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The gleam in the eyes of someone recalling a sea kayak outing says it all!

While they need not be exotic, heroic or unique, such experiences are often deeply felt, leaving behind indelible memories and a heightened sense of being alive.

Paddlers enjoy a virtuous spiral of improvement, gaining knowledge and skills that breed confidence to do more, the physical, mental, social and even spiritual benefits increasing with each cycle.

Those who have experienced the magic of sea kayaking are changed by it forever.

It starts with the ocean and our marine environment: vast, moody and challenging to our small craft floating on its surface. We increasingly learn its ways to stay safe and in doing so appreciate how important the seas are to life on Earth. We become, more than ever, champions of our oceans, lakes, rivers and the natural cycles that sustain them.

Learning to paddle a sea kayak is like learning to walk or ride a bicycle - integrating motion with agility and balance to move efficiently in a new way. First steps, rides and paddles take courage and faith, but the rewards for doing so are great! As their skills and confidence increase, many paddlers progress to exploring our amazing BC coast and some even go on to sea kayak in other parts of the world as well!

Enjoying a healthy physical workout with like-minded friends in a gorgeous marine environment...

Life just doesn’t get much better than that!

The South Island Sea Kayaking Association - SISKA - is a non-profit organization dedicated to sea kayaking on Vancouver Island, particularly in the Greater Victoria area.

SISKA was formed in 2008 by like-minded kayakers to promote safety and skill on the water and to increase knowledge associated with the sport of kayaking. We also champion community causes relating to kayaking. Mostly though, we love to get together and go paddling. All skill levels will find a comfortable group to paddle with, while being provided with opportunity to step out of that comfort zone a bit and grow those skills.

Last year we had 809 paddlers join us on 90 paddles for a total of 639.26nm. So far in 2024 we've had 223 paddlers join us on 23 paddles for a total of 150.00nm

We hold a regular monthly meeting on the 4th Wednesday of the month. The meeting usually involves a short business meeting followed by about an hour presentation by a guest speaker, and we've had some great ones. Meetings are held at The Garth Homer Center, 813 Darwin Street. Guests are welcome. You can find information about our upcoming meeting by viewing our Calendar. Meetings are not held during the summer when everyone is to busy paddling and in December.

Online Registration Closed Until Dec 01

Thanks for your interest in SISKA, but we have stopped taking new/renewed memberships right now so we can close out our books. Please come back December 1^st.

2023 Spring Training

In order to help promote safe sea kayaking for SISKA members, between March and May for each of the past few years, we have organized "Spring Training" sessions with professionals from kayaking skills companies as well as our own Paddle Canada certified SISKA instructors.

This initiative succeeded in improving paddlers' skills and also introducing members to the fine kayaking companies operating here. For Spring Training 2023 and beyond we are planning a different approach to accomplish our goals, and ensure that our members continue to receive great kayak skills training and experiences on an ongoing basis. After all, rather than being limited to the Spring months, training should be available year-round!

We will promote to our club members the paddling skills development and trip experience offerings of all commercial kayak companies that agree to provide these at a discount for all paid-up SISKA members. Registration and payment for these will take place directly with the company involved, and be subject to their normal customer policies. You will be able to book immediately, making it easier for your own planning and for the company involved. If companies provide discounts for gear we will also promote those. We are currently in the process of finalizing arrangements with a number of businesses and will circulate that information to you as soon as we can.

Of course, our SISKA instructors will continue to offer on-water skills development workshops and courses to members as well, and information about these will be circulated to members when available.

"Spring Training" offers received are listed below by provider.

BLUE DOG KAYAKING

SISKA is pleased to recommend and promote Blue Dog's paddling instruction business as well as their online store!

Blue Dog is now the dealer for Kokatat, Lendal and Gear Lab paddles as well as the Canadian Dealer and expedition center for NDK Kayaks.

You can find out all about Blue Dog Kayaking's workshops, courses, trips and gear, and make your purchases at https://bluedogkayaking.com/ .

Here is their message to SISKA members:

Blue Dog Kayaking is delighted to support SISKA during 2023, and will provide:

1. A 10% discount to ALL club members on paddling gear, dry suits, PFDs, Paddles etc

2. A 10% discount to ALL club members on Expeditions and courses

To redeem the discount on gear, members will need to apply the coupon code SISKA2023 at check out when ordering online at our online store.

To redeem the discount on expeditions and courses, members will need to apply coupon code SISKA23 when booking online.

We will also run 4 paddling workshops for SISKA members, continuing with our tested formula of workshops aimed separately at new or less skilled paddlers and at advanced paddlers. Click on the heading links below for details.

Paddlers Workshop (SISKA)
April 2nd (Sunday) & April 13th (Thursday).
These will be held in Mill Bay

Advanced Paddlers Workshop (SISKA)
April 1st (Saturday) & April 12th (Wednesday).
These will be held at our Sidney Location.

