Information
Event Overview
The Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium is planned and managed by kayakers with support from the California Paddlesports Council. GGSKS is a three day instructional gathering of sea kayakers on the waters of San Francisco Bay. The venue is one of the most spectacular in the world – just under the Golden Gate Bridge. The dates are planned to coincide with strong spring tides, creating exciting conditions for training. There will be 20+ coaches on-site with upwards of 10 classes offered each day. This years theme is Seamanship and classes will cover a range of topics like rock gardening, surf zone and navigation as well as official ACA and BCU classes and assessments.
Location The event is held in Sausalito, California, just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. There are two main meeting sites for the event. For on-water activities the main meeting site is The Presidio Yacht Club in Horseshoe Cove. For off-water activities the main meeting site is The Marin Headlands Hostel. Driving times between the Marin Headlands Hostel and The Presidio Yacht Club is approximately 10 minutes.
View the map – located in the Information drop down menu under symposium map.
Getting Around Please try to carpool as much as possible. Parking is available at each site, but can fill quickly. The launch sites fall within the borders of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and they have asked us to be sensitive to other park users in the parking area. Let’s try hard to avoid the 1:1 person to car ratio. We understand that traveling with kayaks and gear is a process, so we’ll be running at least 4 kayak trailers that can tote boats back and forth between the hostel and the launch.
Tides Tidal information can be found here.
Cost includes classes, Friday & Saturday night socials (dinner not included) and one event t-shirt.
How to Register Each person registering must completely fill out three forms – a registration form, a liability release & a confidential health history form. Once we get closer to the registration opening, all the necessary forms will be online. Registration is first-come first-served so plan early. We do our best to get everyone into the classes they desire. If you are planning to stay at the Marin Headlands Hostel, please book that lodging through us on the registration form.
Where to Stay Join us at the Marin Headlands Hostel. It’s close, it’s cheap, it’s fun and everyone else is staying there. We have booked the entire main house (the house we were in last year) which sleeps 80+ people. Staying here with other students and coaches really completes the symposium experience. It is a great place to stay and you are guaranteed to meet many new people. For anyone that is wondering….yes, we are allowed to have alcohol this year.
This year we have put together a meals and lodging package that includes 3 nights of lodging and 8 meals (fri breakfast – sun lunch) for only $140. Beer included.
You can’t go wrong. Details on the meal plan and the Marin Headlands Hostel are located in the Information drop down menu under accommodations & meals.
What to Bring Bring all your paddling essentials. Pfd’s, spraydecks, paddles, helmets, towlines, VHF, etc. Proper clothing is mandatory. Kayaks must be sea-worthy.
If you are flying in and can’t bring everything, let us know and we’ll do our best to provide you with equipment. However, you must give us advanced notice.
Kayak Rentals We encourage people to bring their own sea kayaks if possible – make sure they are seaworthy. There are plastic and fiberglass kayaks available for rent. Rentals can be reserved by using the ggsks registration form. We do our best to meet all requests and we do require advanced notice.
Rental Costs: $25/day – plastic sea kayaks $50/day – fiberglass sea kayaks*
* we will not rent fiberglass sea kayaks for rock garden classes.
What to Wear
ON the water: It is mandatory that you dress for full immersion. The water temperature will be approximately 50 degrees. Clothing should consist of full tops and bottoms. Please, no shorts. Full neoprene wetsuits are acceptable. Drysuits and combination drytop/drypants are both acceptable with insulation underneath. Proper footwear is also mandatory for protection from cold water and jagged shoreline. Many paddlers wear gloves and neoprene headwear in this region.
OFF the water: Be ready for everything. Warm, comfortable clothing is advised. Dress in layers, be ready for cold mornings and nights. Rainwear, warm jackets, socks and gloves, etc. You know yourselves better than we do, just be prepared.
Arrivals & Departures There are two major airports serving the San Francisco Bay Area: Oakland International Airport (OAK) & San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Oakland International is approximately 30 miles from the Marin Headlands Hostel and will take about 1 hour and 15 minutes by car. San Francisco International is approximately 23 miles from the hostel and takes about 45 minutes by car. There are many bridges to cross in the San Francisco Bay Area, all of which have a toll in one direction. Tolls are $4, except for the Golden Gate Bridge (southbound) which costs $6. Have cash ready.
