Sea Kayak Edging & Manoeuvrability
Dates
Times
Price
Ratio
Coach
Course dates
- May 16, 2026
- August 1, 2026
From Fighting to Flow: The Dance of Sea Kayaking
In sea kayaking, your paddle is only half the story. To truly master your craft, you must learn to work in harmony with your boat. This workshop is designed to take you from simply "steering" your kayak to "wearing" it.
By mastering the art of the edge, you will learn to turn tighter and faster while conserving energy. Whether you want to navigate technical rock gardens, play in the surf zone, or weave through tight coastal features, this session provides the confidence and flair you need to handle your kayak with precision.
Course Goal
By the end of this workshop, you will move with a new sense of fluidity. You’ll stop treating the kayak like a heavy platform and start treating it like a precision instrument, allowing for a more playful, reactive, and confident style of paddling.
Course Content
- Dynamic Movement: Master both static and high-speed turning skills.
- Body Mechanics: Learn to prepare your boat and body before the stroke for maximum efficiency.
- Stability & Control: Find your edge with perfect body positioning and balance.
- Advanced Strokes: Add flair to your paddling with rudders, draws, and high-speed maneuvers.
Course Specifics
We focus on the relationship between body, boat, and blade to transform your paddling into a playful, purposeful flow.
1. Boat Design & Preparation
Understand how your kayak’s profile creates a natural arc in the water. We explore the critical difference between primary and secondary stability and help you safely find your "point of no return"—discovering exactly how far your boat can tilt before it capsizes.
2. Body Positioning for Stability
Develop a positive connection with your kayak. You will learn to relax into the edge rather than "holding" it with tension. We cover the concepts of "future water" and "trim" to increase rotation and maximize your boat's turning potential.
3. Efficient Stroke Development
Shift the workload from injury-prone arms and shoulders to your powerful core muscles. We teach you to move the boat toward the paddle, using the blade as a solid anchor in the water to leverage your turn.
4. Advanced Maneuvers & Sideways Movement
Level up your skills with complex variations:
- The High-Speed Reverse Turn: Combine a deep edge with supportive strokes for rapid direction changes.
- Bow Rudders & Draws: Tighten your turns without compromising your boat’s position.
- Sideways Displacement: Master moving your boat laterally—both on the flat and while on the move—by engaging your core and executing precise draw strokes.
Before You Book
This workshop is ideal for paddlers who want to make maneuvering long, unwieldy sea kayaks an effortless pleasure. If you want to turn quickly, handle high winds, or navigate demanding dynamic environments, this is your breakthrough moment.
Attendance of a Solid Foundations course or equivalent experience.
Moderate
This course is stationary by design. Distances are shorter, and time on the water is focused on exercises and developing technique. It involves sessions of 2–3 hours at a time in sheltered conditions.
- Sea Kayak
- Spray Deck
- Paddle
- Buoyancy Aid
- Drysuit or neoprene depending on the weather
- Water shoes
- Towline, paddle float, pump
- Lockers and changing rooms
- Video analysis
- Own kayak equipment (if possible)
- Swimwear and personal kayak clothing
- Medication
- Sun protection
Minimum age 15
3. Cancellation by the customer
The withdrawal must be in writing and cancellation fees will be calculated as follows: NB. The Percentage refers to the cancellation fee from the total course or tour fee. For all our activities we recommend purchasing cancellation insurance at the time of booking.
3.2 Courses and Coaching in Switzerland
- More than 7 days before the start of the activity: CHF 50 administration fee.
- 7 days -24hours before the start of the activity 50%.
- 24 hours before the start of the activity/no shows 100%.
Meet The Team
Jolien Gekiere
Become a part of the Hightide Outdoor & Paddle Community
We want to share our love of the outdoors and paddling with as many people as possible. We look forward to more paddling and outdoor events together. You want to be part of it? Then make sure you get your regular online outdoor and kayak inspiration and sign up for our newsletter! We would be happy if you become a part of our community.
Coaching Philosophy
At Hightide, we believe in coaching the individual. Our courses start from where you are and guide you toward your personal paddling goals.
For some, this means building confidence to paddle and enjoy nature. For others, it’s about improving efficiency for expeditions or long-distance paddling. It could also involve developing the skills to venture onto the sea or mastering techniques for rivers, rock gardens, and surf.
Whatever your aim, our extensive experience on the ocean and deep understanding of sea kayaking will help you move forward. All our coaches come from a sea kayaking background, hold professional qualifications, and are passionate not just about paddling but also about coaching. We’ve spent years refining what truly makes a difference in the sport and are committed to delivering it in the most effective way—by making you feel the learning.
When you join a Hightide course, you’ll leave with a clear understanding of how to keep improving and a structured way to retain what you've learned. We see our role as creating the right conditions for learning, so your progress continues long after the course ends.