new guy here and here is my life story, started kayaking back in the mid-1970’s. I started with a small locally built (Santa Barbara) surf kayak and met a guy who paddled a Anas Acuta, one of the first ones with no hatches or bulkheads and we paddled a lot for a few years. As he got older I purchased his Anas and promptly sank it because I was young and stupid and went out with no float bags or spray skirt, that is ok, I am also a scuba diver and it was only 15ft.-20ft. of water, so I recovered it and I was a little older and wiser at the end of that day. In the mid-1980’s I got stuck on a work related trip in Atlanta for 3 weeks and I accidentally found a kayak place on the Chattahoochee river that was doing white water classes, first day of course was rolling and recovery and I learned how to roll, I had never done a roll in 10 years of kayaking. When I came home I found the Anas is a joy to roll, after I got a sprayskirt for it. I paddled exclusively out on the ocean. Then a kid came and adult life got in the way of kayaking. I think my last time on the water was about 10 years ago in Monterey Bay for a last ride in the Anas before selling it and have not rolled in 20+ years. I mention all this so you kind of know my history.
I now have a new boat, a Trak and I am older and wiser, I don’t want to go out unprepared anymore, I am also not a “flexible” as I used to be, so I want to practice. I have a friend with a pool I am thinking of asking if I can practice but maybe some formal education would be better or should I just try it out ? after all I used to be able to do it quite easily. If formal, I am not aware of anything near Santa Barbara and I was super disappointed with Monterey Bay Kayaks when I went there late last year, they are not the kayak shop they were 20+ years ago with lots of boats, its a t-shirt shop now who might have a few kayaks.
My goal for this boat is ocean of course and my wife and I like to camp so lake kayaking, not kayak camping, just play on nice lakes, we especially love the Bishop area and so many lakes up there are really inviting to a afternoon on a kayak. Any suggestions on local classes ? every place I look at is sit-on-top kayak and no roll classes…sorry, I know long post but I thought the best answer might come if you know my history.