SKILLS BOOSTER CAMP CANTABRIA
FACTS
LEVEL: RED
What is my level?++ A booster camp, where it's all about the further development of your technique ++
++ Optional XL version (+3 days) with the star Spanish coach Manolo Pastoriza ++
++ Breathtaking cliffs, fantastic rock hopping, your first Atlantic swell, surfing, rolling clinic, and kayaking trips in a fascinating tidal landscape ++
++ This is where we take you from Level Red to Level Black – whilst we also firm up the basics! ++
COST:
from CHF 1290* ("Basic")
or CHF 1990* ("XL")
*for more information about the different price options, see info box "Conditions"On all our programmes travel to and from the event, meals and accommodation are the responsibility of the participants.
OUR SERVICES:
Six (Basic) or nine paddling days (XL)
BASIC:
28.05–02.06.2022*
XL:
25.05–02.06.2022*
Start & End: Playa de Isla, ES
*We recommend arriving the day before.
** Clicking this button will forward you to the booking page of our partner company Hightide Kayak School GmbH
DETAILS
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Intro
Welcome to Bay of Biscay - welcome to the ocean!
Our Skills Booster Camp in Playa de Isla, Cantabria, in northern Spain, is the opportunity for all paddlers on an intermediate level to develop their skills and thus master the transition from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. Here you can really strengthen your foundation, practice a lot and gain self-confidence before you continue to the next level or the next paddling adventure - e.g. on the not far away coast of Asturias.
What is a Skills Booster Camp?
A Skills Booster Camp is all about intensive learning and practice. With this very clear and technique-oriented focus, it also differs from our "normal" course camps in that we don't waste time with shuttles for day trips on other nearby stretches of coast, but usually always start from the same place. This results in more paddling and training time per day. At the moment we offer two Skills Booster Camps: one on the Costa Brava (Level Green) and one in Cantabria (Level Red). We assume that we will get you ready for the next level in each of these two camps. In this case, that means: Level Black tours should be in your remit afterwards.
Cantabria Here, on Spain's green northern coast, the blue Cantabric Sea awaits you, with the best swell, fantastic coastal cliffs, bizarre rock gardens, 4-metre tides, and perfect surfing beaches – and all of this within reach of our base camp, where we'll spend a whole week without having to drive anywhere. Rather than waste time and energy on grand excursions in the surrounding area, we will instead explore all the possibilities available right here, outside our front door, so to speak, dedicating each day to the intensive development and fine tuning of your paddling technique. During this time, you will have plenty of opportunities to develop your paddling skills whilst rock hopping beneath high cliffs and in gigantic rock gardens: we'll be exploring magnificent caves, practising rescues, and going on day trips along the cliffs of Cape Quejo and Cape Ajo. And, of course, Cantabria wouldn't be what it is without all those perfect surfing beaches everywhere – in our case just a five-minute paddle away from the campsite...
Certainly by this point in your development as a kayaker, rolling is a necessity, so this is something you will be learning or further developing (whatever your present level is). Of course, you will also be learning the basics on tours of tidal waters, as well as everything you need in order to become a safe paddler at the very solid level of the BC Sea Kayak Award (formerly the 3-Star).
Please note: With this camp, you can opt for the one-week basic option or for the XL version, which is three days longer. More specifically: the XL version starts on Thursday afternoon with an intensive training session on (Greenland) paddling technique and rolling with star instructor Manolo Pastoriza. Manolo, who has been a trainer for 30 years, is one of the greatest Spanish sea kayakers and an international legend when it comes to Greenland rolling. -
XL Option
"XL" version: Thursday 25 May up to and including Saturday 28 May.
Our booster course ("XL" version) starts on Thursday 25 May at 12:00 at our campsite, "Playa de Isla". This means that you will need to have arrived at least half an hour beforehand if you don't want to miss anything. We therefore advise that you arrive the evening before, if possible. As we won't be far away from Santander Airport, it should also be possible to arrive on Thursday morning, depending on the connection.
Please note that you have to reserve your space on the campsite yourself.
As soon as we have discussed the needs and wishes of the group for the coming days, and have finished distributing kayaks and materials, we'll start off with an intensive session on paddling technique, during which we will be able to spot any weak spots which have not yet been identified so that we can get the focus right over the rest of the week. One thing's for sure: we will be dedicating plenty of time to the Greenland paddle, and this is the paddle we will mostly practise with. You can transfer this knowledge to your Euro paddles as well, of course – so it's two for the price of one! Certainly by the end of the week, even those seasoned Euro paddlers amongst you will have become equally confident with the Greenland paddle, and you will be able users of both in pretty much any situation you might find yourself in.
Your success in this area is pretty much guaranteed, given that your coaches will be Manolo Pastoriza, Ella and Yuri. Over the next few days, we will be providing you with extremely systematic and intensive training and the combined expertise of an extraordinary international team of trainers, with a teacher to student ratio better than 1:3. Our lead instructor, Manolo, is something of a legend in Spain, especially when it comes to paddling technique and Greenland rolls, and has more than 30 years' experience as a kayaking coach to draw on.
