New Mexico Kayak Instruction offers whitewater and sea kayak instruction, sales, rentals and adventure travel. Beginner and Intermediate classes are taught year-around in Albuquerque, Santa Fe & Los Alamos, NM.

About NMKI

Kayaking has taken me places roads and trails don't go. Teaching has introduced me to some of my best friends, and rivers have taught me lessons that only nature and experiences can teach. It's been a goal of mine, since the very beginning, to share these experiences with you. Learn more.

Kayak Instruction

Kayak Instruction

New Mexico Kayak Instruction offers a variety of classes to fit your schedule, budget and paddling interest. Classes are taught in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Santa Fe and Los Alamos, as well as a variety of lakes and rivers in New Mexico.

Kayak Sales

Kayak Sales

New Mexico Kayak Instruction is the largest retailer of whitewater, touring and fishing kayaks in New Mexico. The reason behind our success is simple: Nowhere else in New Mexico can you demo a variety of modern kayaks before you buy.

Adventure Travel

Currently there are no Advanced Whitewater clinics scheduled. Please check back again or Contact Us for a private lesson.
Wounded Warriors in New Mexico
Monday, January 18, 2010 - 5:03pm    Admin (not verified)
As many of you know, it's been a goal of mine for some time to start an adaptive paddling program in New Mexico. Many positive developments have evolved over the past few months and the program is really starting to take shape.

In the beginning, my focuse will be serving disabled veterans from Afganastan and Iraq, though all veterans are invited to participate; especially those who are already paddlers. Eventually, I'd like to work with at-risk youths as well, pairing Vets with Kids; Big Brother/Big Sister style. That's well down the road though.


Our mission is to provide physical education, recreation, rehabilitation and socialization so that these men and women can experience for themselves the freedom and adventure kayaking has to offer as well as the camaraderie the paddling community has to offer. 

91 views    1 comments
Kayaking for Kids and Families
Friday, January 15, 2010 - 6:10pm    Admin (not verified)

Kayaking is something your whole family can do, and in New Mexico, there are hundreds of places you can kayak together.  If your kids love exploring the outdoors, they'll find endless adventures exploring New Mexico's lakes and rivers by kayak.  New Mexico is home to five Congress-designated "Wild and Scenic" rivers, and numerous natural and man-made lakes, providing thousands of miles of shoreline waiting to be explored.

I'm often asked "At what age should I start teaching my kids to kayak?" and "How is the best way to introduce them to the sport?"  The answers can vary greatly from one child to the next, but by following a few simple guidelines, your kids will be begging you to take them out on the water again and again!

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The River is on the Rise!
Sunday, October 25, 2009 - 10:51pm    Admin (not verified)

Watch the gauge on the Racecourse. The Rio Grande often rises a few hundred cfs in October (usually earlier than this though), so it wouldn't surprise me of the Racecourse got up to 500-1000 cfs over the next few days.  Get out and paddle, if you can. It's like paddling a different river with every increase of 100cfs.

Upper Rio Grand; Upper Box
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?08263500

State Park
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?08276500

Notice the lag between the two.

If the Racecourse is still a bit intimidating, the State Park is runable again above 450cfs.  The State Park doesn't change too much with increases in flow. It's still almost always class I, with Gauging Station a Class II...very predictable.

Happy paddling!
Kelly

203 views    1 comments
Balloon Fiesta Farewell Float
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 4:36pm    Admin (not verified)

I've managed to avoid the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta each of the four years since moving to Albuquerque. A corporate day-job, trips to Mexico and Oregon seemed to pull me in different directions each October. Tales of death, power outages and traffic jams didn't sound like too much fun. But, much as I learned to enjoy a good Green Chili Cheeseburger, I've come to appreciate Albuquerque's world-famous Balloon Fiesta!

175 views    0 comments
Whiterock Canyon
Sunday, August 30, 2009 - 11:35am    Admin (not verified)

This weekend turned out to be another awesome weekend on the river. For some time, I'd planned to head to Glenwood Springs to take a playboating clinic from my friend and Instructor Trainer, Nick Wigston. During the off time, Mike Pogzeba and I had planned to do a river-boarding lesson from Shane Boling, my Ripboard Riverboard supplier. Mike bummed his knee on a dirt bike, Shane bummed his knee on something other than a Riverboard, and the fuel filter on my truck told me it wasn't a good time to make the 8.5hr trek to Glendwood Springs.

Luckily, Plan B was in the making.

244 views    2 comments

Kayak Rentals

Kayak Rentals

New Mexico Kayak Instruction has the largest selection of kayak rentals in New Mexico. With more than 30 2008-2010 whitewater, recreational, touring and fishing kayaks in Albuquerque, you're sure to find the perfect kayak for your next adventure!

River Boarding

River Boarding

River Boarding is headed to New Mexico! Check back soon for River boarding instruction, sales and adventure travel!

Most Recent Blogs

Wounded Warriors in New Mexico
01/18/2010 - 5:03pm    Admin (not verified)    91 views    1 comments
As many of you know, it's been a goal of mine for some time to start an adaptive paddling program in New Mexico. Many positive developments have evolved over the past...
Kayaking for Kids and Families
01/15/2010 - 6:10pm    Admin (not verified)    60 views    0 comments

Kayaking is something your whole family can do, and in New Mexico, there are hundreds of places you can kayak together.  If your kids love exploring...

The River is on the Rise!
10/25/2009 - 10:51pm    Admin (not verified)    203 views    1 comments

Watch the gauge on the Racecourse. The Rio Grande often rises a few hundred ...

Balloon Fiesta Farewell Float
10/14/2009 - 4:36pm    Admin (not verified)    175 views    0 comments

I've managed to avoid the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta each of the four years since moving to Albuquerque. A corporate day-job, trips to Mexico and Oregon seemed to pull me in...

Whiterock Canyon
08/30/2009 - 11:35am    Admin (not verified)    244 views    2 comments

This weekend turned out to be another awesome weekend on the river. For some time, I'd planned to head to Glenwood Springs to take a playboating clinic from my friend and Instructor Trainer, Nick...