Performance Paddling Clinics

Our Performance Paddling Clinics bring celebrity instructors to Charles River Canoe & Kayak. These instructors are world-renowned and have years of teaching and paddling experience, and their classes augment our Paddling School offerings. A list of these currently scheduled clinics appears below. Make sure you’re on the e-mail list to find out when these celebrity instructors will be coming next.

Performance Kayaking with Heather Davis

Saturday, August 10th, 2019:

9-11am Racing Equipment and Strategies and Boat Demos
11am-12:30pm Racing
2-4pm Women’s Performance Paddling Clinic

Sunday August 11th, 2019:

10am-12pm Performance Paddling Clinic

All Events take place at the Historic Newton Boathouse

Performance kayaking can be a great low impact exercise to add to your training program. Join Stellar Kayaks Ambassador Heather Davis to learn more. We will start with a free boat demos from 9 am to 11 am. You will have the chance to try a wide range of performance kayaks and Heather can help you find the right boat to start out with.

At 11 am we will have a fun free 3 mile race. Bring your own boat or you are welcome to use one of ours. No pre-registration is required just show up between 10 and 10:30 am.

After the race we will take a break for lunch and then Heather will teach a 2 Hour Womens Performance Paddling Class starting at 2pm. This clinic is designed for women of all abilities who are interested in learning about training and technique strategies for fitness oriented paddling. Learn how to refine your stroke to go faster and get a great workout.

On Sunday Morning Heather will be back to teach another Two Hour Performance Paddling clinic open to all. This clinic is designed for paddlers of all abilities who are interested in learning about training and technique strategies for fitness oriented paddling. Learn how to refine your stroke to go faster and get a great workout.

Ben Lawry Forward Strokes Clinic

Ben Lawry has been paddling for over 40 years, and teaching/guiding for over 30. He has taught paddling on five continents and competed on three. Presently he is head instructor/owner of Kayak Camp with his wife, Elizabeth. He has led trips and traveled extensively in South America, South Africa, Europe and North America. As a brand ambassador, he is involved with kayak design in sea, light-touring, and racing kayaks. He enjoys competing in a variety of racing events and has won the General Clinton, Blackburn Challenge, and Run of the Charles races.

Ben Lawry’s Forward Stroke Clinic
Saturday June 22nd, 2019
9am or 1pm at the Historic Newton Boathouse

Ben’s Touring Forward Stroke Clinic is designed for all paddlers. The grip, paddle, and body are covered as we work toward a solid and efficient forward stroke. Efficiency and correct body use are the keys here to keep you paddling for hours at a time with ease and grace. Balance, posture, and tilting/edging/leaning are covered and correct blade and boat use.

Ben Lawry Full-Day Paddling Clinic for Racing and Fitness
Sunday June 23th, 2019
9am at the Historic Newton Boathouse

Ben’s full-day clinic is designed for paddlers of all abilities. Same as the forward stroke clinic but with more personalized attention and practice, we’ll focus on the grip, paddle, and body as we work toward a solid and efficient forward stroke. Efficiency and correct body use are the keys here to keep you paddling for hours at a time with ease and grace. Balance, posture, and tilting/edging/leaning are covered and correct blade and boat use.