Create Your Own Ukee Kayak Experience

Come to Ucluelet. Choose your experience. Bring a friend. Make the day your own. I'll take care of the rest.

Are you looking for something other than a cookie-cutter kayak course, with specific skills and goals in mind?

Maybe you've always wanted to learn Greenland rolling. Maybe you want to experience Pacific surf. Maybe you want to spend a day exploring the coastline, improve your paddling, work on rough-water skills, or simply get out on the ocean with someone who knows Ucluelet intimately.

This is your opportunity to create your own Ucluelet paddling experience with James Manke.

Choose what interests you, bring a friend or paddling partner if you'd like, and James will build the experience around you, your ability and the conditions you have that day.

This is a private experience: one-on-one with James, or two-on-one if you bring a friend. No fixed curriculum. No classroom. No trying to squeeze everyone into the same lesson.

Just good time on the water in one of the most spectacular sea-kayaking environments on the West Coast, with James's full attention and local knowledge.

How to Customize Your Experience

When you book, choose the length of your experience and tell James what you'd like to focus on. You can select one main area, combine several interests, or simply describe the kind of day you're hoping to have.

You might choose:

• Greenland rolling
• Pacific surf
• Rough-water skills and rock gardening
• Greenland paddling
• Exploring the Ucluelet coastline
• A combination of skills, coaching and adventure

You don't need to create a detailed itinerary or decide exactly how long each activity should take. The options are there to help James understand what interests you. He'll shape the day around your goals, experience, energy, and the conditions on the water.

Choose the Right Length First

The experience length determines how much can reasonably fit into your day.

A half-day is best for one primary focus, such as rolling, surf, or a focused skills session.

A full day gives you room to combine two or three interests, such as Greenland paddling in the morning and exploring or surf in the afternoon.

A two-day experience offers the most flexibility. You can spend one day developing skills and another exploring the coastline, or allow more time for several different areas without rushing from one activity to the next.

If the combination of options you've selected would be too much for the time available, James will help prioritize the day before you arrive. You can always discuss additional time or a second day if you'd like to expand the experience.

Choose Your Experience

Greenland Rolling

Work on your existing roll, learn a new Greenland roll, troubleshoot something that isn't working, or simply spend time refining your technique with James.

Depending on your level, you can work on balance, body mechanics, layback rolls, forward finishing, storm rolls, hand rolls or other Greenland techniques.

Pacific Surf

Get into the surf and learn from James how to dance with waves rather than fight them.

You'll work on launching, landing, bracing, kayak control, positioning, timing and confidence in surf appropriate to your ability and the conditions.

Rough Water & Rock Gardening

Explore the dynamic coastline around Ucluelet with James and learn how to move a sea kayak through current, swell, rocks and moving water.

You'll focus on kayak control, edging, maneuvering, reading water and making good decisions in a dynamic environment.

Greenland Paddling

Improve your relationship with the Greenland paddle and find the true power you've been looking for. 

With James's individual coaching, you'll work on technique, efficiency, body mechanics, stroke development, balance, maneuvering and the subtle details that make Greenland paddling so effective.

Explore Ucluelet

Sometimes you don't need a lesson.

You just want to go paddling somewhere incredible with James.

You'll choose an appropriate route with James based on the weather, swell, wind and your experience, then spend the day exploring the coastline around Ucluelet.

Along the way, James will coach you when appropriate and share the local knowledge he's developed from years of paddling and teaching here.

Build Your Own Experience

Want a little rolling, some paddling and some surf?

That's possible too.

Choose what interests you most and James will shape the experience around it.

You don't need to arrive with a perfectly defined lesson plan.

Tell James what you're hoping to get out of your time in Ucluelet, and he'll help shape the experience.

Bring a Friend

Coming all the way to Ucluelet is better with someone else.

Bring your partner, paddling buddy or friend and share a private experience with James.

You'll each get plenty of individual coaching from James while still having someone to share the adventure with.

And there's a pretty good bonus:

Bringing a friend saves you money.

Two-Day Experience

One person — $750

Two people — $1,150 total

That's $575 per person for two full days on the water with James.

You can split the cost, share accommodation and camping, and experience Ucluelet together.

Weekdays Are Better

If you have the flexibility, come during the week.

Weekday experiences with James are priced lower than weekends and generally offer a quieter Ucluelet experience, with more flexibility around scheduling.

September, October and the shoulder season can be an especially great time to visit.

The summer crowds have thinned, the coastline becomes quieter, and the Pacific can start getting interesting.

Pricing

Half-Day Experience — 3 Hours

Weekday

1 person — $295
2 people — $450 total

Weekend

1 person — $325
2 people — $500 total

Full-Day Experience

Weekday

1 person — $425
2 people — $650 total

Weekend

1 person — $475
2 people — $725 total

Two-Day Experience

Weekday

1 person — $750
2 people — $1,150 total

Weekend

1 person — $850
2 people — $1,300 total

Additional participants may be possible depending on the experience. Contact James if you're interested in bringing a larger group.

Staying in Ucluelet

You are responsible for arranging your own accommodation.

During the peak summer season, accommodation around Ucluelet and Tofino can be difficult to find. Shoulder-season availability is generally much better, particularly during the week.

Camping can also be a great option for paddlers looking to keep the trip simple and affordable.

Having trouble finding somewhere to stay?

Reach out before giving up.

James knows the local area and can help point you toward accommodation and camping options that may work for your dates.

Your Experience, Not Mine

The beauty of this format is that there isn't a predetermined itinerary.

The ocean gets a vote.

A calm morning might be perfect for rolling or Greenland technique.

An afternoon swell might open up an opportunity to surf.

A windy day might give you a chance to work on rough-water skills.

James will make the most of what the West Coast gives you while keeping the experience appropriate for your ability and the conditions.

After 15+ years of teaching and paddling around the world, James knows that some of the best learning happens when you stop trying to force the ocean into a lesson plan.

Come with an idea of what you want to experience. James will take care of the rest.

Who Is This For?

This experience is designed for paddlers of all experience levels, including beginners who want a more personal and flexible introduction to sea kayaking with James.

You don't need to arrive with a specific skill level or a perfectly defined learning plan. Whether you're stepping into a sea kayak for the first time or looking to refine advanced skills, James will shape the experience around your goals, comfort level and the conditions.

It's also a great fit for experienced paddlers who want focused, refined instruction without having to work within the pace or priorities of a larger group. If you're looking to fine-tune technique, solve a specific problem or take your paddling to the next level, you'll have James's full attention and the space to make the most of your time on the water.

You should have access to a sea kayak and essential paddling gear, or contact James in advance to discuss equipment options.

Not sure whether this is the right fit?

Reach out. James is happy to talk through your experience and help you choose the right option.