Exkursion offers the Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania area's most complete kayaking school. Our professional instructors are ACA certified. What does this mean? It means they have been trained to exacting standards to provide you with the highest quality, safest kayak instruction possible. Our classes are designed to get raw beginners paddling safely and easily, intermediate kayakers paddling more confidently, and advanced kayakers out into the harshest conditions. And they are fun too!
Level I Kayak Touring
Learn the finer points of fundamental kayaking strokes and equipment! Our Level 1 course is designed to give a strong foundation of skills to those who have never been in a kayak before, as well as those who have experience but have never had formal training.
After an informative discussion of kayak and paddle design, we'll cover methods for entry and exit of the kayak, proper paddle grip, forward stroke, reverse stroke, sweep strokes, spins, and quick stops. The the group will head out for a short tour of the area at an easy pace. You are guaranteed to learn a lot and take in some nice scenery as well.
We conduct classes in two locations:
Keystone State Park- A small, quiet lake about 30 minutes east of Monroeville near New Alexandria
| Date | Time |
| Saturday 5/5/12 | 10AM |
| Saturday 6/9/12 | 10AM |
| Saturday 7/7/12 | 10AM |
| Saturday 8/4/12 | 10AM |
| Saturday 9/8/12 | 10AM |
Click here to register for Level I classes at Keystone State Park.
Millvale Riverfront Park- An urban park on the Allegheny River with views of downtown Pittsburgh
| Date | Time |
| Wednesday 5/16/12 | 5PM |
| Wednesday 6/20/12 | 6PM |
| Wednesday 7/11/12 | 6PM |
| Wednesday 8/15/12 | 5PM |
| Wednesday 9/19/12 | 4PM |
Click here to register for Level I classes at Millvale Riverfront Park.
LENGTH: 3 hours
COST: $50 if we provide equipment / $35 if you have your own equipment
touring and recreational kayaks are welcome
Level II Kayak Touring
Suggested Prerequisite: Level I
Don't get stuck as a beginner! In addition to covering intermediate strokes such as draws, participants learn how to safely exit their kayak after a capsize (wet exit) as well as edging (tilting the kayak) and bracing (support stroke) to prevent capsizes. This is the perfect class for those who have taken Level I or who've been kayaking for a while and want to advance their skills to allow them to paddle safely and confidently in more challenging conditions.
| Date | Time |
| Saturday 6/16/12 | 10AM |
| Saturday 7/14/12 | 10AM |
| Saturday 8/18/12 | 10AM |
| Saturday 9/15/12 | 10AM |
Click here to register for Level II classes.
LOCATION: Keystone State Park
LENGTH: 3 hours
COST: $60 if we provide equipment / $45 if you have your own equipment
touring kayaks recommended
Level III Kayak Touring
Revised for 2012
Prerequisite: Level II
Take your paddling to the next level! This class starts out developing advanced strokes and techniques such as bow and stern rudders, sideslips, sculling braces, edging strokes and leans. After a short break we'll fine tune our most important skill - forward paddling. Using innovative techniques and coaching you'll hone a more efficient and powerful forward stroke and refine it with a fast-paced 1.5 mile paddle.
| Date | Time |
| Saturday 7/28/12 | 10AM |
| Saturday 8/18/12 | 10AM |
| Saturday 9/15/12 | 10AM |
Click here to register for Level III classes.
LOCATION: Keystone State Park
LENGTH: 3 hours
COST: $60 if we provide equipment / $45 if you have your own equipment
touring kayaks required
Rescues/Capsize Recoveries
Suggested Prerequisite: Level I
What happens if you flip over? Will you know what to do when the unexpected happens? This class covers safe wet exits, swim landings, and several methods of assisted and unassisted re-entry of the kayak. After Level I this is the most important class any kayaker can take.
After a discussion of rescue scenarios and the necessity of knowing different ways to re-enter the kayak, the class will get comfortable with capsizing, wet exits and swim landings close to shore. Next we'll cover a few of the most essential unassited rescues including the cowboy and paddle float rescues. Assited rescues will then be introduced including the side by side, T-rescue, and bow rescue. By the end of the class all students will have a firm grasp of how to deal with getting themselves and others back into their kayaks safely and quickly.
| Date | Time |
| Saturday 6/23/12 | 10AM |
| Saturday 7/21/12 | 10AM |
| Saturday 8/11/12 | 10AM |
| Saturday 9/22/12 | 10AM |
Click here to register for Rescues/Capsize classes.
LOCATION:
LENGTH: 3 Hours
$45 if you have your own equipment
kayak with bulkheads/floatbags required
Rolling Skills Workshop
Suggested Prerequisite: Level I
We have developed an effective step by step method of learning the eskimo roll that has brought success to many of our students. Unlike other “roll sessions” where many paddlers struggle for direction and coaching, we give one-on-one feedback as you progress through stages of support and we tailor our teaching to fit each paddler’s strengths and weaknesses. Learning to roll with us is a fun process, the ultimate confidence builder, and it makes you a safer kayaker!
| Date | Time |
| Saturday 6/23/12 | 3PM |
| Saturday 7/21/12 | 3PM |
| Saturday 8/11/12 | 3PM |
| Saturday 9/22/12 | 3PM |
Click here to register for Rolling Skills classes.
LOCATION:
LENGTH: 3 Hours
COST: $60 if we provide equipment
$45 if you have your own equipment
kayak with thigh braces & bulkheads required
Coastal Kayak Skills
Revised for 2012 - Always a different experience!
Prerequisites: Level II and Rescues
Looking to take on the challenges of paddling on the ocean and the great lakes?
The class will meet at a location to be determined based on the conditions of the day. We'll start with a clinic on launching and landing our kayaks safely in small surf, getting comfortable with how the kayaks respond to the forces of the waves. Before venturing out we'll take a break for lunch and talk about plotting a course on a map and navigation with map and compass. The rest of the class is spent practicing skills as we paddle along the out and back course we've plotted. Skills for handling headwinds, following seas, quartering seas, and beam seas will be presented along with towing concepts for a variety of real world situations. Communication by radio and by improvised signals will be necessary as we paddle our route near the busy port of Erie. We'll have opportunities for practicing resues as well as some surfing if the conditions allow!
Click here to register for the Coastal Skills class.
DATE: 09/01/12
LOCATION: Presque Isle,
LENGTH: Half Day (
COST: $80 if we provide equipment
$65 if you have your own equipment
-touring/sea kayaks required
-must have valid PA launch permit
Free Kayak Demo Days
We offer two opportunities a year to test paddle everything we keep in stock.
Kayaks from Wilderness Systems, Perception, Dagger, P&H, Venture Kayaks, Current Designs, and Impex.
Saturday, May 19th 12-5pm
Sunday, August 12th 12-5pm
Keystone State Park (Boat Launch Area)
Come relax lakeside at beautiful Keystone Park, try some boats, pack a picnic and make a day of it with us!