Watsons Caravan and Leisure Show:
Fri 28th, Sat 29th Sun 30th October 2011.
Skee Kayak Centre will have a display at Watsons Caravans in South Coffs Harbour this weekend.
If you haven't had chance to come and see us  at Mullaway, here is your chance.
We will have a range of different kayaks on display, not everything I stock but it will be a good cross section. Lots of different accessories. If you have already purchased a kayak from us, just call in and say hello.

some of the kayaks displayed at lasts years show

some of the accessories available

Hope you can come out and see us and have a chat about kayaks.

Improve your paddling skills workshop.
Sunday 28th August 2011- Boambee Creek Reserve.
Amanda Rankin flatwater coach and Karen Dallas, sea instructor held another improve your skills workshop for a variety of different craft.
We had a few first time paddlers, whom improved with leaps and bounds.
The course was the same format as the July course, but this time also included some video analysis.
Which after lunch was a real eye opener for the paddlers. Especially when on the water some were saying "I don't do that" or " I'm doing what you are asking me to do", the video doesn't play favourites.
There was a lot on learning and a lot of laughs to be had to make it a relaxed enjoyable learning experience.

Sunday's skills group, all smiles.

The below photo is for Matt of JBK- yes you can stand on a toothpick!



Amanda demonstrating good balance and core strength and control.

Paddle Perfect - Amanda Rankin Forward Stroke Clinic:
Saturday 27th August 2011- Boambee Creek Reserve:
Another group of enthusiastic paddlers on racing skis and K1's were put through their paces
in another forward stroke clinic.
Amanda, took the time to show each paddler the correct technique for an effortless, but powerful forward stroke. The weather was drizzling with rain but it didn't slow anyone down.

They braved cooler conditions and drizzling rain.




After lunch and watching a few dvd's of Amanda's personal Olympic experience in 2004 at the Athens games, the video analysis started. This is to help the paddlers see how they are actually paddling, so they can either improve or adjust  their techniques.

Amanda (standing) with some of the group

Improve you paddling skills workshops:
July 31st 2011 Boambee Creek Reserve: 
Karen of Skee Kayak Centre, Austalian Canoeing Flatwater and Sea Kayak Instructor and Amanda Rankin of Paddle Perfect, Australian Canoeing Flatwater Coach, joined forces to help paddlers in all types of craft, improve their skills.
Morning session we divided the group into 2 smaller groups, Amanda concentrating on forward stroke technique on dry land, and Karen teaching the basics of maneuvering and support strokes,
 ( how to prevent a capsize). After 1 1/2 we swapped the groups over, so all 12 paddlers had a good sound basic idea of what was expected of the when we got on the water.
Morning tea a time for the Instructors to be asked questions from the group before entering the water, some took the time to quietly process what they had been shown.
Once on the water Amanda had her group doing drills up and down the Boambee Crk, Karen's group where practicing maneuvering their kayaks, across the river, how to avoid obstacles and the finally raft up together, and comment on how everyone went. The the groups swapped over.

Sunday 31st July 2011 skills group.

After lunch Karen demonstrated rescues, assisted and self rescues. The water was cold so most participants were quite happy to watch Karen continually be tipped out of her kayak, only to show another different way of getting back into the kayak safely. The rescue component will be run during summer in warmer water so all can join in and get wet as well. Course date TBA.

Karen and Amanda after the course.

There was alot to learn, and everyone had at least a few more skills to work with to gain the confidence to expand their paddling horizons.

Amanda Rankin - Paddle Perfect kayak coaching:

Sunday July 30th 2011. Amanda Rankin held a workshop for those paddlers wanting to improve their forward stroke. The type of craft include surf club skis and ocean ski racers. The weather on the saturday was fantastic for the middle of winter. With an enthusiastic group of 6 paddlers, Amanda put them through their paces on the K1 ergo trainer, paddling on this machine under the watchful eye of Amanda, in front of a mirror can help you correct the forward stroke technique before you get on the water. After morning tea, its time to do the forward stroke kayak drills, up and down Boambee Creek.  Amanda was keeping a close check on everyone ensuring all drills were completed to the best of the paddlers ability. There is no escaping what your technique is doing when Amanda has the video camera out. One by one each paddler was asked to paddle straight past the camera doing their best forward stroke technique, then straight at the camera for a different perspective.

In the afternoon, and thank you Christine manager of Boambee Creek Reserve and Cafe for a lovely lunch, the video analysis commenced. Just when you thought everything was going right, and few more pointers and technique drills to practice. I think everyone enjoyed the day and took alot of info and techniques away with them.

July 30th 2011 Improve your forward stroke group

Next course will be Saturday 27th August 2011.

