Conquering Current! Two-Day Course

• 2026 Dates: 
  April 25-26 (Women on Water edition)
  Other dates pending
• Skill Level: Previous current experience
• Locations: Dodd Narrows, Nanaimo; Gabriola Passage, Gabriola Island
• Seats: 4
• Cost: $380 per person
  ($350 for active paddling club members)

Conquering Current is a two-day course for paddlers who have previous experience paddling in current and wish to gain more experience in real-world settings. We’ll practice and hone techniques such as ferrying, eddy turns, reading the water and more, using two different locations in the Nanaimo area – Gabriola Passage and Dodd Narrows – as our playgrounds. The course also includes a theory session on how to locate and interpret current data.

For 2026, we are offering a women’s only edition of this course on April 25-26.

Dates & Itinerary

This course runs on the following dates:

• April 25-26, 2026 – Women on Water (WoW) Edition

Each course includes three components:

1. Current Session at Gabriola Passage
   We will practice and refine moving water skills such as ferrying, crossing eddy lines, turning in current and more. Note that you must take a ferry to/from Gabriola Island for this session.
2. Classroom Theory Session
   We will review how to locate and interpret current data, and how to calculate intermediary current speeds. We will calculate and assess data for our outing to Dodd Narrows.
3. Current Session at Dodd Narrows
   We will practice and test our skills from Day 1 in a new setting, and observe how our current calculations from our theory session play out in real life.

Expect to spend 4-5 hours on the water each day. A more detailed itinerary will be provided to paddlers who register for this clinic.

Course Fee

• $380 per person, taxes included. ($350 per person for active paddling club members.)
• Transportation and ferry fees to/from Gabriola Island are not included in the program fee.

Prerequisites

• Previous experience paddling in current – i.e., have taken a current clinic, or had exposure to currents during a Paddle Canada Level 2 Sea Kayak Skills course.
• Familiar with the concepts of ferrying across current and turning in/out of eddies using edging and bracing.
• Comfortable paddling in wind waves.
• Comfortable performing wet exits and re-entry procedures in moving water.
• Able to complete re-entry procedures independently, without instruction, in flat water.
• Able to maintain an average paddling speed of at least 2 knots, and to achieve a maximum paddling speed of at least 3 knots for shorter bursts.

If you are unsure if you meet the pre-requisites, please contact us to discuss.

Required Equipment

• Sea-worthy kayak with sealed hatches fore and aft and perimeter (deck) lines.
• Transport Canada required safety equipment: PFD with whistle attached, bilge pump, 15-meter buoyant heaving line (aka throw bag or tow belt).
• Kayaking equipment: paddle, spray skirt, paddle float, spare paddle, etc.
• Immersion gear: drysuit with appropriate layers underneath OR full-body wetsuit of at least 4/3 thickness (4 mm neoprene on torso, 3 mm neoprene on arms and legs) with a rain/wind blocking paddling jacket. If you need to rent immersion gear, contact us.
• Neoprene accessories, as desired: gloves, pogies, booties, cap, surf hood, etc.
• Paddling helmet (We have a few loaners available if needed.)
• Toque or ball cap to wear under your helmet, sunglasses on cinch cord, sunscreen, etc., as conditions dictate.
• Change of warm, dry clothes in a drybag to take with you in your kayak.
• Adequate food and drink for each day on the water, including a thermos with a hot drink in it. Ensure some of your food is accessible in your PFD for when we are in the current.
• Water bottle with carabiner, or PFD-integrated hydration system.
• Signed waiver and medical forms, provided two weeks prior to the course start date.

Registration

To register for this program, please e-mail us at crosscurrents@outlook.com or complete the form below and we will contact you to complete your registration.