I was excited to take the pool class, even though a few friends ridiculed taking a kayak class ("What's so hard about kayaking?!"). The whitewater clinic presented challenges I was not expecting (physically, mentally or emotionally), and it heightened my awareness of the river, the sport, challenges and myself. It has taken me a week to process this experience, and I welcome the time it will take to continue to process both the instruction and personal learned experience. This course was positively intense!
I was excited to take the pool class, even though a few friends ridiculed taking a kayak class ("What's so hard about kayaking?!"). The whitewater clinic presented challenges I was not expecting (physically, mentally or emotionally), and it heightened my awareness of the river, the sport, challenges and myself. It has taken me a week to process this experience, and I welcome the time it will take to continue to process both the instruction and personal learned experience. This course was positively intense!
I love this meetup group. Kelly has done a great job of building a foundation or respect, camaraderie, and skills so that everyone has fun. Thanks Kelly for all you do!
I wanted to say thank you for the entire Pilar trip. It was a small class and you could have rescheduled but you didn't. I really learned a lot! Because of that weekend, I'm excited about the sport. I've been talking to my wife and friends about it nonstop! I'm trying to get others to sign up for your class. You do a really good job! Thanks again!
I love this meetup group. Kelly has done a great job of building a foundation or respect, camaraderie, and skills so that everyone has fun. Thanks Kelly for all you do!
I took a roll class from Kelly. I have had some previous instruction in rolling and in boat handling techniques, but I learned more from Kelly in three hours in the pool than I did in a two day course from another instructor. I am very close to being able to roll after only one class. I'm sure with another class I'll be able to roll quite well. Kelly has a unique capability to explain how to roll, and has the patience to work with people who are having difficulty learning. He is a great teacher!
I just took Kelly's Intro to Kayaking class at the Chavez Center in Santa Fe and really enjoyed it. He was able to work with all levels (I'd never been in a kayak with the skirt on before) and even helped me overcome my fears after the initial freakout of being strapped to my boat underwater. Great teacher, I'm looking forward to the roll class!
I like the emphasis on kayaking as a positive experience. After taking the classes, you realize that you can have a very fun time, even before mastering the roll. Other classes I've taken make the roll seem like a necessity, and learning to roll (or not), becomes the focus, which eclipses the fun of kayaking.
Kelly has a way of transferring his passion for kayaking to everyone who attends a talk, lesson or paddles with him. A very patient and conscientious instructor, I always feel safe during lessons on and off the river. Not only does Kelly teach the sport, he finds ways to help you find your niche and meet others who share the same interest. In addition, the other instructors he brings along are equally as knowledgeable and helpful. If you haven't tried kayaking or want to hone your skills, this is a great place to start.
Kelly is friendly and professional and seems to know what he is talking about and an absolutely wonderful teacher. Kelly is very professional, sincere and a dedicated teacher. He worked very hard to teach me, and I was able to roll within 20 minutes of his instruction. Rest of the evening was one roll after another. I hope he can continue to hold more similar clinics on other advanced techniques. Thank you Kelly. Amit.