About Osprey Outdoors Kayak School
Michael's love for teaching is demonstrated through his career as a teacher. He has been teaching
elementary through high school age students for over ten years. The patience required to be successful
in the classroom is transferred to the river classroom where his patience, keen eye for details, safety and
humor abound - making your kayak lesson one of enjoyment and satisfaction.
Paddling a whitewater kayak is like dancing with the river! In college Michael took a Recreation class that
covered a plethora of outdoor adventures. After paddling a kayak in the rain on the Mad River, just
outside Arcata CA, Michael was hooked. He has been dancing with rivers ever since! You will be, too,
once you take a lesson and feel the magic of gliding on water, paddling down river canyons, watching
wildlife, and experiencing solitude and freedom.
Osprey Outdoors Kayak School, located at the base of Mt. Shasta, offers quality small group lessons for
beginners through advanced kayakers. Michael has been teaching since the mid eighties and has been
certified as an American Canoe Association kayak instructor at the whitewater level and also has
certification at the Advanced Whitewater level. Michael is also an Instructor Trainer, meaning he teachers
and certifies other kayak instructor candidates how to teach whitewater kayaking.
Recently, Michael has become interested in the quiet solitude of paddling a flat water kayak on the lakes in the Mt. Shasta
area. There is some much to learn about and enjoy while learning basic strokes that make paddling a flat water boat so
much fun. They glide in a straight line effortlessly. Watching all the wildlife is really cool because from a kayak, you
can sneak up really close to animals and watch them in their natural environment.
As an American Canoe Association Kayak Instructor and Instructor Trainer, Michael goes through
training on a regular basis to maintain a high standard of effective and fun instruction. He has been
to clinics for paddle stokes by Mary DeReimer, Advanced White Water Certification with Gordon Black,
(director of Safety and Education for the American Canoe Association) and Paddle Strokes and
Concepts by Eric Jackson, (Olympian and World Rodeo Champion).
Instruction:
Michael has taught kayaking for a number of whitewater stores and colleges throughout the Western
United States. Some of these include Humboldt State University, Chico State University, Chico Canoe
and Kayak and the Four Corners whitewater store in Durango Colorado where Michael trained under
some of the country's top slalom racers.
Michael has been running class five, (some of the most difficult) white water for over fifteen years. With
this background, he is well aware of the importance of correct technique and the value of instruction to
increase you safety and enjoyment of the river through lessons.
"I learned through friends and other excellent paddlers by watching them on the river which took time.
Had I invested in lessons early in my kayaking career, my school of hard knocks would have been
reduced and my learning curve accelerated which would have increased my fun and enjoyment while
learning the sport. It wasn't until I became certified that I truly learned the value of instruction for safety,
efficiency and fun!"
So, come laugh, giggle, and have a great time on the Upper Sacramento or Klamath Rivers located in
the shadow of Mt. Shasta. In addition to whitewater kayaking, Michael is teaching flat water kayaking on
Lake Siskiyou. Come on out for a tour!
"A lesson from Michael is fun and an excellent learning opportunity from a master teacher."
-Nick Ferlatte. ACA Sea Kayaking Instructor
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Michael Kirwin's Osprey Outdoors Kayak School
530-926-6310
www.ospreykayak.com | info@ospreykayak.com
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