, December 22

The Loops on the Little Manatee River
Wed, December 22, 1:00pm – 4:30pm
24th Street Put-In (map)

First we'll head for the heart loop. If you don't know which loop that is just take a look at that section of the river on Google Earth or Google Maps. Next, we'll return and go around the familiar loop ("The Loop") near 24th Street, then cross the river to the small loop near the upstream end, before returning to the put-in. I've never done the heart or small loops before, so it will a bit of an exploration.

Lunch provided. $25 guide fee plus $30 rental

Register at 727-403-7046 or (register online)

Thursday, December 23

Weeki Wachee River
Thur, December 23, 10:00am – 3:30pm
Weeki Wachee River State Park canoe livery, Paddling Adventures (map)

Crystal clear water, easy trip down stream, cool water (72°) chilled air, snorkeling possibilities, maybe otters and/or manatees. For the more adventurous there are also trees to jump out of and others from which to swing on ropes into the river. We usually go on week days to avoid the boat traffic present on weekends.

Search for Weeki Wachee on blog for prior trips.

$30 guide fee (includes launch fee) plus $30 rental ($3 parking is extra)

Lunch provided. REgister at 727-403-7046 or (register online)

Saturday, December 25

Non-Traditional Christmas Tour to Shell Island
Sat, December 25, 1pm – 5pm
Highway 679 Put-In north of the county park bridge (map)

Last year we celebrated Christmas at Shell Island with new friends, Lisa and Cherie. While walking on the beach we saved a tern from certain death as it was horribly trapped in fishing line. See the details at http://bigdskayakingjournal.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-day-bird-rescue.html. We hope all the birds are safe this Christmas, and want to enjoy the wonderfully warm feelings we shared at this nearly pristine barrier island.

Snacks provided. $25 guide fee plus $30 rental.

Register at 727-403-7046 or (register online)

Sunday, December 26

Linger Lodge & the Braden River
Sun, December 26, 10am – 3pm
Linger Lodge (boat ramp) (map)

We will put in at Linger Lodge and paddle the Braden River, returning to linger at the lodge for a snack before heading back onto the river for a bit more paddling before heading home. The lodge is at 7205 85th Street Court East, Bradenton, FL (941) 755-2757.

Snacks provided. $25 guide fee plus $30 rental

Register at 727-403-7046 or (register online)

Thursday, December 30

Sweetwater Presents
Thurs, December 30, 6pm – 9pm
Meet At Sweetwater Kayaks (map)

Thursday evening kayak presentations, classroom sessions, and discussions. Join us on this free social event.

Call the the shop at 727-570-4844 for reservations!

Friday, December 31

Early Bird New Year's Eve Celebration Paddle:
Downtown St Pete to Coffee Pot Bayou
Fri, December 31, 6:30pm – 9:00pm
North Shore Pool parking lot (map)

Celebrate New Year's Eve on the water with us - and still have time to celebrate the new year somewhere else. We plan to put in by North Shore pool and paddle north to Coffee Pot Bayou. Bring a snack to share at the Bayou.

$20 guide fee plus $25 rental

Register at 727-403-7046 or (register online)

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Crystal River with Manatees
Sat, January 1, 2011, 10:00am – 3:30pm
Hunter Spring Park (map)

Manatee are nature's snow birds. They must be in water above 70 degrees to live. So, when the gulf gets colder, they seek warm waters. Kings Bay is the largest gathering place in the US for these wonderful sea cows. As many as 500 have been counted in the Kings Bay. Let's see how many we can find in the morning, have lunch, then proceed to explore the remote beauty of Kings Bay. We usually paddle about 2.5 miles in the morning and 4 to 4.5 miles after lunch. If it is cold, Big D has some extra fleece and paddling jackets to share.

Lunch provided - and maybe a skills demo too.

$25 guide fee plus $30 rental

Register at 727-403-7046 or (register online)