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Tom's
TopKayaker Shop
Purchases Support TopKayaker.Net |
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FOR
ADVICE ON GETTING INSTRUCTION FOR THOSE NOT IN OUR AREA, SEE:
How
To Find Sit-on-top Kayak Lessons by
Tom Holtey
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SUMMER
KAYAK LESSONS NEW HAMPSHIRE
OCEAN & LAKE Spend a beautiful day in the country or on the New England Coast fine tuning your skills |
Sit-on-top kayak lessons are being offered by TopKayaker.Net with ACA Certified instructor Tom Holtey. This program is available for beginner / intermediate paddlers in New England.
Traditional sit-in-side kayak lessons are also available upon request. Both types of kayaking can be taught in mixed lessons.
Two Programs offered:
Quick Start Your Kayak: $95 per person - Short course, 3 hours. Introduction to basic skills preparing the paddler for flatwater conditions on protected waters.
Introduction to Kayaking: $145 per person - Longer course, 5 hours. Introduction to basic skills preparing the paddler for easy ocean conditions.
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May 2007 - September 2007 Please
call or e-mail for reservation.
Website
Payments |
Two Locations: |
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1.
Quick Start your Kayak at White Lake State Park
(Boat launch on Depot Rd.) West Ossipee, NH 2. Intro to Kayaking off Jenness Beach Park, Rye, NH (On Route 1A, north of Rye Beach) *Usually held off Jennes Beach. Location subject to change. |
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Experience
Level:
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Beginner
to intermediate. Summer-long skill building program available. Students
must be 18 years or older. Kayak and equipment provided. Feel free
to bring your own kayak and accessories if you like.
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Duration - Cost:
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Quick
Start your Kayak on White Lake
3 hours. Morning or Afternoon sessions, Saturday or Sunday, available by appointment Generally: 9:30 am to 12:30 or 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm May 2007 through September 2007 - $95 per person (Maximum 6) Intro to Kayaking off Jenness Beach: *Usually held off Jennes Beach. Location subject to change. 5 hours. All day session, Saturday or Sunday, available by appointment 9:30 am to 12:30 ~ 1hr lunch break ~ 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm May 2007 through September 2007 - $145 per person (Maximum 3) |
Email or Call Tom for short-notice lesson bookings. However, try to book your reservation at least two weeks in advance to assure placement and equipment availability. Leave your name and phone number on any voice mail or e-mail. Lesson fee is to be paid, after reservation confirmation, in advance, made payable to GeoOdyssey and mail to: PO Box 482, Tamworth, NH 03886.
Bad
weather postponements will be the following day, or other date depending
on situations. Lessons will be held rain or shine.
White Lake is very protected from wind and small enough to allow quick exits. Only thunderstorms and unusual high winds will prevent us from going on the water.
Jenness Beach is on the ocean and subject to wind and wave conditions that can postpone the lesson, or possibly change location.
Weather is unpredictable, changeable and considerably different from region to region. Although it may be raining or sunny where you live the weather at the Lake or Beach could be quite different. Sudden changes in weather, such as thunderstorms or increasing winds can interrupt or end the lesson. Weather cancellations and postponements will be made shortly before the lesson time. Please assume the lesson will be held as scheduled. Tom's mobile number is 603-520-1757 and may be used to facilitate communications, but cannot be guaranteed to get through.
Cancellation
Policy: All cancellations must be made by phone or e-mail. Cancellations
made 14 days before lesson date receive 100% refund. Cancellations made
7 days before lesson date receive 50% refund. Cancellations made 48 hours
before lesson date receive 25% refund. Cancellations made LESS THAN 48
hours before lesson date receive NO refund. All e-mail and voicemail communications
are automatically dated, and will be duly noted if you are not able to
reach us directly. Refunds based on lessons cancelled, interrupted or
postponed due to weather by the instructor will be handled liberally in
favor of the student. Every reasonable effort will be made to ensure your
satisfaction.
What
to bring: Please wear paddling
clothing, you will get wet! Wear synthetic clothing that you can swim
in, shorts and tee shirt (possibly over swimsuit) avoid cotton. A "Farmer
John/Jane" or "spring" style wet suit or neoprene
top and bottom may be worn for cool conditions and is recommended for
Jenness Location, but is not required. Bring a paddling top, or
lightweight raincoat or windbreaker. Make sure you have aquatic foot
wear, such as "aqua socks" or dive booties. (Old sneakers
work in a pinch. Sandals are not the best, "flip flops" are
no good.) A hat to keep the sun off your head is important. Also
bring sunscreen (a must for Jenness), bug repellent (a must
for White Lake) and a water bottle. If you wear glasses, for sun
or sight, make sure they are on a secure glasses strap. Bring a
snack and lunch, alternatively there are dining options near by as well.
If you have a dry bag, bring it, otherwise one will be provided. Sweat
shirt & pants, warm ups, can be nice for the lunch break in cool weather.
You will need a complete spare change of street clothing to change into after your lesson is over. Bring a towel to dry off and something to put your wet paddling clothes in. There are restrooms and changing facilities a short walk from the launch site.
This
sit-on-top kayak lesson program supported and insured by the ACA and
is based on the "Quick Start your Kayak" and "Introduction
to Kayaking" courses. It is intended for new and beginner sit-on-top
kayakers to get started safely, using proper technique and equipment.
