Build Confidence and Gain Expertise At ACE's Kayak School
In today's fast-paced world, adventure vacations give us the rare opportunity to both relax and revitalize. After all, what better way to learn new skills than by playing and what better place to learn than Wild and Wonderful West Virginia and ACE Adventure Resort? Our kayak courses are exciting, challenging and always a great time. Our goal is to share America's best whitewater with our students while we instruct and encourage each one to paddle safely and confidently.
Our courses establishes, then build upon, a solid foundation of must-have skills in a fun, friendly way. Each skill you learn will be grounded and reinforced by the skills learned previously. This progressive step-by-step approach facilitates the students' thorough and practical understanding of river skills, knowledge and leadership.
At ACE, our progressive building block method allows you to learn it right the first time, as we teach you control and precision. This way, your confidence and skills let you surf a glassy wave gracefully, ride a hole with control, and link rhythmic turns in complex and challenging rapids.
Have you tried a Team Extreme Lower New Whitewater Rafting or Extreme Upper Gauley Whitewater Rafting and got hooked on whitewater?
Custom Clinics at ACE's Kayak School
Our kayak school follows a 'total immersion' philosophy of whitewater kayak instruction, therefore time will be spent at either the put-in eddy at the river, or on our private lake learning the basics of rolling. Next you will hit those Class II rapids of the Upper New for eddy catching and comprehensive basic skills instruction.
Minimum Age: 12 yrs
Novice Whitewater Kayak Instruction: Class II-III
Are your abilities more than that of a beginner, yet still not quite a solid Class III paddler? Had a roll class with another kayak school or you've paddled a rec-kayak for years or tried Guided Lake Touring? Expand your fledgling skills on the Upper New, Cherry River, or even the transitional Middle New River Gorge. Our expert kayak instruction will emphasize basic paddle strokes and techniques, eddy hopping, ferrying, and river reading.
Minimum Age: 12 yrs
Intermediate Whitewater Kayak Instruction: Class III+
Already have a solid whitewater roll in Class II and a good chance in Class III? Put those intermediate skills to the test. Better your river reading and running, eddy catching and overall technique, while expanding your paddling horizons to include wave surfing!
Minimum Age: 12 yrs
Intermediate Whitewater Kayak Instruction: Class III-IV
Hooked on kayaking? Have a solid Class III roll but are chomping at the bit to breakthrough to Class IV? In this clinic we focus on advanced paddling strokes and technique while strengthening your basic skills. as well as faster, steeper surfing, introductory slot moves and refining eddy catching and peel outs.
Minimum Age: 12 yrs
Advanced Whitewater Kayak Instruction: Class IV-V
Have a bombproof Class IV roll, and your knees don’t shake at the thought of a V? Ready for the Lower New River Gorge, Upper Meadow or Lower Gauley? Allow our instructors to fine-tune your technique, and add the study of hydraulic theory to your paddling portfolio. Advanced surfing, reading and running, and mastering micro-eddy skills round out a clinic custom-designed to elevate you towards expert.
Minimum Age: 12 yrs
Expert Whitewater Kayak Instruction: Class V
Regularly paddle Class IV and V rapids but want to step it up a notch? Bring it to West Virginia and challenge kayaking the Lower New River Gorge at high water, or should rainfall permit; the New River Dries. Have an ACE instructor’s expert guidance for your first descent of the famous Fall Upper Gauley. Expert read and run, conquering hydraulics, advanced surfing, expert eddy skills in Class IV-V rapids, and introductory whirlpool theory combine for the most incredible kayaking clinic with ACE.
Minimum Age: 12 yrs
Evening Jumpstart Kayak Instruction
Start building confidence as a whitewater paddler by learning the Eskimo kayak roll, basic strokes, and kayak safety. This course provides an introduction to our kayak school.
This trip takes place in the evening and can be scheduled after your Whitewater Rafting Trip.
Minimum Age: 12 yrs
