PORT ANGELES — A wide variety of kayaks, canoes and gear is available at Hollywood Beach for “test-drives” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today on the final day of the 12th annual Kayak Symposium.
“We expect the weather to be beautiful,” said Morgan Colonel, organizer of the three-day event.
Admission to the demonstration area is $5 or free with a donation of a nonperishable food item to the Port Angeles Food Bank.
Colonel took the helm of Olympic Raft & Kayak and the Kayak Symposium after former owner Dave King retired in February.
The guide service and retail store at 123 Lake Aldwell Road offers guided raft trips down the Elwha River between what is left of the Glines Canyon and Elwha River dams as a concessionaire for Olympic National Park.
Classes began Friday, giving both seasoned kayakers and a new generation of water enthusiasts a chance to learn the sport.
People are welcome to sign up for classes on-site, Colonel said.
Today’s classes include debacle deterrent and chaos control, introduction to standup paddleboarding, Eskimo rolling, beginning and intermediate sea kayaking, and emergency signalling and communication.
The cost of classes ranges between $5 and $35.
A full schedule of the weekend’s events is available at www.raftandkayak.com.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