Questions, Concerns & Comments If there is anything we’ve missed, let us know. We encourage any questions or concerns. Use the contact page to reach us via email, or directly at admin @ ggsks.com
Location The event is held in Sausalito, California, just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. There are two main meeting sites for the event. For on-water activities the main meeting site is The Presidio Yacht Club in Horseshoe Cove. For off-water activities the main meeting site is The Marin Headlands Hostel. Driving times between the Marin Headlands Hostel and The Presidio Yacht Club is approximately 10 minutes.
View the map – located in the Information drop down menu under symposium map.
Getting Around Please try to carpool as much as possible. Parking is available at each site, but can fill quickly. The launch sites fall within the borders of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and they have asked us to be sensitive to other park users in the parking area. Let’s try hard to avoid the 1:1 person to car ratio. We understand that traveling with kayaks and gear is a process, so we’ll be running at least 4 kayak trailers that can tote boats back and forth between the hostel and the launch.
Tides Tidal information can be found here.
Charts can be found here.
Cost
$200 – 1 day $350 – 2 days $475 – 3 daysCost includes classes, Friday & Saturday night socials (dinner not included) and one event t-shirt.
How to Register Each person registering must completely fill out three forms – a registration form, a liability release & a confidential health history form. Once we get closer to the registration opening, all the necessary forms will be online. Registration is first-come first-served so plan early. We do our best to get everyone into the classes they desire. If you are planning to stay at the Marin Headlands Hostel, please book that lodging through us on the registration form.
Where to Stay Join us at the Marin Headlands Hostel. It’s close, it’s cheap, it’s fun and everyone else is staying there. We have booked the entire main house (the house we were in last year) which sleeps 80+ people. Staying here with other students and coaches really completes the symposium experience. It is a great place to stay and you are guaranteed to meet many new people. For anyone that is wondering….yes, we are allowed to have alcohol this year.
This year we have put together a meals and lodging package that includes 3 nights of lodging and 8 meals (fri breakfast – sun lunch) for only $140. Beer included.
You can’t go wrong. Details on the meal plan and the Marin Headlands Hostel are located in the Information drop down menu under accommodations & meals.
What to Bring Bring all your paddling essentials. Pfd’s, spraydecks, paddles, helmets, towlines, VHF, etc. Proper clothing is mandatory. Kayaks must be sea-worthy.
If you are flying in and can’t bring everything, let us know and we’ll do our best to provide you with equipment. However, you must give us advanced notice.
Kayak Rentals We encourage people to bring their own sea kayaks if possible – make sure they are seaworthy. There are plastic and fiberglass kayaks available for rent. Rentals can be reserved by using the ggsks registration form. We do our best to meet all requests and we do require advanced notice.
Rental Costs: $25/day – plastic sea kayaks $50/day – fiberglass sea kayaks*
* we will not rent fiberglass sea kayaks for rock garden classes.
What to Wear
ON the water: It is mandatory that you dress for full immersion. The water temperature will be approximately 50 degrees. Clothing should consist of full tops and bottoms. Please, no shorts. Full neoprene wetsuits are acceptable. Drysuits and combination drytop/drypants are both acceptable with insulation underneath. Proper footwear is also mandatory for protection from cold water and jagged shoreline. Many paddlers wear gloves and neoprene headwear in this region.
OFF the water: Be ready for everything. Warm, comfortable clothing is advised. Dress in layers, be ready for cold mornings and nights. Rainwear, warm jackets, socks and gloves, etc. You know yourselves better than we do, just be prepared.
Arrivals & Departures There are two major airports serving the San Francisco Bay Area: Oakland International Airport (OAK) & San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Oakland International is approximately 30 miles from the Marin Headlands Hostel and will take about 1 hour and 15 minutes by car. San Francisco International is approximately 23 miles from the hostel and takes about 45 minutes by car. There are many bridges to cross in the San Francisco Bay Area, all of which have a toll in one direction. Tolls are $4, except for the Golden Gate Bridge (southbound) which costs $6. Have cash ready.
Questions, Concerns & Comments If there is anything we’ve missed, let us know. We encourage any questions or concerns. Use the contact page to reach us via email, or directly at admin @ ggsks.com
