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Introduction to Sea Kayaking in Current
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Introduction to Sea Kayaking in Current

Introduction to Sea Kayaking in Current

$261.00 USD

Niagara River — Fort Erie

The Mighty Niagara is a challenging and misunderstood place to paddle a sea kayak. This one-of-a-kind program uses the river as the venue to teach current skills in a supportive, inclusive training environment. We operate on Niagara Parks properties under permit — one of few paddlesport programs authorized to run instruction on this stretch of river.

Day one rebuilds your flatwater foundation — edging, turning under momentum, and rescues in conditions. Day two puts it all in the river. Start with small current, work up progressively. Ferrying, s-turns, peeling in and out — the fundamental skills that open up moving water.

2 daysDuration
1:4Ratio
Fort ErieLocation
Moderate+Exposure

Itinerary

Day 1 — Flatwater Skills & Re-entries
Build and refine the foundation before adding current. Everything here gets tested on the river tomorrow.
  • Safety debrief and risk management presentation
  • Level 1 review — confirming baseline skills
  • Four corners (turning under momentum) — sweep strokes, bow and cross-bow rudder, high and low brace turns
  • Re-entries in Level 2 conditions — self re-entry, assisted re-entry, bow re-entry
Day 2 — Current Skills
Into the Niagara. Progressive exposure — start with small current and build up as skills develop.
  • Launching and landing in current
  • Ferrying — angle, speed, and reading the water
  • S-turns — linking moves across current
  • Peeling in and out — using eddy lines deliberately
Current skills training on the Niagara River

Included

  • Two full days of coaching at 1:4 ratio
  • Published curriculum — consistent quality regardless of instructor
  • Progressive current exposure — small to challenging

Gear

  • Sea kayak with two bulkheads — fibreglass sea kayaks available for rent, or bring your own
  • Pump, whistle, and 15m floating rope — available for purchase
  • Drysuit — available for rent if required
  • PFD (mandatory — you must bring your own)
  • Paddle
Food and parking permits are the responsibility of the participant
Paddling on the Niagara River

Prerequisite: Paddle Canada Level 1 Skills (or equivalent). Not sure? Get in touch.

Where this goes next: Current skills open up river-influenced coastal environments. Pair with Surf & Dynamic Conditions at Tobermory or Introduction to Surfing and Forecasting the Great Lakes for the full dynamic water progression.

Questions

Do I need my own kayak?
No. Fibreglass sea kayaks are available for rent. You're welcome to bring your own if it meets the two-bulkhead requirement.
Do I need a drysuit?
Strongly recommended for the Niagara. Drysuits are available for rent if you don't own one.
How strong is the current?
We start in manageable current and progress through the day. The Niagara has a range of features — your coach manages the exposure so you're challenged but not overwhelmed.
Is this a whitewater course?
No. This is sea kayak current training — you're in a sea kayak on moving water, learning to read and work with current. Different boat, different techniques, different risk profile than whitewater kayaking.
Can this count toward Level 2?
The skills developed here are directly relevant to Level 2 requirements. Contact us to discuss your certification pathway.
Are you permitted to run courses on the Niagara River?
Yes. We operate on Niagara Parks properties under permit. The Niagara is a regulated stretch of river, and operating here requires authorization — if you're booking current training anywhere on the Niagara, confirm your outfitter holds a valid Niagara Parks permit.

We acknowledge that the land on which we gather (known as Fort Erie) is the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, Attiwonderonk, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, and Mississauga. We are grateful for the knowledge shared with us by the Indigenous peoples of what is now known as Canada as well as the circumpolar region of the Northern Hemisphere.

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