This workshop aims to allow you, within 6 days, to get accustomed to the outrigger, to acquire the paddling techniques and to start getting initiated in the practice of downwind. You will paddle the world champion outrigger. Made of carbon, it weighs no more than 22 pounds/10 kilograms for its 20.7 foot/6.30 meter length.

PROGRAM

DAY 1: briefing, getting to know your canoe for the week, mastering balance, how to re-enter your canoe, tour of the bay departing from the Hotel beach
DAY 2: Paddling technique lesson, how to ease the outrigger while paddling, tour departing from the hotel beach.
DAY 3: Depart for a trip in the mangrove where you will discover the immense diversity of fauna and flora all while perfecting your paddling technique. Meet at the parking lot of the hotel to leave in a minibus for Basse-Terre.
DAY 4: Depart for a trip to discover the Caouane islet in the lagoon of the Grand Cul-de-sac. First sensations of the surf carried by the tailwinds.
DAY 5: First Downwind of the week: St Rose, Deshaies (green route). 9.3 miles of surf on turquoise waters
DAY 6: Depending on the conditions and level reached, return to St Rose or the more challenging downwind (blue route) on the Atlantic coast south of Grand Terre.

LEVEL REQUIRED: This week-long workshop is aimed at people who are physically in shape. No need to be a high-level athlete but practicing an endurance sport is recommended. If you regularly jog, cycle, mountain bike, swim or are adept at boardsport such as windsurfing, snowboarding, skating, etc… You will be awed by the sensations which outrigger canoeing offers.

You are the owner of an OC1 or you practice regularly in a club and you wish to begin the downwind practice in complete safety, then this workshop is for you !

PROGRAM

DAY 1: Going over the fundamentals on the beach of the hotel: paddling techniques, lightening of the ama and surfing on the beach waves. Three hours
DAY 2: Shuttle bus to St Rose. First downwind in the lagoon of the Grand Cul-de-sac: 9.3 miles of rolling turquoise waters to Deshaie. Wild !
DAY 3: Shuttle bus to Petit-Canal in the Grand-Cul-de-sac lagoon. 12.5 miles of rolling water until St Rose and its mangrove.
DAY 4: Shuttle bus to Pointe des Chateaux, situated at the endpoint of Grande Terre. Downwind on the ocean until Saint-François: 9.3 miles of training in cross swells. Learning to stay the course.
DAY 5: Shuttle bus to St. François. Downwind on the ocean until Saint-Anne. 15.5 miles.
DAY 6: You get to choose: return to the rolling waters of the lagoon of the Grand Cul-de Sac or Downwind on the ocean !

LEVEL REQUIRED: You must be capable of paddling 12.4 miles at an average speed of 5 miles/h (8km/h) minimum.

You are a « committed » fan of Downwinds and you wish to take advantage of regular winds to cover maximum distances each week. You would also like to join local paddlers on downwind races on the weekend.

Program

Priority given to downwind. Each day will be organized in accordance with the wind conditions and discussed with all of the workshop participants.

Aim: 12.4 to 18.6 miles of downwind each day and participation in local races.