Balanced Boater  - Sea Kayak Instruction:

June 4th, 5th and 6th 2011, Rob Mercer of Balanced Boater kayak instruction came up from Sydney to conduct and introduction to sea kayaking workshop.

The saturday was made up of revision of flatwater skills in the morning, and eskimo rolling in the afternoon.

Out of the group of 12, we have to congratulate Mark  for being the only paddler to successful execute a complete roll.



Practice on land before we enter the ocean

The surf skills sessions were split between 2 days, so everyone had chance to learn as much as possible under the guidance of Rob Mercer - Advanced Sea Kayak Instructor and Assessor, and Karen Dallas - Sea Kayak Instructor level 2 from Skee Kayak Centre. 

Rob Mercer demonstrating a stern rudder

There was a lot to learn is a short time, understanding how to brace in a breaking wave and stay upright, how to paddle out through the surf, and how to return to the beach without being trashed. The adrenalin was running through the veins of a few paddlers, this was opening up a whole new world.

Rob enjoying the surf and showing how it should be done.

Sunday saw some fears overcome, and expectations reached. Some thought they would never be able to surf their sea kayak safely into shore. Yes there were a few capsizes but that's all part of the experience of learning what works, and what doesn't.


Merrem enjoying her first wave.

 Mondays group went from strength to strength. With a smaller group, their enthusiasm  was contagious.
Robyn was determined to catch a wave, and so to Trevor in his new Wilderness Systems Tempest 170 Pro.
Geoff catching his first wave, had a huge grin on his face.

Robyn enjoying the surf experience



Trevor practicing his stern rudder.



Geoff with first successful wave

Everyone from the weekend found it enjoyable and realised how much there is to learn when comes to ocean paddling. This weekend was and introduction to the basics of sea kayaking, and how much more there is to learn if you want to go further offshore.

If you are interested in learning sea skills, either in a sea kayak or how the launch and land a sit on top from the beach, contact Karen - skeekayak@bigpond.com

Skee Kayak Centre whats been happening in 2011.
Demo Day:

Sunday 20th March 2011, Skee Kayaks held an on water come and try day at Boambee Creek Reserve. Approximately 60 interested paddlers attended the 4 hour demo day. We have great weather and a full spring tide, to give the paddlers a great morning on the creek with plenty of clean water.
Brand representatives that displayed and discussed their kayaks, Ocean kayak, Wilderness Systems, Seafarer and Stealth, and we took all our demo kayaks from Australis, Viking and Delsyk as well.
A great day was had by all who attended.

Kayaks of all shapes and sizes and brands.

Looking, discussing and trying different kayaks.

Stay tuned for the next date for the come and try day.
________________________________________________________________________________    Weekend Paddle workshop:

On the 19th and 20th of February 2011 Skee Kayak Centre worked with Paddle NSW to hold an Introduction to Kayaking workshop at Boambee Creek Reserve. The weekend involved Lynn Parker of Paddle NSW - Flatwater and Whitewater Instructor, Matt Goodwin of Jervis Bay Kayak Co. and Seaward Kayaks - Sea Instructor Level 2, Amanda Rankin of Paddle Perfect - Flatwater Coach and Karen Dallas of Skee Kayak Centre, Flatwater Instructor and Sea Leader.
30 keen paddlers for the 2 day workshop which included talks and demonstrations from,
Maritime NSW, Marine Rescue, Amanda Rankin - the Olympic experience, Matt Goodwin -
demonstrating Seaward Kayaks, Faye Wiffen - Coffs Shoulder and Hand Clinic discussing injury prevention, and Lauren Harper - Coastal Pilates and Fitness held an intro Pilates lesson.

Amanda Rankin explaining the art of the forward stroke.

Kayaks of all shapes and sizes worked together to broaden their knowledge of kayaks skills, from flatwater techniques, to paddling in fast moving water against an incoming spring tide.

Lynn Parker with her group and sawtell bridge.

A colourful array of kayaks for the workshop

Enthusiastic participants were coached in everything from forward paddling, maneuvouring,bracing, self and assisted rescues and surf launch and landings.

Robin practicing rescues with Geoff

I think everyone who attended gained a great deal of practical kayaking knowledge, hopefully they can take away and build on.

The weekend was full of learning, new experiences, heaps of fun while meeting new paddling friends.
For information on future kayak intruction courses or private kayak Instruction contact Karen:
skeekayak@bigpond.com.

some of the Seaward range of kayaks were displayed.

 I would like to thank Matt Goodwin for bringing the " Seaward Express" all the way from Jervis Bay to Sawtell, to let people from the Coffs area and some travelled from Port Macquarie to experience these kayaks. It was a great display of lightweight TX thermoformed and composite sea kayaks. A large group of very impressed paddlers had the opportunity to try out these fantastic craft, which are now available in the Coffs Harbour area at Skee Kayak Centre.