Wet and wild: Watersport adventures in Vancouver
It’s hard to stay dry in Vancouver during the rainy winter months, but come summer there are plenty of opportunities to get wet in the name of fun. From windsurfing lessons to fast-paced Seadoo tours to SUP yoga classes, here are some of the best destinations for watersports in and around the city.
Vancouver Water Adventures Ltd
1812 Boat Lift Lane, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Y2With locations on Granville Island and in Kitsilano, Vancouver Water Adventures is an accessible option for locals and visitors hoping to enjoy a recreational ride around the Vancouver Harbour and beyond. Adventure seekers can get airborne on the water during Flyboarding sessions with help from a specialized jetpack or go full throttle toward the Pacific Ocean on Jetskis and Seadoos (which can reach speeds of up to 100 kilometres an hour). For a more leisurely pursuit, rent a kayak or a stand up paddleboard for an easy trip around False Creek and English Bay.
Cove Watersports
105-4323 Gallant Ave, North Vancouver, BC V7G 2C1Deep Cove offers outdoor enthusiasts 18 kilometres of pristine water surrounded by scenic mountains. Cove Watersports caters to adrenaline junkies looking to take advantage of this scenic North Van playground and offers a variety of waterskiing, wakesurfing and wakeskating lessons for all ages and skill levels. Learn-to classes cover safety training and help first timers get up on the water while more advanced sessions show you how to master grabs and tricks. Groups can charter a boat for anywhere from two to five hours to try out a variety of different watersports or simply cruise around the area.
Ecomarine Paddlesport Centre
1668 Duranleau St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3S4Whether you’re just getting your feet wet or are a total paddling pro, there are options for every skill level at this popular watersport centre with locations at Jericho Beach, English Bay and Granville Island. Beginner, intermediate and advanced kayak and stand-up paddleboard instructional courses are offered via group lessons or as private one-on-one training. Learn the basics and then tackle skills like kayak rolling, paddling in currents and navigational techniques for multi-day trips. Ecomarine also specializes in tours and daytrips along the picturesque shorelines and watercourses surrounding Vancouver’s downtown.
Stand Up Paddle Vancouver
250 W142-757 Hastings St W, Vancouver, BC V6C 1A1Dreaming of working out on a floating studio? Why not mix up your regular exercise routine with water-based classes. Stand Up Paddle Vancouver offers a roster of accessible SUP lessons and fitness workshops out of the Vancouver Maritime Museum beach. Trade your yoga mat for a paddleboard and move through a series of poses designed to stabilize your core and improve your balance during SUP yoga classes. For those who want to work up a sweat, there are also BEACH fit exercise classes that combine on-shore high intensity interval training with various yoga movements on the stand-up paddleboard.
Mac Sailing Academy
1300 Discovery St, Vancouver, BC V6R 4L9Macsailing’s certified instructors offer learn-to-sail introductory courses at the Jericho Sailing Centre. The 24-foot keelboats are lighter and easier to handle for those who are just learning the ropes (so to speak). For advanced sailors, the school also offers competitive racing courses to prepare for regattas and cruising courses that cover anchoring, navigation and emergency procedures. Youth and adult lessons are available via private instruction, summer camps, multi-course packages or on a drop-in basis. There are also a variety of family-friendly programs, including catamaran tours and paddleboarding adventures for parents and teens.
Kayak Vancouver
508-1295 Richards St, Vancouver, BC V6B 1B7Get a different perspective on the downtown skyline with a trip along the waterfront in a kayak. Open from April to November rain or shine, Kayak Vancouver boasts Vancouver’s largest fleet of single and tandem kayaks. There are a range of affordable rental options and tours for paddling enthusiasts looking to get out on the water. Take a self-guided tour down False Creek and explore the waterways surrounding Stanley Park and the Lions Gate Bridge. Guided tours bring groups out to Bowen Island and Horseshoe Bay to take in the scenic surroundings.
Aerial Kiteboarding
Squamish, BC V8B 0J2Catch some serious air during an afternoon of kiteboarding at this Squamish-based watersport school. This extreme sport is highly technical – which means it can be tough to master – and combines various aspects of wakeboarding, surfing and paragliding for a high-flying ride out on the water. Courses are led by IKO-certified instructors and are available for all abilities. Introductory crash courses will get you started and advanced lessons take it to the next level with jumps, spins and other sophisticated tricks. Aerial Kiteboarding also offers multi-sport summer camps for teens, which feature kiteboarding, wakeboarding, SUP and other watersports.
Deer Lake Boat Rentals
5435 Sperling Ave, Burnaby, BC V5E 2T2Families, couples and solo boaters can take a casual cruise around Burnaby’s Deer Lake aboard a number of different non-motorized water vessels. This rental company offers affordable hourly rates on kayaks, rowboats and pedal boats designed for anywhere from one to four people. Each rental includes all of the necessary safety equipment and a hands-on instructional demonstration before you head out on the water. Move at a leisurely pace and take an opportunity to soak up the natural surroundings; the small-but-scenic urban lake is home to plenty of local wildlife, including blue herons, beavers and turtles.
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