Keel Hauler Training Programs


Indoor Pool Sessions  -  Outdoor Roll Sessions  -  Rescue Clinic/Rodeo  -  Kayak Fundamentals  -  Private Paddling Lessons

Beginning and Intermediate Boater Paddling Programs
for River Kayak, Canoe and Sea Kayak
Taught by American Red Cross Certified Instructors

For Canoeing Specific Information  For Kayaking Specific Information
Or call (216)371-8250 Or call (440)298-1293


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2008 Fundamentals of Kayaking Courses
Call Red Cross at 216-431-3076 to register for any FOK classes
This course includes basics such as kayaking equipment, paddling strokes, rescues, and rolling a kayak. The American Red Cross provides kayaks and equipment. Students should bring a swimsuit, towel and possibly nose plugs.
March 1,8,15 Rocky River High School (Still Tentative)
Saturdays - 12:00pm-4:00pm

Ernie Anderson

216-291-1093

March 2,9,16 Lakewood High School
Sundays - 4:30pm-8:30pm

Ernie Anderson

216-291-1093

April 5,12,19 Orange High School
Saturdays - 4:00pm-7:00pm

Ernie Anderson

216-291-1093

June 9,11,16,18 Mentor Recreation
Mon/Wed 6 pm -9 pm

Ernie Anderson

440-974-5720

July 8,10,15,17 Mentor Recreation
Tue/Thur 6 pm -9 pm

Ernie Anderson

440-974-5720

2008 Basic River Courses (Canoeing/Kayaking)
May 10 & 11 W.PA River Paddling

Ernie Anderson

216-291-1093

Aug 9 & 10 W.PA River Paddling

Ernie Anderson

216-291-1093



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Private Paddling Lessons
Club members that wish to teach are encouraged to send me an e-mail and I will post with any information you care to share.

E-Mail to John to be listed on this page - keelhauler@yahoo.com

Learn to kayak in Cleveland, Ohio area
Cleveland Kayak School
Whitewater and Recreational kayak training and tours
They have the most experienced kayak instructors in NE Ohio
All skill levels

Learn to Sea Kayak in Cleveland, OH area
41° North Coastal Kayak Adventures
Sea Kayak training and tours

Learn to kayak in Toledo, Ohio area
Larry Kiraly - ACA White Water Instructor, Instructor Trainer.
Call Larry at 419-874-7987 or e-mail Lak9@buckeye-express.com
Lessons also available at Slippery Rock Creek or the Yough

OC-1 and C-1 Canoe Rolling – Stow, Ohio area

If you are interested in learning a C-1 and/or OC-1 canoe roll
Call 330-688-4296 Shawn Reese or e-mail sreese@emdeon.com
You must have your own equipment. The most important piece is outfitting. So plan on meeting to take a look at your outfitting and I can give recommendations for modifications . Then it's off to the pool!

U-Can-Paddle
Ohio-Penn Division of the American Canoe Association


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River Rescue Clinic & Rescue Rodeo
6/28-29/2008

Come and join us on Slippery Rock Creek at McConnell’s Mills State Park for the annual rescue clinic and rescue rodeo. This weekend is designed for beginning to experienced boaters, with something for everyone to learn or to hone your skills.

Saturday will be the rescue clinic; we will practice basic rescue skills on moving water. A potluck dinner will follow the clinic.

On Sunday we will set up realistic rescue scenarios where your team will compete against other teams using various rescue skills. The rodeo is a lot of fun, and is great practice. It will also show you how hard a rescue can be, when you are under stress and are thinking on your feet, on how to effectively deploy your rescue team! If you don’t want to participate in the rodeo, come and cheer on your friends, or ask how you can volunteer to make our weekend a success. 

Rescue Weekend update!!

This year we are making some changes to the Rescue Weekend event.

1. An open boat is not required to compete, anything that floats will work, and that includes Boogie boards.
2. All male rodeo teams are allowed. Previously each team had to have one female, this rule was put into place to encourage more participation by the ladies, but it is costing us some teams, and the all ladies teams were beating the men anyway!
3. A rolling rodeo! You put in at one place and paddle down to all of the stations! No hiking back and forth.
4. The potluck dinner on Saturday (the main reason I do this event). For a $5.00 donation, to buy the burgers and condiments that we supply. However please bring some chips/dip or soda pop to share.

If you are a new boater, the Saturday clinic is definitely for you. The rodeo may also be for you as it builds on the things learned at the clinic. If you don't want to compete, stay to watch or help, it is a lot of fun and very insightful. If you are an experienced boater, the review at the clinic is good. When is the last time you practiced throwing that throw bag? Also we will have some new stuff on Wilderness First Responder topics. We will be camping at Cheeseman's near the Eckert road bridge takeout. The pot luck dinner will be there on Saturday night starting around 6:30 p.m. Registration is at 9 a.m. both days.

