Lookin’ for "Big Water" has a very different meaning when you're a touring flatwater paddler.
I recently had a chance to fly out to Vancouver to teach a suicide alertness workshop for a group of skateboarders. Having not paddled in the ocean since I was about ten years old, I was hoping to find a cool paddling company to rent a kayak from and get myself out on some “Big Water” – the Pacific Ocean.
After a bit of research I came across a company that has three separate locations in the greater Vancouver area -- Deep Cove Kayak Center and Cates Park Paddling Center, which are both on the North Shore, and Jericho Beach Kayak Center, which is close to Stanley Park and downtown Vancouver.
Jericho Beach Vancouver was close to my downtown Vancouver hotel and given my short two day trip out to the coast, it seemed to be the best location to check out. One quick phone call and I was booked in for a 2-3 hr paddle.
After a solid week of rain in Vancouver, my 7AM flight arrived at YVR to some blue sky, mixed cloud but no rain! After an early morning hotel check-in at my hotel, I was off to Jericho Beach.
Jericho Beach Vancouver Kayaking
Jericho Beach Kayak Center has a super large fleet of kayaks to choose from.
I started out with a Romany Sport 16.5' long, which is a skeg kayak with a keyhole style cockpit. The Romany is a bit narrower at 21.26" than my Dagger Stratos at 24.5". After giving the Romany a test run, it seemed a bit too tight for me and the leg length felt too short.
The staff at Jericho Beach Kayak Center were very accommodating and committed to ensuring that the customer’s experience is awesome.
After a short time on the water in the Romany, I paddled back to get hooked up with a better fitting kayak. I spent the next few hours paddling a Valley Aquanaut HV fiberglass sea kayak. This was a sleek responsive boat at 17.7' long and 22.5 wide that immediately felt comfortable, stable, and speedy. This kayak has a skeg but it wasn't needed based on the long keel, great tracking, and overall responsiveness.
Burrard Inlet and English Bay Vancouver Kayaking
The Burrard Inlet and English Bay offer great views of Vancouver's downtown skyline, some fabulous coastal mountains and sizable freighters anchored in the bay.
Depending on the wind and tides, there are a number of paddling options. Heading west you'll find more exposed conditions as you round the point by UBC Spanish Banks. Paddling east, towards Kitsilano Beach and Stanley Park, offers some fabulous views of Vancouver’s downtown skyline.
Whichever direction you choose to paddle, there are safety consideration whether it be tides, landing options, ocean and weather conditions in less protected areas, or freighter and boat traffic. Jericho Beach Kayak Center staff were great at ensuring paddlers have the 411 on the best route to take based on the paddler’s skills.
My paddle took me east towards Vancouver, past a pier and marina with some incredible yachts and sail boats. I spent a bit of time doing some freighter hopping further out in English Bay and checking out some of the large freighters that were anchored there. It’s awesome to paddle up to and around these big vessels on calm waters.
While I was fairly close to them, it’s important to mind your distance as these big boys do rotate around their anchor chains, dependent on wind conditions or currents. On my way back to Jericho Beach, I pleasantly surprised by a little inquisitive seal who popped his head up to see what I was up to and then swam off.
I had a chance to chat with the School and Operations Director, A.J., who talked about the three paddling/rental locations they have. Check out my English Bay paddle experience video at the top of this post and learn more about Jericho Beach Kayak Center and their two other incredible locations.
If you’re heading out to Vancouver and want to dip a paddle in the ocean, reach out to Jericho Beach Kayak Center or perhaps one of their other locations. You won’t be disappointed.
“create your own momentum”
Bryan Hume
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