Obviously, it makes sense that alongside the development and fine tuning of your paddling technique, a strong emphasis will be put on rolling. Whatever stage you are at when it comes to this skill, these three intensive days will advance you by leaps and bounds. And straight after, we'll carry on – as what follows will be the "real" week of paddling in the sea kayaking paradise around Cabo Quejo and Ajo!
If you can somehow manage it, we would recommend this XL option for all participants. Even if you already have plenty of sea kayaking experience, this is an extraordinary opportunity to make some very serious progress and to expand your range of foundational skills. It is this solid foundation which will help you to feel significantly more at home in your kayak, and more able to take a playful approach as you progress. -
28.05.–02.06.
For all those of you who for whom the more pared-down week-long version is enough, it is also possible to do the course in the form of the six day "Basic" option. In this case your course will start on Sunday, 28th May.
As always, the precise details of what we end up doing today will depend on the conditions. All the same, one way or the other, we should be able to practise and learn here irrespective of what Neptune decides to throw at us, more or less. Here's the menu:
– Paddling in swell and in choppy conditions
– Paddling in stronger winds with shorter waves
– Paddling in a following sea
– Advanced manoeuvres and paddling technique
– Rock gardens: technique, safety, and plenty of technical, playful paddling
– Safety and surfing in waves of 1(+) metres
– Caves: technique and safety
– Edging, bracing, sweeps and sculling
– Rolling
– Tides
– Navigation
– Rescues and incident management
– Two incredible capes with conditions which change on a daily basis, enormous, overwhelmingly beautiful cliffs, rocks, offshore islands, incredibly beautiful bays and rias, fantastic broad sandy beaches – and all of it reachable without having to get in the car!
End of course Friday afternoon:
Our last paddling day is basically like the others. The only difference is that we have to plan some extra time for returning the material and, if necessary, dismantling the camp, paying for the accommodation or other logistical activities related to the upcoming departure. In order to be able to handle all this without stress, we are looking to be back at camp a little earlier than normal. We will announce the specific schedule for this the evening before or in the morning at the latest.Not included, not purchasable and yet central: social life and culinary indulgence while in the camp
At some point every paddling day ends – and with it our services. And what happens then? Attention: Now it becomes private! The Moryakis have finished work. Now, also we may need a moment's break, perhaps with a cool beer in good company. But possibly we might as well just feel like having a shower and an hour's rest by ourselves. Sooner or later though our stomachs will start growling and then, at latest, the social part of the evening begins, which for us is always primarily associated with good food in good company. Then we usually cook together with you. Or you can cook for us – depending on the situation and mood in the camp. Whatever happens though, one thing is important to understand and cannot be stressed enough: it is done on a purely private and non-commercial basis. Food and drinks are not provided by MORYAK and your guide is never responsible for the kitchen after he/she has finished work. Rather, we form a kind of "camping community" outside of our course times as private people. And as such, we usually cook, do the washing-up and organise our food-purchases commonly. This is usually financed through a private kitty, into which everyone pays the same amount – on a voluntary basis.
Of course, the same principle also applies to breakfast and lunch. In the mornings, we normally form early shift teams in the group, who spoil the other participants with fragrant coffee, freshly chopped fruit, toast and scrambled eggs (etc.). At lunchtime we usually have a picnic somewhere by the water, for which you pack your own lunch box from the group supplies.
Since all of this happens exclusively on a private basis, you are of course not obliged to take part in the system and can instead cater for yourself completely independently from the rest of the group.Add another week?
Make more of the long journey and extend your stay for another week and come with us to Asturias! Here you have the opportunity to apply everything we practiced in Cantabria again in front of the most beautiful scenery ever. -
Logistics
Once again everything at a glance:
Logistics: Our campsite in Playa de Isla is quick and easy to get to from Santander or Bilbao airports, both of which have bus connections to Laredo. From there it is best to take a taxi (40-50 €).
Variant XL:
– The course starts on Thursday May 25, 12:00 p.m. at the Playa de Isla campsite.
– Three-day intensive course in paddle technique and roles with a focus on Greenland paddles, led by Manolo Pastoriza up to and including Saturday, May 27th, after which it continues seamlessly on Sunday with Yuri and Ella as described below under "Basic Variant".
Variant Basic:
– The course starts on Sunday (May 28th) after breakfast (approx. 10:00 am).
– Six-day course up to and including Friday (see detailed description).
Our services end on 02.06. On Saturday, 03.06. our team travels to Asturias.
