~ Komo mai kau mapuna hoe – “Dip your paddle in” Join in the effort ~
NEW PADDLER INFO: We are open to all new paddlers for the 2024 Season! Email us at kaipanaoutrigger@gmail.com for more info!
Kai Pana offers new paddlers a week of free paddling while you explore our club, practices, training style, and ‘ohana. If you are a new paddler to outrigger and Kai Pana, don’t be nervous to ask lots of questions. There are many of us who have been paddling for years and forget how many questions and concerns can be in the minds of new people on the water. Email our Coaches Tyler Irwin or Megan Irwin and ask about coming out for FREE! While you explore paddling with Kai Pana we’ll be there to answer questions and keep you company on the water!
PRACTICE SCHEDULE: EARLY SEASON
TUESDAY 5:30-8pm, THURSDAY 5:30-8pm
LOCATION: LUTHERWOOD CAMP – LAKE SAMISH
1185 Roy Road
Bellingham, WA 98229
PRACTICE SCHEDULE: SUMMER SEASON
TUESDAY 5:30-8pm, THURSDAY 5:30-8pm
LOCATION: GLASS BEACH
Kai Pana Practice Site
101 Pine Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
We are located directly across the street from Cornwall (Glass) Beach. Parking is available across the street, next to the Port building.
SIGN A WAIVER:
You will need to sign a waiver before you get into a canoe with Kai Pana. Club members are covered for the year under our new insurance provider, Paddlesport Risk Management. Guest paddlers will have to sign a Guest Paddler Waiver. You will be able to do this at our practice site, prior to practice.
PRACTICE:
Facilities:
We have a porta-potty onsite for Club members and guests to utilize.
PREPARATION:
When you first arrive at the beach, find the Paddlesport waiver to sign by touching base with Tyler or Megan. You will see several people standing around chitchatting. Don’t be bashful. Introduce yourself to whoever is near. There will be some scurrying about as paddlers prepare the OC6s for launching (bailing out rainwater and putting PFDs in each canoe). Once enough canoes are in the water, everyone jumps into a canoe following the coaches’ instructions. Sometimes crews will consist of all women or all men, or, many times it is mixed.
DRESS:
Prepare to get a bit wet. We recommend athletic (synthetic) tops and bottoms. Men typically wear a comfortable pair of board shorts and women can vary with a synthetic-type leggings or shorts. We also recommend wearing flip flops (slippas) for the walk to the beach, and you will typically be barefoot while in our canoes.
HYDRATION:
Carrying your own water is essential. A water bottle works, but most paddlers prefer hydration packs. The fanny kind is preferred because the backpack style seems to move around a bunch when paddling. On longer Saturday paddles, you may want to bring along a power bar or some other quick nutrition.
PFD’s:
Life jackets (PFDs) on the boats for every paddler are mandatory per Coast Guard regulations, however most paddlers prefer not to wear them unless the weather conditions are adverse. The Club will provide basic PFDs or you may opt to bring your own paddling PFD. If you are an inexperienced swimmer or cannot swim, wearing a PFD every time you are in the canoe is mandatory.
PADDLES:
The Club also has guest paddles available for your use. There are many ways to size a paddle. Ask a club member to help you pick one out. Once you’ve fallen in love with this sport, it would be wise for you to purchase one of your own. Ask a coach or other experienced paddler for their ideas on how to select one. You may even ask to try out different paddles that members own just to see how the different styles and lengths fit you.