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  • The Compass blog
    The Compass blog
Rough Water Sea Kayaking – A GREAT CHALLENGE

Rough Water Sea Kayaking – A GREAT CHALLENGE

As employees of Ocean River, we all have a passion for paddling.  But, like many of you, we weren’t all blessed with paddling our whole lives and had to start somewhere.  I am Jamie, Ocean Rivers store manager.  I grew up in the Southern Alberta prairies and relocated to Victoria a couple of years ago.  Therefore paddling on the ocean was and still is in many…
Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) Safety around Victoria, BC

Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) Safety around Victoria, BC

Stand up paddle boards can be a confusing paddle craft. Are they like surfboards or are they more like canoes? Apparently, they are both. When it comes to Transport Canada regulations for paddle boards the waters are a bit murky. We wanted to clear up a bit of the understanding around SUP safety and what you need to do to be safe and Transport Canada…
Kayaking Preparedness: Know Before you Go

Kayaking Preparedness: Know Before you Go

What you should know before you go Kayaking Ocean River Sports encourages you to ‘Get Out There’. To help you have an enjoyable and safe experience, consider the following tips before heading out on the water in your kayak. Learning the Right Skills It is important to have the skills to safely get out on the water in your kayak. Know what conditions you can…
Sea Kayaks For Beginners

Sea Kayaks For Beginners

What to look for in a beginners sea kayak Buying a sea kayak can be a stressful process especially for a beginner. There are many things to consider before taking the plunge and buying a new boat. For a beginner kayaker, you want to think about a few key things: price, versatility, and safety or usability. Our recommendation to people is that you should buy…
When to replace a PFD

When to replace a PFD

Do you know when you need to replace your PFD? Any time we get out on the water we have to think about safety. What is the weather doing? Have we left a float plan? How old is your personal flotation device(PFD)? These are the questions that need to be answered any time you head out for a paddle. A PFD or a lifejacket won’t…
Traveling With An Inflatable SUP

Traveling With An Inflatable SUP

Why traveling with an inflatable SUP is a great idea! Buying an inflatable SUP can be quite the investment. This investment is not for everyone but it does offer many benefits. Inflatable boards are easily stored and portable, perfect for saving space in tiny homes or for transporting in the back seat of a small car. Getting down to remote areas is way easier when your…
Kayak Lap Bag Essentials

Kayak Lap Bag Essentials

By: Rebecca Grim What is a kayak lap bag and why does every kayaker need one? A lap bag is a waterproof bag that contains all the essential items you may need during a day of ocean kayaking. The items may change slightly depending on the length of trip, climate, group size and location in which are paddling. The purpose of the lap bag is…
The Health Benefits of Kayaking

The Health Benefits of Kayaking

How kayaking can have numerous health benefits There are many reasons to kayak. One of these reasons is the health benefits. Kayaking is a fun activity but the kayaking has many health benefits that make it a well-rounded hobby and sport. Check out the top health benefits of kayaking below. Mental Clarity The first, and most obvious, health benefit is the mental calm that kayaking…
How to Read Water for Beginners

How to Read Water for Beginners

By: Russell Henry Knowing how to read water while paddling is vital for safety and enjoyment A huge component of paddling in moving water is being able to read water; being able to tell what is currently happening with the water and how it will cause your boat to react. If you can’t read water, you won’t be edging correctly, won’t have the correct angle…
Types of Rough Water Winter Paddling

Types of Rough Water Winter Paddling

Rough Water types of Winter Paddling When it comes to winter paddling the options are endless, but one thing stands out about winter better than any other season: rough water paddling. Winter Paddling is not for the faint of heart. The water is colder and there is often more of it, which means a lot of movement to navigate. For those adventurers who don’t want…
Top 5  Vancouver Island Multi-Day Paddling Trips

Top 5 Vancouver Island Multi-Day Paddling Trips

Multi-day paddling trips on Vancouver Island to add to your “to-do” list After Canada 150, where everyone flocked to our beautiful country to discover why we were voted the best place to visit in 2017, it is time we got back to our adventurous roots. Canada was discovered up close and personal, from the historic uses of the kayak and canoe by the indigenous people…
Greenland vs Euro blade paddling

Greenland vs Euro blade paddling

By: Lee Richardson What is the difference between Greenland and Euro blade paddling There are many forms of kayaking and within these different subcategories lives two separate styles recognized easily by the paddle used. There are Euro blade and Greenland paddle styles, and if you have not encountered both in some way yet then this will be super interesting for you. There is always the…

About Ocean River

Located in Victoria, British Columbia on beautiful Vancouver Island, Ocean River is one of the premier speciality kayak and adventure companies in North America. Brian Henry, the founder & current owner, has been running Ocean River since 1981, and Ocean River continues to be recognised as one of the most significant outdoor/paddlesports instructional & tours provider in North America.

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SUP Adventures on the West Coast

Wesley takes on SUP adventures on the west coast of British Columbia!

Moving back to the West Coast from the Rockies ...