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  • The Compass blog
    The Compass blog
Gear for Winter Kayaking

Gear for Winter Kayaking

By Lee Richardson  What gear do you need to wear when kayaking in cold water or the winter? Winter kayaking means a change in the gear we need to bring with us. There are 3 main pieces of gear that you may want to consider having if you don’t already: something to cover your hands something to cover your head something to give protection from…
Planning a Multi-day Sea Kayaking Trip

Planning a Multi-day Sea Kayaking Trip

How to plan a Multi-day Overnight Sea Kayaking Trip   So you have decided you want to go on a multi-day kayaking trip! Now where to start? Planning a kayaking trip for several days can be daunting and can feel overwhelming. However, preparing for a trip can create excitement and anticipation for your upcoming adventure. It is often half the fun of getting away. It…
Top 5 Fall Paddling Spots near Victoria

Top 5 Fall Paddling Spots near Victoria

Our Top 5 best places to see fall foliage from the water this Autumn in Victoria, BC We have a short Autumn season here on the west coast of Canada. A lot of rain leads to a quick fall and long drawn out ‘winter’ of bare branches and very little snow. So when the leaves begin to change you have to take full advantage of…
Exercises for the Kayaker

Exercises for the Kayaker

Minimizing Risk of Kayaking Injuries and Reducing Pain with Exercise for the Kayaker Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing: Helpful exercises for the kayaker have nothing to do with a kayak Kayaking is a great exercise on its own but if that is all you do you will feel yourself stiffening up and could find yourself injured. Kayaking involves repetitive…
Amazing Dehydrated Camp Food on a Budget

Amazing Dehydrated Camp Food on a Budget

By Rebecca Grim How to make your own dehydrated camp food without breaking the bank I used to be the kind of camper who lived on protein bars and expensive instant food. I quickly became uninspired with the same pre-packaged meals and with the dwindling state of my bank account something had to change. I knew there must be a better way to camp for…
Are you ready to try Kayak Surfing?

Are you ready to try Kayak Surfing?

By Lee Richardson Get Yourself Ready To Surf Beach Break Surfing in your kayak can seem like a distant and sometimes unattainable goal. How do you know when you are ready to take that first trip? Before you go out you will need to refine some surf strokes and your roll. You should have experience with launching and landing in the surf zone, a little…
How to pick a kayak

How to pick a kayak

Choosing the right Kayak for your needs The most important question to ask yourself when you go to pick a kayak is what your intended use will be for it. This question will help you to decide what type of boat you are looking for, the material it is made from, the amount of storage space in the boat etc. Recreational and light touring expeditions…
Are you a Whitewater Kayaker?

Are you a Whitewater Kayaker?

By Tanner Ockenden  Whitewater Kayaker: The Scents of Adventure So you think you’re a whitewater kayaker? You love rivers and the idea of plummeting down through turbulent waters excites you rather than terrifies you. If this sounds like you then you might be a whitewater kayaker, but there are a few clear signs to know for sure. White water kayaking is a sensory overload in…
What to wear kayaking

What to wear kayaking

What does appropriate clothing to wear kayaking look like? We all want to get out and enjoy the water without having to worry about the dangers or what-if’s that come along with being a paddler. There is something romantic about being able to spontaneously load up your kayak and launch into the ocean, onto a river, or into a lake to explore for the day.…
How to care for Goretex

How to care for Goretex

Proper maintenance and care for Goretex and other waterproof fabrics We all love our Goretex on the west coast – or should we say wet coast. There is always that fear, however, of being out on the trail when the rain kicks in and as you look down at your sleeve you notice some of the drops absorbing rather than beading up. So what can…
SUP in Victoria and surrounding areas

SUP in Victoria and surrounding areas

Get out on the water and SUP in Victoria and Vancouver Island at some of our favourite places to stand up and paddle There are numerous places to get out on the water around Vancouver Island and we could go on and on for days with ideas of where to get out there but we will try to limit it to three spots around Victoria.…
How to Plan a Whitewater Kayaking Trip

How to Plan a Whitewater Kayaking Trip

By Graham Litman Being prepared BEFORE you go on a whitewater kayaking trip As someone who grew up on Vancouver Island I was always interested in learning to paddle rivers but never knew how to get into the sport. For a place with so many quality runs, whitewater kayaking is a surprisingly underground sport on Vancouver Island. Hopefully this post will make the learning curve…

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 ...