If you want to compete, but do not have a team contact myself or Dave Altman, and we will help people get teams together, also most teams are created Saturday night at the bonfire after the potluck dinner and beer. Your time to pre-register is running out, there are big savings if you sign-up early! And if you want one of the really cool T-shirts order early as we run out every year and there are limited sizes. We have ladies Ts this year along with men's.

We still need volunteers to help out Sunday at the Rodeo!

Application, Map & Information

Space is limited so apply, call or e-mail early for reservations.

Rob Hammond . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rob@SCD-corp.com . . . . . . . . . . 216-292-5618
Dave Altman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dave@webpa.net . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412-977-7099

How to Tie Good Paddling Knots


Rob's Kayak Roll Head Game                Riviera Ratt's Roll Philosophy


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2007-2008 ROLL SESSIONS

Sponsored by Orange Community Education and Recreation & Lakewood Community Education & Recreation. To be held at Orange High School Pool and Lakewood High School Pool. This gives us east side and west side site locations. This may reduce crowds and allow sessions to be held when one pool session may be canceled.

Orange High School Pool Roll Sessions
Eight sessions are tentatively scheduled on Saturday afternoons on December 8, 15, 2007; January 26, February 9, 16, 23, and March 1, 8, 2008.
Pool time starts at 4:00 pm and ends promptly at 6:00 pm. We need to see that the lane lines are back in place before we leave. We must shower and be out of the building by 6:15 pm. A charge of $6 per person per session ($5 for Orange School District residents) covers the use of the pool.

Directions to Orange High School Pool
The Orange High School Pool is on the south side of Chagrin Boulevard, between Lander and SOM Center Roads. It is two miles east of the Chagrin exit off I-271 (which is just north of the I-271 and I-480 interchange). From I-271 take the Chagrin boulevard exit and head east. At the Lander Road turning circle stay on Chagrin Boulevard by taking the second road right. The school will be about one-half mile on the right side of the road. Map to Orange HS

The pool is in the west end of the building. You can see it through the two-story-high windows. Park along the west end of the building. There is a very wide concrete pad leading to a double set of glass doors on the pool deck. If you arrive early, drop your boats on the concrete pad and go inside and wait until we are permitted to bring boats into the pool area.

Cancellation Policy
If winter driving conditions are bad, the session may be canceled. When Orange Community Education and Recreation is closed, information is typically on local television and radio stations. We will also try to post closings on the Hotline at 216-556-4659 and Message Board.

Lakewood High School Pool Roll Sessions
Thirteen sessions are tentatively scheduled on Saturday afternoons: November 17, 24; December 1, 15, 22, 29 - 2007; January 5(3 - 4:30PM), 12 - 2008; February 2, 16, 23 - 2008; March 1, 8, 15 - 2008 at Lakewood High School Pool. Saturday Pool time starts at 4:00 PM and ends promptly at 6:00 PM. Cannot enter the building until 3:50 PM. All must shower and be out of the building by 6:30pm. A charge of $6 per person per session covers the use of the pool.

Directions to Lakewood High School Pool
Lakewood High School is at 14100 Franklin Blvd., the pool is located in the back of the High School, so entering at the Robinwood Ave. entrance is easiest, especially when coming from I-90. Exit from I-90 at the Bunts Rd./W 140th St. Exit and head north on Bunts to Madison Ave. Turn left on Madison Ave. and head one block to Robinwood Ave. Take a right on Robinwood Ave., which dead ends into the pool entrance. Kayaks should be brought through the delivery entrance/emergency exit, which is located just to the east of the Robinwood entrance. Pool staff will be stationed at the delivery entrance to assist you. Cannot enter the building until 3:50 PM.
Map to Lakewood HS

Cancellation Policy
If Lakewood High School pool is closed, that information will likely be available on the pool's voicemail at (216) 529-4014.

General Rules

The sessions are unstructured, providing plenty of time to practice at your own pace. There is no formal instruction. However, there are always club members on hand who are happy to demonstrate and provide assistance to other club members. If you want help with your roll, just ask a club member.

Extra kayaks and equipment are not provided. While it is often possible to borrow other peoples' boats for short periods, it is a good idea to arrange this in advance. Hand paddles will be available for learning hand rolls.

To maintain a good relationship with the Orange & Lakewood, there are a few rules to observe.

