If youve never even seen a Stand Up Paddleboard in person before dont worry - our instructors have taught plenty of novices. Youll be amazed how quickly you learn the basics. And the more you learn, the more fun youll have. Even experienced stand up paddlers find it useful to refine their skills and become habituated to the local waterways in our beginner and intermediate classes.
First time stand up paddleboarders start with our Beginners class. In this class you learn the basic safety and paddling techniques in a fun and friendly environment. After a brief introduction in the classroom, we move to the dock to introduce you to the boards and equipment.
Before you launch onto the river we teach you some basic safety techniques. From there we head out into the protected area where you can learn in the actual river without having to be concerned with current or boat traffic.
The class is taught by one of our expert instructors. We keep our class sizes small, with a staff to student ratio no greater than 1-to-4, which assures plenty of individual attention and an eye on your safety.
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When is it? And How Much Does It Cost? |
Beginners classes are every Saturday morning at 9:30am-11:30am and again in the afternoon from 12:30pm-2:30pm. It is 2 hours long and costs $100. This cost includes everything youll need except for a bottle of drinking water and sunscreen.
There is also a Tuesday evening, 6pm option during the summer season. This is a 2 hour class and costs $100.
We strongly recommend the weekend classes for beginners. On weekend mornings, there is less traffic on the river so the water is a little calmer; this will make it better to ease into the sport.
Please reserve your spot in a class at least 48-hours in advance so we can make sure we have enough teachers. Call (212) 924-1327 to reserve now!
We provide the board, paddle, and Personal Flotation Device (life jacket).
You should bring a bottle of water; you cant drink the river water. Also bring some sun-block. Click here for a full list of other items you might want to bring.
After your first class you may decide that you want to take another. The Intermediate class is designed to be the next step, and is every Saturday afternoon from 3:30pm-5:30pm. If youre feeling really comfortable, you may want to consider getting your own board and exploring our membership options. The NYKC staff will be happy to help you choose the membership that is best for you.
All classes are $50 per hour. Save 20% when you purchase 10 hours or more.
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Other Items to Keep You Comfortable... |
Synthetic shirt soggy cotton shirts get uncomfortable under your life jacket, and will not screen your skin from all of the suns harmful rays. We all wear shirts made of a synthetic material. NYKC sells shirts designed specifically for kayaking, but any smooth synthetic shirt should do surfing rash-guards are terrific!
Swimsuit or synthetic shorts any old kind will do.
Sun hat It can be sunny out on the water and there is no shade. A brimmed hat will keep you from squinting and protect your ears from sunburn.
Retainers for eye glasses If you wear glasses, its a good idea to secure them with products like Croakies or Chums, which we sell at the store. The bottom of the river is littered with old glasses and keys.
Towel In case you do get wet, or if you just want to cool off under the hose.
Shoes It is advised to wear shoes, flip flops or sandals from the shop to the dock. While you can leave them on the pier or dock, we cant guarantee their safety there. Water-shoes are a good option as you can wear them on the pier and also while paddling.
New York Kayak Company has separate changing rooms for men and women. We also have small lockers for day use. Please bring a lock.
More questions? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions section. Or call the shop today.
