Intro to Whitewater Kayaking

This program begins on the flat water of the Erie Canal and ends at the Lock 32 White Water Park. The course presents a strong foundation of basic kayaking skills and river safety. Our ACA certified instructors will give you a solid foundation of kayaking strokes, boat control, whitewater maneuvers and wet-exiting (getting out of the boat when upside down). Our low (1:5) instructor to student ratio insures that you will get personal attention. Safety is always our highest priority. All kayaks, helmets, paddles and life jackets are provided. This foundation will begin the process of a lifetime of enjoyment paddling North American rivers.

All participants must be able to swim.

Indoor Pool Classes
GWC is offering a Whitewater Kayaking Course through Honeoye Falls-Lima High School Continuing Education.  The course is every Monday night from 7- 8:30 from March 7th - 28th and costs $85.  For more information or to register, please contact Ari Freedman-Weiss at ari_freedman@hflcsd.org or 585-624-7068.

Women's Courses
GWC offers the Introduction to Whitewater Kayaking course specifically for girls and women and is taught by women instructors, certified by the ACA.   We'll have the Whitewater Park to ourselves, as the courses are scheduled when no other classes are in session! Call us at 328-3960 to schedule instruction!

Please note:
For One- and Two-Day courses, a late fee of $25 will be applied to registrations received between the Monday and Wednesday prior to the class.  Registration closes at noon on the Wednesday prior to the start date.  For Three-day courses, a late fee of $25 will be applied to registrations received between the Wednesday and Friday prior to the class.  Registration closes at noon on the Friday prior to the start date.

On Tuesday and Thursday, the class will be held at GWC’s Lock 32 Whitewater Park in Pittsford. On Saturday, class will be held on the Salmon River in Pulaski, NY.  The Salmon River is a classic summer dam release just off I-81, north of Syracuse.  Warm weather, warm water, great scenery, easy access and egress, and fun Class I to III rapids make this a standard for kayakers in this area.

The Salmon River offers fun Class I-III rapids featuring warm weather, warm water, great scenery, and easy access & egress, making this a standard for kayakers in Upstate NY.  The Salmon River is located in Pulaski just off I-81 north of Syracuse.   Previous paddling experience is a requirement for this trip, such as completion of an Intro to Whitewater course or equivalent. Trip includes lunch.