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Sound Kayakers Club

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Core Paddling - July date t.b.d., 2011 - 9 am to 5 pm at Kayak Adventure, Norwalk, CT. This class will cover Ben's solid ergonomic and efficient approach to develop stroke technique. We'll start with partnered drills on land to demonstrate the ergonomics of powerful technique. We'll move to sheltered water for component drills for each stroke: forward, reverse, sweeps, draws, pivot, low brace. You will learn how using core muscles makes movement more stable and powerful. You'll learn how to adapt strokes to create additional stability when needed, such as for rough weather or sudden changes in direction. If time permits, we'll explore advanced concepts of forward stroke, the relationship of the kayak hull to the water, and the differences between static strokes and those on the move. Bring lunch, snacks, beverage and everything you'd take for a full day's kayak trip in early summer (water temperature about 60 degrees). Fee $150, limit 10 students. Hold your place by sending a deposit of $75.

Surf/Rough Water Class - August 23, 2011 - 10 am to 5 pm. Meet in Norwalk at 8 am to carpool to Narragansett, Rhode Island.
We'll take eight experienced sea kayakers who want to become comfortable in 2-4' waves along an ocean shoreline. We'll learn how to launch and land through surf, and how to negotiate rocky areas with small surf. We'll choose a site that has moderate conditions suitable for surf zone beginners. Helmets required. This is a high-risk activity. You will be asked to sign a waiver. Fee $175.
Hold your place by sending a deposit of $75.
Photo: Launching from a rocky beach near Thule Cove, Narragansett, August 2010.

Please contact us for more information and to help you prepare. Kayak Adventure provides Bed & Breakfast accommodations in Norwalk for $30 per person per night in a shared room, or $60 per person for a private room.

Ben Lawry has been a paddler and racer for more than 30 years, and an instructor for twenty. He has taught on four continents, and competed on three. Ben is an American Canoe Association Instructor Trainer in three disciplines: Open Water Coastal Kayak, Surf, and White Water Kayak. He is a British Canoe Union 4 Star kayaker.

Ben's clinics emphasize body ergonomics and boat/body/blade efficiency. They are technique-oriented and fun. He helps you self diagnose bad habits and correct them. His style of teaching is functionally–based, with Safety, Efficiency, Enjoyment and Necessity (SEEN) being the key components. With Ben's coaching, you'll significantly improve your kayak handling.

As a racer, Ben took 1st place in the Adirondack Challenge in 2006, in both the Clinton Sprint and Run of the Charles in 2005 (k-1 class), Blackburn in 2003 (surf ski), General Clinton 2002 (comp cruiser) and Rum Runner 2001 (sea kayak). Local paddlers met him at the 2005 Lighthouse to Lighthouse race, where his time was the fastest for a sea kayak, under two hours.

Our club members enjoyed Ben's "Dry Land Rolling" at Jersey Paddlesports in 2006, which he repeated in 2007 and 2008. He's a featured instructor at national paddling symposia each year. For the last three years, he taught "Rolling with a Euro Blade" at the Sweetwater Kayaks Symposium. Ben led a group of Vermont students in 2008 paddling class III and IV whitewater in Ecuador. Here's his calendar.

A representative for Valley and Northshore Kayaks, he is co-owner of Kayak Camp with his wife, Elizabeth. Asked about his goals, he says he wants to be the best teacher he can. He seeks out top international coaches, and distills the successful teaching strategies they share. Students in our classess appreciate his hands-on methodology, grounded in thorough understanding of ergonomics and physics. Here are some testimonials and photos.

Quotes from participants in Ben's clinics:

• Hi Michele! Yes it was a fun day. I must say that as we were heading out of the river and I heard the crashing of the surf I got scared. Can't believe I made it between those two rocks and stayed upright. I heard the crashing behind me and thought I was toast. Henrietta, Brewster, NY, 2010 Rough Water class
• Ben is an amazing and inspirational kayaker and a great instructor. This was the most educational time yet that I have had, and was also the most fun. Thank you... - Dave, Milford, CT, 2010
• Hi Michelle, Re: The Narraganset trip. I felt somewhat battered today but thought the [surf clinic] most enjoyable and will have a lot to work on. It was really exciting and Ben is an excellent, sympathetic instructor. Thanks for arranging it. - Nick, Westport, CT, 2009 [Note: Nick is 70 years old and did a great job in class!]
• Ben's [Core Paddling] clinic was great, he taught a number of valuable tools that every kayaker should know, especially regarding turning and edging which have shown me how to turn my very long waterline boat around much faster than before. - Rob, Weston, CT, 2009
• The way he breaks down the steps is smart, makes sense and is surprisingly easy to assimilate. I've used his technique on a multiple mile, several hour outing. Even when returning into the wind I found that I wasn't so tired that the technique fell apart. - Ed, Fairfield, CT, 2006 Forward Stroke & 2008 Core Paddling
• His discussion of the video was hugely instructive. He obviously has a very skilled eye, and his method of picking just three points to make to each of the students is spectacular. It gave me just enough to work on without including so much that it became useless. While I've enjoyed and learned from all of the "specials" that you offer, Ben's course was certainly one of the best even in that select group.
  - Claire, Rye, NY, 2006 Forward Stroke & 2008 Core Paddling
• Our experience with Ben was outstanding. I consider him to be a superb coach, one of the best we have ever had. - Joanne & David, NY, NY, 2007 Core Paddling (Both Joanne & David are BCU 4 star trained kayakers)

Ben, second from right, teaches Coastal Kayak level 3 skills, Norwalk, CT, June 2010.

Taking a break from the waves in our 2009 Surf class - Cindy, Nick and Rob.