- 2026 Dates: April 8
- Skill Level: Previous current experience required
- Location: Gabriola Passage
- Duration: Full day
- Seats: 4
- Cost: TBA
Join us for an epic day in the current! We will experience both the ebb and flood current cycles at Gabriola Passage, with time for a break in between. This full-day clinic is a fantastic opportunity to build your skills reading water, adapting to changing water dynamics and understanding how current flow fluctuates over the course of a day. There will be plenty of time to test your skills at intermediate current flows throughout the day.
2026 Dates, Times & Locations
- Wednesday April 8, from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Gabriola Passage
The day will be broken up as follows:- 8:00 a.m. – Meet on Gabriola Island
- 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (approx.) – Explore and practice in the ebb current
(max speed 5 knots) - 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (approx.) – Long lunch break and free time
- 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (approx.) – Explore and practice in the flood current
(max speed 5.5 knots)
Looking for a shorter current session? Check out our Paddling in Current 2.0 clinics.
Course Fee
- 2026 prices TBA.
- Ferry travel to/from Gabriola Island is not included in the course fee.
Prerequisites
- Previous training and experience paddling in currents.
- Already able to execute 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. (Instructors will assist you if you capsize, but we cannot walk you through re-entry steps.)
- Able to maintain an ongoing paddling speed of at least 2 knots, and a maximum paddling speed of at least 3 knots (for short bursts).
Required Equipment
- Sea kayak with full spray skirt, paddle and Transport-Canada required safety equipment. Please make sure your kayak has static (non-stretchy) perimeter lines around the full front and back decks.
- PFD with whistle attached. Please make sure you can blow your whistle quickly and easily while on the water.
- Appropriate immersion gear: drysuit plus layers OR full-body wetsuit thick enough for the shoulder season.
- Appropriate neoprene accessories: e.g., gloves, pogies, surf cap, surf hood, etc.
- Paddling helmet.
- Appropriate sun protection: e.g., ballcap under helmet, sunglasses on cinch cord, sunscreen, etc.
- Adequate food and water for the day, including on-water snacks and water, a lunch, and a warm beverage in a thermos.
- Extra set of warm dry clothes in a drybag.
- Optional: nose clip and/or earplugs, if you are sensitive to cold water.
Registration
To register, please e-mail us at crosscurrents@outlook.com or complete the form below and we will contact you to complete your registration.
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Crosscurrents Kayak 