Of course, with both variants there is the possibility of making the BC-Sea Kayak Award (formerly BCU "3-Star"). -
Conditions
PRICES
Normal price: 1440 CHF (Basic) / 2140 CHF (XL)
Normal price includes kayak, paddle, spraydeck, buoyancy aid and, if required, neoprene long johns and shoes, paddle jacket, helmet. Only high-quality sea kayaks, paddles and other gear suitable for the purpose are used. Please bring your own functional underwear (wool or close-fitting fleece, NO cotton!) and swimwear.Reduced price for participation with your own equipment: 1290 CHF (Basic) or 1990 CHF (XL)
In order to benefit from the reduced price offer, you have to bring your own kayak, spraydeck and paddle as well as all your paddling equipment. If you are only missing a few smaller pieces of equipment, such as a helmet, a wetsuit or a paddle jacket, this is not a problem, because we are happy to bring you up to three pieces of equipment free of charge, even with this tariff. However, kayaks, spray decks, paddles and dry suits are always excluded from this.
Please note that due to customs regulations it is not possible for MORYAK to transport customers' private kayaks, material or luggage abroad. We make no exceptions here.FURTHER CONDITIONS
Cancellation costs and travel cancellation insurance
Just like you, we very much look forward to going paddling with you soon and of course we are all optimistic and enthusiastic about the future. However, we urgently ask you to take out travel cancellation insurance. This helps us to avoid unpleasant situations for all of us. We have rules about cancellation fees in place and are dependent on enforcing these – no matter how understandable the reasons behind your cancellation are.
If you withdraw from a booked programme, you will be charged the following cancellation costs:
Day or weekend courses or trips: From receipt of booking up to 7 days before the start of the programme: 50% of the program costs, thereafter 100%.
All programmes 3-8 days duration: From receipt of booking up to 30 days before the start of the programme: 50% of the programme costs, thereafter 100%.
All programmes 9 days and longer: From receipt of booking up to 45 days before the start of the programme: 50% of the programme costs, thereafter 100%.
If you fail to appear, arrive late or leave the programme early, there is no entitlement to a price reduction or reimbursement of costs. The same applies if you miss parts of a multi-day programme because, for example, you become ill in the middle of a tour or a course or you are temporarily unwell.
For more information about this topic, please also read our terms and conditions.Accident insurance
Accident insurance is the responsibility of the participants.Weather
As you might expect, we can't make any guarantees in terms of weather or sea state. In order to ensure everyone's safety, our guide will decide how to carry out the planned programme locally on a daily basis, and whether to do so. As experienced sea kayakers, we know that Neptune always has the last word. Days canceled due to bad weather and unsafe conditions at sea are not a reason for a price reduction.General Terms and Conditions
Further important information about our applicable terms and regulations can be found in our General Terms and Conditions (GTC). Please read them before you decide to participate in any of our programs.FURTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Gear orders: We make every effort to always provide our participants with high-quality and suitable paddle gear when needed. In order to ensure that this works smoothly, all gear orders must be processed without exception via our gear order form. Orders by email, telephone, verbal agreement, etc. are predestined to be lost or forgotten and are therefore no longer accepted. You will receive the link to our online gear order form after registration, usually a few weeks before the start of the booked program.Drysuit rent: You can rent a drysuit from us if you order in advance. Cost: 150 CHF per weekGroup size: Minimum four, max. ten participants.The kitty: On our programmes organised with stationary basecamps, our groups usually decide to set up a joint private kitty for buying food supplies. The idea is that everyone contributes the same amount: usually €120 per person per week, in cash, in the local currency. This is enough to cook and eat well for a week. Alcohol is paid for separately, so our group members often decide to set up a second, separate "alcohol-kitty" into which the participants contribute depending on consumption or self-assessment.
You are in no way obliged to participate in this system and you can also eat and drink independently of the group. But cooking and eating together after a hard day of paddling is just fun and not only strengthens our tired muscles, but also the sense of community. You can find more about this topic here.
PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS:
++ Must be able to swim ++
++ At least 10 days of sea kayaking experience on the sea ++
++ You are confident in a kayak at Beaufort force 3 and in waves of about 2 ft ++
++ You are ready to take your next steps as a kayaker, but you also want to make sure that you have all the basics right ++
CLICK HERE TO BOOK "BASIC"*
CLICK HERE TO BOOK "XL"*
*The service provider for all programmes advertised on this website is now Hightide Kayak School GmbH. The link will take you to Hightide's booking system and Hightide's Terms and Conditions apply.
How to get to Playa de Isla, Cantabria:
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Rail
++ A long trip – but in principle it's doable, via San Sebastian and Bilbao – continuing from there on the ALSA bus to Laredo and then getting a taxi to the campsite ++
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Road
++ Carshares from CH via Bordeaux, Irun/San Sebastian, Bilbao, Laredo ++ ++ Turn off the Autovia Cantabrico towards Isla/Noja/Ajo and follow the signs ++
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Aeroplane
++ Best to fly to Santander, and then rent a car or take the bus to the centre of Santander, then the ALSA Bus to Arnuero, then the taxi (around €10) to the campsite ++ ++ Alternatively, fly to Bilbao (further away, but more connections), from there, rent a car or catch the ALSA bus to Laredo and a taxi (around €50) to the campsite ++