SKILS

GO KAYAK

For the past several years, Go Kayak's focused paddling skills workshops and other sea kayaking programs have been very popular with SISKA members, and we're sure 2023 will be no exception!

Check out the details of Go Kayak's Club Members' Spring Training 2023 Program at http://www.gokayak.ca/newsletter/index.html and email info@gokayak.ca to register.

OCEAN RIVER SPORTS

Ocean River Sports, one of the original kayaking companies in our area, has long been a strong supporter of SISKA – we’re delighted that ORS continues to offer services and gear for sea kayakers and special deals for SISKA members!

Ocean River Sports is pleased to continue to offer a 10% discount to SISKA members on all courses and rentals in 2023.

https://oceanriver.com/course-length/kayak-courses/

https://oceanriver.com/rentals/

In addition, members are eligible for a 10% discount on many items for sale in the Ocean River store at Oak Bay Marina. This does not apply to kayaks, electronics or paddles.

https://shop.oceanriver.com//

To receive discounts, SISKA members will be requested to show their membership card to confirm they are current members when they request a discount.

PACIFICA PADDLE SPORTS

Pacifica Paddle Sports is a well-established professional sea kayaking business in Brentwood Bay, and, more recently, Swartz Bay as well.

"Pacifica maintains the largest fleet of rental kayaks, canoes and stand up paddle boards on the West Coast. They also offer sales, repairs, lessons, tours, corporate programs & summer camps. As of April 2021, Pacifica is under new ownership.

E-J and Ted are excited to improve the Pacifica Paddle experience, from upgrading the Brentwood dock and Swartz Bay boat barn, to improving the website and customer booking experience."

From E-J...

We would like to offer a 10% discount for SISKA members on our regularly scheduled rescue lessons. A refresher on wet exit and rescue skills is good to do each season, so I hope this offer will be valuable to your group.

Rescue lessons will be held at Pacifica Paddle in Brentwood Bay every other Saturday, May through September. People can sign up here:

https://www.pacificapaddle.com/kayak-lessons

They can enter promo code SISKA10 for their discount.

Kind regards,

E-J

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

DANCING WITH THE SEA

Of particular interest to Greenland Paddlers...

Paulo Ouellette at Dancing with the Sea has been a friend and supporter of SISKA for many years. A Greenland paddler and a talented instructor, Paulo is offering a 25% discount to club members for two courses in January.
The following is from Paulo:

Here's my offer:

25% off the 2 courses below: coupon code: siska2023

Go here to view the available dates.

Course #1:
Forward Stroke Specifically For The Greenland Paddle

The Greenland paddle is shaped differently than the Euro paddle.

That’s because it’s engineered to be used differently.

When paddlers stop trying to move the paddle, and start to release the energy at the end of the stroke, it’s a very clear moment.

They start to go fast.

And what they say is “I feel like I’m not doing anything.”

That’s what paddling can feel like for you too.

Prerequisite:

Your kayak must have thigh braces and you must have a good fit with it. (contact me if you are not sure you have a good fit).
You must bring a beginner’s mind. Even if you are an experienced paddler. You will be asked to try things that are the opposite of what you believe are the right way. I’m not going to ask you to believe it, but I will ask you to try it on and see for yourself.

https://courses.dancingwiththesea.net/lessons

Course #2:
The Inuit technique that makes you impossible (almost) to capsize with your Greenland Paddle.

Being stable is not about being quick enough to brace.

It’s not about a hip snap. (There is no hip snap in sea kayaking.)

It’s not about being skilled or talented.

It’s simply about moving well in one way.

When you do the question in your mind is “why would you capsize?”

Prerequisite:

Your kayak must have thigh braces and you must have a good fit with it. (contact me if you are not sure you have a good fit).
You must bring a beginner’s mind. Even if you are an experienced paddler. You will be asked to try things that are the opposite of what you believe are the right way. I’m not going to ask you to believe it, but I will ask you to try it on and see for yourself.

https://courses.dancingwiththesea.net/lessons

CROSSCURRENTS KAYAK

Crosscurrents Kayak is a new sea kayak instruction company based in Nanaimo. We are happy to offer SISKA members the following:

10% discount on regular course fees for the following 2023 programs:

Paddle Canada skills courses - Basic and Level 1
Women on Water (WoW) Weekends - Chart-Based Navigation Intensives on beautiful Quadra Island. April and June sessions, accommodation included.
Wednesday Evening Skill Building Series - Five evening sessions in April & May. Weekly topics include Power & Momentum, Turning & Maneuverability, Balance & Agility, Re-entry Skills and the "Sea Kayak Olympics" to cap it all off!

Access to our Paddling Club Clinics on April 26, May 7 and May 17 in Nanaimo. Topics: "Paddling with Precision" or "Underwater Composure".

Hope to see you on the water this year!

Best,

Caroline Ross / Crosscurrents Kayak

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