1. All boats must be clean. Remove the air bags and wash the boat, inside and out. Do this at home. Dirty boats are not allowed in the pool.

2. Sessions are open to the general public. For those interested, club membership forms will be available at the door. Annual club dues are only $20 per family. Click Join Our Club

3. The roll session at Lakewood High School is preceded by an Open Swim session. If you arrive early, please wait outside the building with your boats until the Open Swim session ends at 3:45 PM. Please bring in boats through the back emergency exit, which will open at 3:50 PM.

4. Please sign in and pay the lifeguard/manager upon entering the pool. Please bring exact change to Orange High School. Lakewood High School pool staff can make change. All participants at Orange MUST complete a registration form with emergency contact information prior to entering the pool area. So print one and fill it out before you arrive.

5. We must avoid damage to the facilities and especially the pools' tiled surfaces. Remove metal rudders from sea kayaks. Do not bring aluminum canoes. Do not launch off the deck of the pool -- enter your boat while it is sitting in the water.

6. The pool becomes crowded. In the interest of safety, neither free swimming nor diving is allowed. All children under the age of 18 must be supervised at all times by a paying adult.

7. Helmets will be required, whether you are in a boat or standing in the water helping someone. This is for your own safety.

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Outdoor Weekly Summer Roll Practice - 2008 Season
Indoor & Outdoor roll practice can be provided by Cleveland Kayak School, for a small fee.

First Location - South

Roll sessions at Lake Medina on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 - 8PM.
No regular sessions are scheduled but if someone wants help or just to practice, they can call me to arrange.
I will post a notice on the KHCC Message Board if a scheduled practice is planned
We are willing to assist anyone having trouble with their roll or just BS and trade ideas/suggestions.

Directions - At SR18, turn right(West) towards Medina. drive past the majority of the shopping. Look for the WB Rocky River just past the last shopping ctr, turn right into the parking lot for the lake (just past the river). There is a foot path and walking bridge that leads to the lake.

Map to Medina Lake

Pat Guzowski  . . . . . . . . . .  rkyrvr1@yahoo.com  . . . . . . . . . 216-780-5734

Second Location - North
Bradstreet Landing
Bay Village, Lake Erie
Wednesdays from 6:00 to 9:00 PM - June thru August 2008

Weather permitting

Roll Practice map

Bill Heuser . . . . . . . . . . imakayaker@yahoo.com . . . . . . . . . . 440-237-9048
Alternates: Carol Steiner . . . . . . . . . . Carol
Kathryn Westlake . . . . . . . . . . Kathryn

Third Location - North
Edgewater Beach, Lake Erie
West Blvd 
Cleveland, OH 

Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7:00 PM - Mid July and August 2008

Weather & Lake Pollution permitting

Because of the uncertainty of Edgewater Beach pollution we may move to Bradstreet Landing or Huntington Beach. These sessions are not certain. You must call Fran to see if he or someone else has the time available.

We normally are at Perkins Fishing Beach Access Area. This can be found in the Western most parking lot, off Edgewater Park. Access from the West end of West Shoreway or travel north on West Blvd from I90 towards the lake. Cross Clifton and Lake. After you cross a one way parkway you will see the entrance sign for the Lakefront State Park on your right. Turn right into the park and the Perkins parking lot should be the 1st left. There is stair access off the western area of parking lot. Please email in advance to confirm, and also have current boat registration. Fran Hoven may also be available for impromptu weekday advanced roll practice or surfing upon advance notice.

Roll Practice map

Francis Hoven . . . . . . . . . . zenelan@concentric.net . . . . . . . . . . 216-671-4931

Fran’s Tips
We put in West of the swimmer’s beach, at the Perkin’s Fishing access lot near the end of West Blvd., as the lifeguards get a little upset when boaters mix it up with the swimmers.

You need that boat sticker. ODNR might show up and give hefty fines for unregistered boats.

It is not wise to leave your stuff laying around unattended at Edgewater. Though some of the kids are just friendly and curious, I’m sure some of the characters and other larcenous perverts frequenting that area are not to be trusted.

The lake starts warming up to pleasant temperatures in July, and holds some heat into September. However, anyone heading to Edgewater needs to know that unlike Nimisila, we are not dealing with a flatwater pond polluted mainly by goose turds. The water quality has improved considerably from days of yore, but you will need to rinse sand and unknown contaminants and pathogens off yourself and your stuff when you get home.

Depending on weather and wave action, conditions could end up more appropriate for surfing than roll practice. Fran may be available for kayak surfing on an impromptu basis so give him a call.

It is also important to secure your car key in something other than mesh pocket pants.

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