Build your skills in real-world conditions with personalized, low-ratio coaching over multiple days.
Based in Summer Haven, this location offers a wide range of learning environments, including dynamic surf, moving water, tidal currents, and miles of coastline perfect for skill development and progression.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT
Our low student-to-coach ratios allow us to tailor each day to the group and the environment. This means we can make the most of the conditions while keeping the experience both challenging and fun.
Coaching topics may include:
Boat control in wind and waves
Tide race paddling
Surf zone skills
Core stroke refinement
Rescues and incident management
Whether you are fine-tuning techniques or building confidence in more dynamic water, this course is designed to meet you where you are and help you move forward.
February 20th – 27th | $1,695 | Register
Join The Power of Water for an ocean skills training trip at Florida’s Matanzas Inlet. This unique location offers ideal conditions for skill progression—with protected waters in the Matanzas River and dynamic, bumpy conditions at the inlet, including moving water and surf beaches. It is the perfect environment to build confidence in rough water.
Participants have the option to complete an ACA Level 3 or Level 4 Coastal Kayaking Skills Assessment during the trip. If you are interested in pursuing an ACA assessment, please contact us at info@thepowerofwater.net.
This experience includes double-occupancy lodging, daily breakfast, lunches, and select dinners. Boat transportation can be arranged for an additional cost.
What to Expect
The trip will begin with a group discussion of goals and aspirations and day one on the water is typically a warm-up and skills benchmarking day.  The remainder of the trip will take the best advantage of the environment. As with all our trips, we do not have a strict agenda we follow but rather aim to be responsive to paddlers’ desired outcomes, learning progressions, and the environment. The great part of this location is that there are options so we are typically able to meet multiple challenge levels. We have options to put in on the Matanzas River by Rattle Snake Island. There are protected ponds we can use to develop flat water skills. In addition to current play and navigating paddling under the bridge there is an option to paddle up to Fort Matanzas and around Rattle Snake Island. We often are fortunate enough to see dolphins, bald eagles, sea turtles, and others. The north and south beaches around the inlet allow for the developing of surf skills and current play.
Arrive Saturday to our rental home. Sunday – Friday consists of coaching day trips based on weather and group desires. Depart Friday evening or Saturday morning. Breakfast at the house will be provided Sunday – Friday morning. Lunch supplies will be provided for you to pack and bring on the water. Home-cooked dinners are included 3 of the nights. Other dinners are on your own.
Kayak transportation from Lansing, MI is available for an additional cost.
As the trip gets closer keep an eye out for an email with more specifics and a waiver. Any questions can be sent to info@thepowerofwater.net
Check out our Youtube channel for videos from previous years.
ACA Assessment
We can include an ACA Level 3 or 4 Skills Assessment with prior discussion. Please reach out to info@thepowerofwater.net.Â
Florida FAQ's
Reach out with specific questions to info@thepowerofwater.net. Below are common answers to questions organized by topic.
Food: We strive for local and organic as much as possible. We provide lunch supplies, and breakfast Sunday – Friday. TPOW covers three dinners and the other nights you can go out or cook in the house. Drinks and snacks are on your own.
Transport and Gear: If you fly in, Jacksonville is the closest airport. We’ll send out an email once the trip is full so people can coordinate rides or share car rentals. TPOW can transport your gear/boat for an additional fee. TPOW also offers gear and boat rentals for an additional fee.
Solo Traveler: Our groups are often made up of a diverse representation of age, gender, and experience. Some people travel with friends or partners and others come alone. No matter how you arrive we are a connected community on and off the water.
Coaching: Our coaches are ACA-certified and work diligently to foster learning sessions that are centered on YOU and your TEAM goals for the day. We strive to be pliable and flexible adapting to the environment and the group’s needs. As a team, we build the week’s big-picture goals, and each day we discuss and make a plan for desired outcomes. In addition to the core TPOW coaches we often partner with other coaches in our community on our trips.
Lodging: double occupancy rooms within a rental home. Each home will have access to a kitchen, and most have laundry available.
Odds and ends: 6 days on the water can be a challenge, you are always welcome and encouraged to take a day off throughout the week.
Conditions: With most of kayaking . . . it depends. The great thing about this location is that we have OPTIONS! While the inlet provides unique current play and surf options to the north or the south. We also have the Matanzas River and lagoons providing protected waterways. Each day we’ll check the conditions and determine the plan. We invite each participant to be part of this process.Â