You will learn the basic strokes, deep-water reentry, water safety, intro
to seamanship, sit-on-top kayak equipment and car topping. The lesson
is tailored to paddlers who wish to kayak on flatwater, lakes and protected
ocean (Quick Start) or easy ocean (Intro to Kayak). Beginners from all
paddling disciplines can benefit from this course. If you have never been
kayaking, or never have had a lesson then this one-day course is for you.
There will be a waiver to sign at the launch site.
Instructor
Tom Holtey - Trained and practiced in
wilderness trip planning - from the White Mountains of New Hampshire and
Maine to the tropical coastlines of the Hawaiian Islands - ACA Certified
& NOLS alumni, Tom Holtey, has lead and taught the novice adventurer
under many varied and challenging conditions. From his youth on the Charles
River, he has over twenty years experience in the paddle sports industry
with a foundation in canoeing and traditional sea kayaking. Tom has been
involved in the sit-on-top field for the past 12 years pioneering this
fastest growing branch of kayaking. It was while teaching courses in sit-on-top
kayaking at the University of Hawaii that this website, TopKayaker.Net
and Tom's published books of instruction & many articles on the sport
began to take form. During this time, Tom also managed a kayak retail
store in Honolulu and worked extensively with members of the local kayak
club, Hui Wa'a Kaukahi, where many new developments in kayaking have been
made. More recently, in what is now his home state of New Hampshire, Tom
provided traditional kayak instruction at the Squam Lake Association and
currently leads kayak and outdoor gear testing expeditions for the industry.
White
Lake State Park Meeting Place: Do Not use the main entrance to the
park. Use the "boat access" off of Depot Road. (FYI there is
a parking fee at the main gate; the boat launch parking is FREE.) Try
to arrive dressed to paddle, otherwise plan to show up early for a quick
change at the rest rooms, on a short trail to the right (looking at lake)
of the boat launch. White Lake State Park has swimming, camping and picnicking
facilities as well a hiking trail around the lake. The beach is for swimmers
only; however there will be plenty of space for us to conduct our lessons.
White Lake is a small lake that will receive little if any powerboat activity.
The boat launch is on the trail that circles the lake. Go clock wise,
south, left facing lake, if walking from the main parking lot, beach and
campground.
Link to Park
info and local weather.
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Driving
directions to White Lake: Please print these directions for
your convenience. From the south and west via I-93: Take
Rt. 104 east to Meredith, then Rt. 25 east to West Ossipee, then
Rt. 16 north (follow signs to Conway), past Canoe King, less than
1 mile north from JCT 16 & 25, at the Yankee Smoke House. Depot
Road is on the left across from Miller Auto. If you pass Duncan
Donuts you have gone too far. From the south via Rt. 16 (Spaulding
TNPK) head north on 16 following signs for Conway. Your destination
is West Ossipee. Look for the Yankee Smoke House (Pig on the sign),
go past Canoe King. Depot Road is less than 1 mile north from JCT
16 & 25, on the left across from Miller Auto. If you pass Duncan
Donuts you have gone too far. From the north and east via Rt.302
and other points north. From Conway & N. Conway take Rt.
16 south to West Ossipee, south of the Chocurua Village. Depot Road
is on the right across from Miller Auto, just past Duncan Donuts.
Driving on Depot Road to boat launch: From West Ossipee, Miller
Auto & Duncan Donuts; Turn onto Depot Road, heading west. Go
one mile looking for an un-named dirt road on the right with a "Y"
shaped intersection. If you pass a large grassy field you have gone
too far. The boat launch access road is goes strait to the lake.
Parking is near the water.
Jenness Beach State Park Meeting Place: Jenness
Beach Location has a small parking lot at the Park, so plan to arrive
early. The parking fee is $1.50 per hour, and will cost us about $9 -
10 + for the day per car. The meters take quarters so please bring about
36 - 40 quarters, a roll. (Tom may be inclined to bring some extra rolls
of quarters and there is a change machine in the lot as well as shops
across the street.)
Try to arrive dressed to paddle, otherwise plan to show up early for a quick change at the changing & rest rooms on south side of the parking lot. A shower is available for rinsing after paddling.
Jenness Location
is a popular swimming place with a nice large sandy beach. We will be
conducting our lesson on the far right hand end of the beach (south of
the swimmers) to provide us with the room we need. It is exposed to open
ocean and there may be some surf. There is no shade so please wear sunscreen,
a wide brim hat and long clothing (quick dry nylon), your choice. A shop
across from the parking serves food and drink, and there is a beach shop.
Driving directions to Jenness Beach: Jenness Beach is on route 1A, the only "major" road in the neighborhood. There is not a direct route from interstate highways. You can approach from the north and south via routes 1 & 1A, Most will want to use routes 95 or 101to approach the NH seacoast. There are many roads in the area that can be used, but for simplicities sake I will use roads with a route number in my directions and you can "chart" your own course. A careful look at a detailed road map would be very wise.
Approach the seacoast area using route 95 from the north and south, or route 101 if coming from the west. If on 95 get off on exit 2 and onto route 101 heading east. Turn north onto route 1 and then turn east onto route 111. You will arrive at the coast and take a left onto route 1A heading north. Just north of the coast town of Rye Beach you will find Jenness Beach Park on the right. If you pass Rye Harbor you have gone too far.
We will be coming down route 16 (Spaulding TPK) into Portsmouth then down route 1 south and pick our way through back roads east to the shore. We have found Portsmouth to be a confusing city to drive through. You will see the State Park directions take you through this town.
Link to park
info and local weather:
E-mail us for information about local accommodations, Hotel, B&B, Camping, & Restaurants.
