Lessons & Guided Trips

What to Wear & Bring

Meet Your Instructor

Home Page

Kayak Design & Safety

About Our Kayaks

Sound Kayakers Club

Sustainable Living Practices

Hosted by Kayak Adventure of Norwalk, CT
2009 - Sunday, July 5, 9 am to 1 pm
Fee: $150 for 4 hour class.

In Greenland, no one kayaks until they have learned to roll, so they've developed some sure-fire strategies. Cheri, a Greenland National Kayaking Championship participant since 2003, says "Once you've felt yourself roll, muscle memory kicks in and it's much easier to repeat. The Greenland way helps you roll easily, right from the start." Last year, Cheri & Turner had newcomers balance bracing and performing three kinds of rolls by the end of class. An experienced paddler with bombproof skills learned to roll with a throwing stick, and fine-tuned technique to make her roll gentle and slow.

Right: Cheri, in orange hat, with Kayak Adventure students in our June 2007 class. Tom uses an avataq to balance brace while Grace beams.

In the rolling class, Cheri & Turner start by fitting you and a buddy to a Greenland kayak. Cheri demonstrates each skill in the rolling progression, then one person from each buddy pair practices, with the other spotting. Cheri and Turner take turns working one on one with each person. We work close to shore, in waist deep or shallower water.

Below: Monica seta up to roll for the first time, June, 2007, with Sandy and Cheri assisting.

Save your place with a deposit of $75. Either mail us a check or ask for a Paypal invoice. Questions? Contact Kayak Adventure at 203 852-7294.

Cheri Perry has been a paddling guide and instructor for eighteen years. In 2002 her direction changed at a traditional workshop with Greg Stamer of Qajaq USA. The next year she began teaching "the ancient art of Greenland kayaking," perfecting her maneuvers with hours of practice with the Walden Qajaq Society, where she was mentored by Turner Wilson. In 2004 and 2005 she competed in the Greenland National Kayaking Championships, taking first place for women. In 2006 she & Turner taught at BCU Week at Sea Kayak Georgia, at the Florida Coast Sea Kayak Symposium and the Qajaq USA Michigan Training Camp. Cheri received her initial training with the Maine Island Kayak Company, where she was a visiting guide from 1990-1995. In 1997 she took BCU training & certification with Nigel Dennis. She holds a four star BCU award.

Quotes from participants in Cheri & Turner's classes:

• I had a great time. I am hoping I can make this work in my boat. But it was amazing. They are great teachers. They can easily see what you are doing wrong and tell you how to fix it. - Craig of Newington, CT, June 3, 2007. Follow-up on June 20: I finally went out to test my skills. I was able to roll my boat second try. I definitely need more practice, but I am very excited. I was using my long paddle unfeathered... I rolled about 5-6 times. (Right: Photo of Craig sculling.)
  
• I just wanted to send you some feedback about the rolling class yesterday. I loved it! :-) Cheri and Turner broke everything down step by step into manageable pieces that built nicely on each other. By getting comfortable with each step and then adding on the next piece when I was ready, it was easy to progress to a full roll with complete confidence. They were very thorough in explaining things, provided just the right amount of detail/feedback, were encouraging, and best of all, they were fun. I’ve gone from being worried about tipping over in a kayak to being excited to get out and try rolling again! Thank you for organizing this wonderful class! - Monica of Stamford, CT, June 2007
  
• The class was awesome! I think what made it so great was the fact there was a LOT of one-on-one time which is important to properly learn this. I had such a blast and just wish I didn't get too tired at the end so I could do a little more. Cheri and Turner explained everything so well and were wonderful teachers for this. - Megan of New Canaan, CT, August 2006
  
• Thanks again for the great experience. Bea really benefitted from her success and I think she may want to do more in the future. - Mother and daughter participants from Swarthmore, PA, August 2006
  
• Michele, this event was a home run. Thanks again and again! Just excellent! - Jean of Westport, CT, August 2005
  
• I made every roll after working with Turner on bracing, and Cheri on rolling. - Ed, August 2005 class participant
  
• We liked the close individual attention, the Greenlandic boats, the fit, and encouragement. - couple from August 2005 class
  
• What made a difference was Cheri's ability to diagnose what I was doing right and wrong, and telling me she thought I could do it. - August 2005 class participant

Hawley learned to balance brace (below), roll both onside and offside, and do a butterfly roll with a throwing stick in one three hour class in September 2007. The kayak she's using was built by Maligiaq, a Greenland champion. She first learned to kayak in our Intro to Kayak class in July.

Jim spots Steve as he learns to scull for support in a replica of an 1842 East Greenland kayak, September 2007 class, with Cheri offering guidance.

George balance braces using an avataq in an Impex Outer Island, with Tim spotting - September 2007.



Tim rolls a Betsie Bay kayak with help from Cheri, while Jane completes a perfect laid-back roll in the background - September 2007.



Cecilia is sculling for support in a traditional skin-on-frame craft, completely relaxed on the surface of the water - June 2007.

Partners work with each other at various learning stages in our June 2007 class. From left to right, Steve spots Craig, Sandy spots Monica while she balance braces, Cheri helps Tom fit into a Greenland kayak while Grace looks on; Geoff advises Phil, and Cecilia balance braces with an avataq, while her partner, Michele, looks on (behind the camera lens).