A few years ago, I was a welder/ironworker who needed a career change and a reason to leave Alberta. When I discovered the Adventure Guiding Program (now, sadly, suspended – Ed.) at North Island College (NIC), I moved to the Comox Valley. After graduation, I became a kayak guide, pursuing a dream of adventures to remote islands. Since I come from a landlocked big city in the east, kayaking wasn’t part of my youth. Fortunately, the training at NIC was comprehensive enough to make up for my lack of paddling experience.
My first year of guiding involved multi-day base camps, expeditions, and charismatic megafauna—humpbacks and orcas. The days were long and busy, but I found there’s nothing quite like brushing your teeth, spitting into the ocean, and discovering bioluminescence!
Now, I work as an instructor and guide at Comox Valley Kayaks (CVK), which offers introductory courses, recognized by Paddle Canada, that focus on essential skills, including proper stroke technique, balance, and boat control.
The secret to paddling with less effort
We teach students that efficient paddling is not about strength alone, but about stroke technique, body positioning, and understanding how the boat interacts with the water. One of the secrets is what’s called the paddler’s box. You don’t really use your arms to paddle; you use your back and core muscles to rotate your torso, and the paddle just cuts through the water. It’s the weirdest thing the first time you do it, but when it all comes together, you can speed through the water with far less effort.
It’s such a great feeling to give people the gift of finesse, so they don’t burn holes in their hands from overgripping or wear themselves out on a long day of paddling due to poor form. These early lessons can make the difference between someone who tries kayaking or canoeing a few times and someone, like me, who falls in love with it for life.
Recently I taught one of CVK’s programs called the Senior Tour, a two-hour activity for people over 60 that blends a lesson with a tour. We covered kayak parts and function, stroke development, and stable methods to enter and exit a kayak. Then we headed out to explore the estuary.
Once people experience the joy of smooth, efficient paddling, the next level is waves and currents. CVK offers a wide range of programs and training for those who want to improve their skills or prepare for expeditions.
However, not everyone wants to go that far in their training. Some people want to go out for an easy, fun paddle with beautiful sights, local knowledge, and a bit of guidance. That’s why kayak tours are so great. We do a lot of estuary tours from Comox Valley Kayaks. I honestly thought I would get sick of them, but I haven’t—seeing the mountains from the water is always stunning. Many birds make the estuary their nesting grounds, and often there are eagles overhead. At certain times of year, we might see seals, river otters, or sea lions in the water.
“I love that kayaking can be anything people want it to be”
Exploring the Royston Wrecks
For more experienced paddlers, or anyone feeling ambitious, we offer longer tours. My favourite local destination is Royston Wrecks, also known as the Ghost Ships. The rusty, skeletal remains of large vessels have become an artificial reef full of anemones, sea stars, and fish—and plants grow out of the boat decks.
When I take people there for tours, we see something a little different every time depending on the tides, boat control, and the direction of wind and current. And there are lots of stories to tell. One of the vessels, the Melanope, was believed to be cursed by a stowaway who was forced to walk the plank.
I love that kayaking can be anything people want it to be. It can be an entry-level gentle paddle near the shoreline or a serious multi-day expedition through currents and waves. Because I, too, started with no experience, it fills me with joy to watch my students get faster and more confident as they apply what they’ve learned. My hope is that one day they’ll be able to embark on multi-day adventures, exploring the beautiful islands that made me fall in love with kayaking.
