Crosscurrents Kayak

06/04/2026

Looking for training in June or July? We've got the following courses in the Nanaimo area with seats available:
📌 Sunday June 14 - Paddle Canada Basic Kayak Skills
📌 Thursday June 18 - Underwater Composure clinic
📌 June 25-28 - Maurelle Island Circumnavigation (Learning Expedition for intermediate+ paddlers)
📌 July 3-5 - Paddle Canada Level 1 Sea Kayak Skills
📌 July 11 or 12 - Paddle Canada Basic Kayak Skills (potential date - contact us directly)

Check out our Course Calendar for all the details. We'd love to see you out there! https://crosscurrentskayak.ca/courses-clinics/calendar/

05/27/2026

Last' weekend's Gabriola Island Learning Expedition -- the first Learning Expedition we've run here at Crosscurrents Kayak -- was both a great challenge and a resounding success! Three paddlers joined coach Caroline to circumnavigate Gabriola Island in the Southern Gulf Islands on a 22-nautical-mile route that includes two current stations and 6 nautical miles of exposed outer shoreline with a long section of cliffs. We tackled the trip well prepared, spending two pre-trip planning meetings gathering and assessing tide, current and weather data, and crafting a trip plan intended to minimize risk and make the best use of the current and weather conditions we were given. The weather didn't exactly cooperate, giving us an unexpected headwind on Day 1 and some strong southeast winds ahead of the forecast on Day 2, but we were able to work with what we got, adjust as needed, and complete the loop in both good time and good spirits. I am incredibly proud of this team of paddlers and their accomplishment: they contributed to the route planning and decision making, led sections of the trip, met our launch timelines flawlessly despite some unique challenges, asked all sorts of relevant questions to facilitate learning, paddled consistently and keenly every day, and supported each other throughout. The memories from this trip will be sweet and long-lasting! 👏😎

Interested in a future Learning Expedition with us? Our Maurelle Island Circumnavigation is coming up in late June. It's a great opportunity for intermediate-level paddlers to practice and refine trip planning, navigation and on-water leadership skills in a peer-based setting and in areas involving tidal current.
https://crosscurrentskayak.ca/learning-expeditions/maurelle-circumnav/

05/26/2026

I was honoured to be interviewed for the Beyond the Eddyline podcast about sea kayaking. We talked about paddling in currents and the Underwater Composure training I offer through Crosscurrents Kayak. Big thanks to Limor Friedman for the invite and the great conversation!

Podcast Episode · Beyond The Eddy Line podcast · May 22 · 22m

05/25/2026

We had a fun private lesson with a skilled and keen returning student from the Northwest Territories last week. We tackled some current + wind dynamics at Dodd Narrows, refined intermediate strokes including high brace recovery, high brace turn and bow rudder, and ran through solo re-entries to tune-up for the tripping season. Bravo, Jenny, for rocking it out there! 👍😎🌊

05/25/2026

A thank you note, a sea star, “War and Peace”, and a life ring… These clever scribbles were drawn by our latest Underwater Composure clinic students while they were capsized in their kayaks!! Bravo! 👏🏻
Our next Underwater Composure clinic runs June 18 in Nanaimo and we have a few seats still available. Join us to work through a series of exercises that may get you, too, to the point of writing notes while underwater in your kayak!
https://crosscurrentskayak.ca/skills-clinics/underwater-composure/

05/20/2026

We had a wonderful group for our Paddle Canada Basic Kayak Skills course last Saturday in Nanaimo. Smiles all around as we worked on paddle strokes, controlled wet exits, assisted re-entries and more. By the end of the day, these new paddlers were zipping around the lake, looping the floating dock and rafting up like they'd been doing it for years. Bravo!!
Our next Basic Kayak Skills course runs June 14 in Nanaimo! Kayak/gear rentals available.
https://crosscurrentskayak.ca/paddle-canada/pc-basic/

05/14/2026

That's a wrap on our first Paddle Canada Level 2 Skills course of the season! We capped off the course with an overnight camping trip in the Gulf Islands, during which our students practiced peer leadership and scenario management, then cooperated to implement a route plan they jointly created. The group gelled very well on this trip and were working together like a well-oiled machine. Congratulations to four newly minted Paddle Canada Level 2 paddlers: Jenny, Jill, Greg and Steve. Bravo! 👏👍😎

05/13/2026

Build experience kayak tripping in areas with tidal current! Join our Maurelle Island Learning Expedition June 25-28...

This expedition gives intermediate sea kayakers the opportunity to:
✋ Actively participate in planning and carrying out a circumnavigation of Maurelle Island in the scenic Discovery Islands group off Campbell River.
🗺 Practice route planning, navigation and on-water peer leadership skills in a supportive, coached environment.
♒ Use these skills to transit two significant tidal current stations: Surge Narrows and Hole in the Wall.
🧭 Explore two beautiful flat-water island groups: the Octopus Islands and the Rendezvous Islands.
🌄 Paddle, practice and learn in a beautiful location in the Inside Passage, with the stunning Coast Mountains as a backdrop.

The Expedition is coached but not catered; participants must provide and carry their own camping equipment, food and water. Kayak/gear rental is available for those who wish to travel from outside the area.

Discounts available for active paddling club members.

For more information, visit https://crosscurrentskayak.ca/learning-expeditions/maurelle-circumnav/

We hope to see you on the water!

05/10/2026

Sneak peek at our Paddle Canada Level 2 Skills course going on in Nanaimo right now! 😎🌊👍

05/02/2026

We had fantastic conditions for our Paddling in Wind clinic this morning in Nanaimo! Strong, gusty northwest winds blowing outside our protected launch point gave us lots of options for different levels of conditions to practice in. We discussed how winds from different directions affect our kayaks in motion, what techniques we can use to manage these effects, and ways to "read" wind on the water. Then we went out and got lots and lots of practice! By the end of our session, our students Erina, Susan and Miguel were putting all the pieces together to confidently and competently pilot their crafts towards various landmarks in some challenging following seas. Bravo! 👏🌊😎

We'll run more Paddling in Wind sessions this year if there is enough interest. Reach out if you're keen!
https://crosscurrentskayak.ca/dynamic-water/wind/