Coastal Development Program
Your Season of
Coastal Progression
Done your Level 1 and wondering what's next? The CDP is a season of coached sea kayaking — foundations, navigation, current, and surf — built around fun, progression, and people. No assessment. No pressure. Just better paddling.
every clinic
regions
savings
rental available
After L1, then what?
You finished your Level 1. Now the options are: jump straight into a certification course, or figure it out on your own. The CDP fills that gap — a season of coached skill development, great paddling, and good people, without the pressure of an assessment.
Skill Development, Not Certification
Built on established training frameworks but without the pass/fail. Get better at paddling because you want to, not because there's a checkbox at the end.
Coaches Who Know Your Paddling
Your coaches carry your progress across every clinic. By mid-season they know your strengths, your habits, and exactly what to work on next.
Your Season, Your Way
Three core weekends are locked in. Add current, surf, or both — build a season that fits your schedule and interests. Serious development with room to have fun.
No Gear Required
Valley sea kayak and Nookie drysuit rentals available for every clinic. Show up and paddle.
Save 15% on the full program
Applied automatically when you register for the bundle. 25% deposit option available.
Your Season at a Glance
Core weekends are locked in with every registration. Add clinics à la carte to fill out your season.
Three Core Weekends
Foundation Reset builds the base. The Navigation Series tests it. Six days of coached progression across sheltered, moderate, and exposed water.
Foundation Reset
Two days rebuilding your L1 skills to a higher standard — stroke efficiency, boat control, bracing, and rescues with expert coaching. Not just enough to pass — enough to paddle well.
Navigation Series
Navigator builds the skills — chart work, compass, environmental reading, route planning. Explorer tests them under pressure — crossings, incident management, and decisions that matter. Plus full access to the Kayak Ontario learning platform.
À La Carte Add-Ons
Layer current, surf, or dynamic conditions onto your core. Each is a standalone weekend — take any or all.
Dynamic Coastal Conditions
Wind waves, reflected seas, clapotis, rock gardens, and surf zones. The conditions that flat-water training can't simulate.
Sea Kayaking in Current
Day one rebuilds flatwater skills. Day two puts it all in the Niagara River — ferrying, s-turns, peeling in and out. Progressive current exposure.
Surfing & Forecasting
One evening of wave forecasting, two full days in the surf. Learn to read conditions, pick the break, and paddle into real Great Lakes waves.
Full Rental Kit Available
You don't need to own a sea kayak to do this program. We provide everything you need to get on the water.
Valley sea kayaks — properly outfitted expedition boats, not rec kayaks
Nookie drysuits — stay warm and dry in any conditions, any season
Available for every clinic — rent for one weekend or the whole season
Camping help in Tobermory — we can help arrange accommodation for out-of-towners
Three Regions. One Program.
What's Included
1:4 Coaching
Four students per instructor, every clinic. No exceptions, no crowd control.
Published Curriculum
Consistent quality regardless of which instructor leads. No winging it.
Progress Tracking
Coaches carry your development across every weekend. No starting over.
Learning Platform
Online modules for navigation, weather, and risk management with the Nav series.
Social Nights
Las Chulas on Tobermory weekends. Debrief over tacos and cold drinks.
What's Next Guidance
Coaches help you figure out what comes after — whether that's certification, touring, or just more time on the water.
Not a Dead End
The CDP builds real skill. Where you take it is up to you — your coaches know your paddling and can help you figure out what's next.
CDP Season
Foundation, navigation, current, surf — structured development across the season
Keep Exploring
Coastal Explorer touring days, multi-day trips, Winter Stroke Lab
Go Deeper
Rolling courses, advanced rescue clinics, dynamic water skills
Assessment Ready
When you want certification, you'll have the skills — and coaches who can tell you you're ready
Or Just Paddle
Not everyone wants a certificate. Some people just want to be better on the water — that's enough
Frequently Asked
Foundation Reset at Lion's Head and the full Navigation series (Navigator + Explorer) at Tobermory — six coached days across three weekends. Then add any à la carte clinics you want.
No. Valley sea kayak and Nookie drysuit rentals are available for all clinics. You can do the full program without owning any gear.
Foundation Reset first, then Navigator, then Explorer. The à la carte clinics can be taken in any order alongside or after the core weekends. Your coaches will recommend sequencing based on your development.
Absolutely. The three core weekends are a complete six-day progression on their own. The add-ons extend it into different environments if you want more.
The program guarantees your spots across the season, saves you 15%, and your coaches track your development as a continuous progression rather than isolated weekends.
This is a skill development program, not a certification course. But the skills you build here are exactly what you need for assessment courses, and your coaches can tell you when you're ready.
Paddle Canada or ORCKA Level 1 (or equivalent). The program starts with Foundation Reset — no advanced experience needed. Not sure if you qualify? Get in touch.
Yes — a 25% deposit option is available. Email us and we'll set it up for you.
Ready to Build
Your Season?
Three core weekends. Up to six. Full rental kit available. Continuous coaching from start to finish.
L1 or equivalent required · 15% bundle savings applied at checkout · 25% deposit available