2010 Fundamentals of Kayaking Courses
Call Red Cross at 216-431-3076 to register for any FOK classes
The objectives of this course are to provide the participant with the skills to: Safely maneuver a kayak; rescue themselves and others from routine boating incidents; develop awareness of hazards associated with the sport of flat-water kayaking. Topics included: rescue breathing, hypothermia, trip planning, gear, and boat outfitting, prevention of related sports injuries, knot tying, and legalities. In-water practice sessions comprise the majority of the course, and focus on balance, stroke technique, maneuvering, rescues, and rolling. The course is aimed at beginners. A 3-MINUTE SWIM TEST IS DONE AT THE FIRST SESSION. This class is a prerequisite to river classes. Cost: $110: includes life jacket, paddle, and kayak.
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 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!
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.
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?
We will be camping at Cheeseman's near the Eckert road bridge takeout. The pot luck dinner will be on Saturday night starting around 6:30 p.m. Bring a main course, salad or desert to share. If you don't want to bring a course, bring a $5.00 donation, to buy the burgers and condiments that we supply. However please bring some chips/dip or soda pop to share. 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.
We still need volunteers to help out Sunday at the Rodeo!
Indoor & Outdoor roll practice can be provided by Cleveland Kayak School, for a small fee.
We will have three pool locations near Cleveland, OH - East (Orange), West (Lakewood) & South (Canton)
Orange High School Pool Roll Sessions
Five sessions are tentatively scheduled this Fall. Saturday afternoons on November 7, 14, 21 and December 12, 19; Eight sessions for the Winter. January 16 & 23, February 6, 13, 20 & 27, March 6, 13
Pool time starts at 4:00pm and ends promptly at 6:00pm. We must shower and be out of the building by 6:15pm. A charge of $6 per person per session ($5 for Orange School District residents) covers the use of the pool. 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.
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 our Message Board.
Lakewood High School Pool Roll Sessions
Five sessions are tentatively scheduled this Fall. Saturday afternoons on November 21, 28; December 5, 19, 26; and eleven sessions for 2010, January 2, 9, 23, 30; February 6, 20 & 27; March 6, 13, 20, 27 at Lakewood High School Pool.
Saturday Pool time starts at 3:00 PM and ends promptly at 5:00 PM. Cannot enter the building until 2:50 PM. All must shower and be out of the building by 5:15pm. 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 2:50 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 or see our Message Board.
2009 - Dec.6,13,20; 2010 - Jan.3,10,17,24,31; Feb.7,14,21,28; Mar.7 & 14th at Meyers Lake YMCA Pool.
A charge of $7 per kayak/person per session covers the use of the pool.
Sunday Pool time starts at 9:00am and ends promptly at 11:00 PM.
Directions to Canton Meyers Lake YMCA Pool The Meyers Lake YMCA is located at 1333 North Park Ave NW in Canton. Easily located 1 mile west of I-77 using the 13th St exit. Turn Right on Park Street and you can't miss the YMCA on the building. If you see the lake on your right you have gone too far.
Meyers Lake YMCA All boaters will bring their kayaks through the back door after the life guard opens the gate. I am hopefull the l
lifeguard will open early so that we can get in the pool early. It is important that all kayaks are out of the pool before 11:00am since open swim starts at that time. No seal launching and we are looking at a $42 an hour for the pool. So the more paddlers we get the better. We averaged 12 people per session last year so expect to pay around $7 per person. (The other pool was $6 per person just to compare). The manager insists not to tip the lifeguard so it will even out. At the end of the session they expect the boats to be set by the back doors so the swimmers who come in at 11:00 don't have to hurdle the boats. Please pay me or Chuck M. at the end of the session so the money can be given to the front desk after the session. The payment method may change if this becomes a problem. I expect the schedule to be very much the same as we had for the previous pool. If the 9:00am proves to be an issue and we don't get enough paddlers I will be forced to cancel. I am hopeful our soccer game will continue to draw boaters in.
Cancellation Policy If there are cancellations, please check the Keel-Haulers message board the morning of.
For more information contact Dan Glomb Glomb@sssnet.com
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 to Join Our Club
3. The roll session at Orange 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 4:10 PM. Please bring in boats through the back emergency exit, which will open at 4:10 PM.
4. Please sign in and pay the lifeguard/manager upon entering the pool. Please bring exact change.
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 has ended.
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.
Second 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.
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.
