OUR MISSION STATEMENT:AdventuresHSU Centties

To provide fun, eco-friendly, and safe, on-water instruction, interpretive tours, outdoor education, and environmental awareness in kayaks to persons of all abilities along the beautiful redwood coast of Northern California.

WHY GO KAYAKING ? Redwood Coast kayak North Coast kayak adventures

Kayaking is a wonderful sport in so many ways because it allows us to dance on water even if we aren’t even able to walk on land! You can use all your muscle groups without the threat of high-impact activity. You can experience nature and wildlife closer than you can on land. You can take it as easy or aerobic and adrenaline-filled as you choose. You can even camp out of or fish from your kayak! And, as Kayak Zak says, “More fun is more good!”

Kayak Zak’s offers kayak instruction, guided trips, adaptive paddling, kayak and SUP rentals, and fun in Northern Humboldt County. Kayak Zak’s is one of the only all-inclusive outfitters on the West Coast. Please let us know in advance if you have a physical, developmental, or other disability so that we may best accommodate your special needs.

Kayak Zak's is extremely proud to have been voted the Arcata Chamber of Commerce Small Business Leadership Award for 2010.

 

Words from Happy Customers

Met Marna on a Kayaking outing with Making Headway, a group that provides services to tramatically brain injured people. Two serious hemmorahic strokes (due to Moyamoya) left me physically unable to walk much – My body and mind was grounded. That introduction to kayaking opened my body, soul, and heart to the water. I have freedom, adventure, friendships, exploration and my life! My husband and I now have three kayaks!!!!! Hope more people can 'live again' thru your kayak services. Thank you Marna.

--Linda Arnold, Kneeland

It doesn't matter whether you are a beginning paddler or have some experience, whether you are young or older, Marna Powell provides great, comprehensive kayak instruction. Best of all, she knows how to makes it fun!

--Steve and Tracy Smith, McKinleyville

I have spent many dollars and many hours in classrooms and on the water learning about seakayaking. I never ever really felt comfortable in the boat, or on the water. Mostly, I always felt that it was so much work, and so physically hard that I never pursued the sport much beyond the classes. Last year I had a chance to visit my sister up on California’s north coast and decided to give it one more shot. My instructor, Marna Powell of Kayak Zak’s provided such a great experience and phenomenal instruction that I am now an avid and regular kayaker.

Marna, started by getting me fit correctly in the kayak which made a world of difference and allowed me to ‘relax’ rather then spending my time trying to get comfortable and fighting the boat. We paddled in one of the local lagoons the first day and she quickly identified several mistakes I was making with my basic forward stroke. She provided simple methods and cues for executing the stroke with ease and efficiency; rather than the tiring, and painful battle that kayaking seemed to be to me previously. Marna demonstrated and provided easy step by step instruction for every possible scenario a beginning recreational kayaker might encounter including how to recover from a capsize, how to self-rescue as well as assist another kayaker and most importantly, how to brace with the paddle so that you don’t capsize! Basically, Marna made the sport fun, safe, interesting and for me, provided the motivation to continue and learn more advanced techniques.

Later, I had the opportunity to take some advanced kayak training with Marna in Trinidad Bay. Marna provided a superior level of instruction in many areas including launching and landing in surf, reading charts, paddling in wind and navigation. By the end of the day Marna had me racing down the slopes of large swells, navigating between the large rock structures and sea stacks, and cruising confidently in the big water around Trinidad Head. And just to make the day that much more rewarding, Marna could identify and talk about the lives and habits of every bird, mammal and wild beast we encountered. I wholeheartedly recommend Marna and Kayak Zaks for instruction, tours, and equipment rental.

--Jim Hewins, (formerly of Sacramento, CA)

Thank's so very very much for helping my sister Marianne on last Sunday's ocean kayak paddle. I really did have a marvelous experience and next time, I'll know how to adjust my seat for good powerful sitting! I just might see you next year! Thanks again

--Ron Choy, (Somewhere in the San Francisco Bay Area)

How I learned to kayak, by Donna-Lee Phillips (age 64 ½)

A couple of years ago I went to my first Paddlefest. From the safety of the bridge I saw an incredible paddler, graceful and strong. Everyone kept cheering "Go, Marna, Go!" I had no idea who Marna was, but I thought "If I could ever paddle like that, I'd be totally happy".

It didn't seem very likely. For the past 25 years, I haven't been very athletic. An accident in 1984 took me off the road. I get seasick around motor boats. I never even learned to swim. I had been in a rented kayak only once, and while I enjoyed it, I didn't expect much more.

I bought a PFD... just in case.

Last year, I got into the water a couple of times and then WOW!!!–Women On Water!!! Marna Powell was the paddler, and a most inspiring teacher at WOW!!! The adventure of my life had begun, although I didn't know it yet.

I never imagined being able to kayak, much less love it. Once in the water, I felt like I had been born there. From a kayak, the whole world is in a different perspective. Marna doesn't just teach kayaking, she teaches life on the water with an enthusiasm that is absolutely contagious.

My very first day at WOW!!!, enjoyed my first experience of the kind of folks who kayak. I found not only fun, but friends. Over the winter I've got the clothes and equipment I need to paddle safely and comfortably, and I am ready to meet the water... anywhere, any time.

I'll probably never be the paddler Marna is, but I'm going to enjoy every single minute of trying. Marna says "If I can kayak, anyone can kayak." I can kayak!! More fun is more good, and more kayaking is absolutely more fun.

--Dlp, Eureka, CA