We are Moving

Greetings Friends of Liquid Fusion Kayaking,

We are moving to Pennsylvania later this spring.The primary reason for moving is to be closer to family. We are excited about new possibilities for us personally and professionally. Did you know that Pennsylvania is a water rich state with over 80,000 miles of rivers?

Fall kayaking in Pennsylvania

After we move, we will be looking into opportunities for teaching/coaching at sea kayak symposiums/events and instructing and guiding for other companies as we figure out the Pennsylvania version of LFK. We are also considering the possibility of an annual west coast trip to teach at special events and to teach custom classes. So STAY TUNED . . . 

LFK’s Cate Hawthorne whitewater kayaking on the Youghiogheny River in Pennsylvania.

Since we are moving across the country, we are selling a lot of kayaks, kayak equipment, and other outdoor gear.

We will be teaching private lessons for current students on the Eel River and Mendocino Coast through March 27. Then our focus will be downsizing and preparing to move. Please help us by sharing our moving sale to friends who might be interested.

Thank you so much for your love, support, and understanding! We are extremely grateful for everyone who has been a friend, student, and fan of us and LFK!

Best of Days on the Water,

Cate and Jeff

LFK Owner/Instructors

Cate Hawthorne and Jeff Laxier

 

Kayaking Lessons in 2024

2024 Private Kayak Lessons, Custom Classes, ACA Skills Assessments, ACA Instructor Trainings

Sea kayak lessons on the Mendocino Coast of California

Carpe Diem!

MAKE 2024 YOUR YEAR TO

Learn and Improve Your KAYAKING Skills!!!

Escape from the cares of the world by getting out on the water . . .

whether you are a first time kayaker or seasoned paddler or aspiring kayak instructor, we can help you get out on the water and get you on track with your kayaking goals.

First Time Kayakers - Learn to Kayak on the Noyo

Learn the basics with a kayak lesson on the calm waters of the Noyo River Estuary. Each trip is planned with the tides to give you the perfect first kayaking experience. As you learn the basics, we will share with you the wildlife, nature, and history of the Noyo Harbor and Estuary. With over 15 years kayaking and instructing beginners on the Noyo, we know how to make that first kayaking experience magical (warning kayaking can become habit forming)

Sea Kayak Lessons and Custom Classes

LFK’s sea kayak lessons are customized for each student. Let us know your current skills and goals so we can develop a custom sea kayak lesson for you. Lessons are available for all skill levels so join us for your first sea kayaking experience, rock garden or surf zone instruction, ACA Skills Assessment, or ACA Instructor Training. Custom classes are available for your club or group - consider LFK for guide and leadership trainings, incident management, or other specific skills instruction.

Lessons can be 3 hours, full day, or a combination. Our 3 hour lessons are easily booked online. For full day or other, please contact us.

Sea kayak rock gardening on the Mendocino Coast of California

ACA Skills Assessments

Are you interested in becoming an ACA instructor? Do you want a skills assessment to guide your future training goals? Do you need a skills assessment as a prerequisite? If so, we have several scheduled or can schedule additional skills assessments to meet your schedule and needs. Contact Us to schedule.

Coastal Kayak Level 3 Skills Assessment - Mendocino Coast May 25, 2024

Coastal Kayak Level 4 Skills Assessment - Mendocino Coast May 4, 2024


ACA Instructor Trainings

ACA Whitewater Kayak IDW/ICE Level 4

Eugene, Oregon March 29 - April 2, 2024

Teamwork, leadership, guide, and instructor training.

We have other fun stuff planned to share with you in 2024 and beyond so be sure to subscribe to our LFK Newsletter where you will get the scoop first.


Gear for Sale . . . With moving comes cleaning out the gear shed. Here is a link to many of our sale items. Check back as we will be adding more items.  All sales are cash only and pick up only.  If you would like to purchase something , Please contact us to make arrangements.

We are excited about the future and sharing more instructional kayaking opportunities with you. If you haven’t taken a lesson from us, 2024 is a great time to see how we can make your paddling more easy and fun.

Best of days on the water,

Cate and Jeff

Liquid Fusion Kayaking Instructors Cate Hawthorne and Jeff Laxier on a kayak camping trip on Mendocino County’s Eel River

Changes for 2023

Big Changes

For 2023 and Beyond - 
We are refocusing on our instructional programs!

What does this mean for you? 
More opportunities to learn and improve your paddling skills!!!

We have MOVED our operation from the Noyo River to our home office in Fort Bragg.

All kayak lessons will be scheduled via contacting us or our online reservation system. At the time of the booking, we will determine the location of the lesson. Lesson locations will range from the Noyo River, Noyo Harbor, Noyo Beach, Eel River, CV Starr Center Pool, and other locations on the Mendocino Coast and Beyond.

We are discontinuing our kayak rental and flat water tour programs to open up our schedule for more private lessons and custom/private classes/tours.  We plan to continue seasonal focuses like whitewater in the spring on the Eel River and summer/fall sea kayaking and whitewater of the sea on the Mendocino Coast.  Check out our Kayak Lessons.

Why - did you know that kayak instruction is our specialty? Both Cate and Jeff are master instructors with effective and fun instructional techniques. Over the past 15 years of flat water beginner tours, we have gotten many first timers on the water. Now it is time to raise the instructional bar for those looking to improve their skills (at all skill levels). For more - read a Brief History of LFK.

We have other fun stuff planned to share with you in 2023 and beyond so be sure to subscribe to our LFK Newsletter where you will get the scoop first.

2023 Schedule - Contact us with your interests and let’s develop a custom plan for you. We recommend contacting us at least 2 weeks prior to when you want to come.

Gear for Sale . . . With moving comes cleaning out the gear shed. Here is a link to many of our sale items. Check back as we will be adding more items.  All sales are cash only and pick up only.  If you would like to purchase something , Please contact us to make arrangements.

We are excited about the future and sharing more instructional kayaking opportunities with you. If you haven’t taken a lesson from us, 2023 is a great time to see how we can make your paddling more easy and fun.

Best of days on the water,

Cate and Jeff

LFK Owner/Operator/Instructor/Guides -

Cate and Jeff 80 feet up into the Redwood Forest -

Photo by Jimmy Callian 

A Brief History of Liquid Fusion Kayaking

August 2007 - Cate and Jeff at the blowhole in La Bufadora, Mexico. Photo by Dominick Lemarie Photography

A Brief History of LFK –

In 2005, Jeff started Liquid Fusion Kayaking (LFK) as an instructional kayak company. Jeff was based in San Diego but would teach classes and private lessons in sea, whitewater, rock gardening, and surfing from Baja to Alaska. In 2007, Cate started helping him with the business and developing her paddling skills.  In 2008, Jeff moved to the Mendocino Coast, and Cate moved her teaching career from the classroom to the water.  

In 2008, Jeff continued teaching sea, whitewater, rock gardening, and surf lessons.  Cate started guiding Noyo Meanders - flat water, wildlife and nature history tours on the Noyo River Estuary.  These tours enabled all ages and abilities to get out on the water and into nature.  Over the years, we fine-tuned the tour for getting first-timers out on the water and our skills for teaching kayaking to beginners.  (We knew we were doing our job well when half way through the tour our participants started talking about buying a kayak and/or where they could kayak next.)

We continually got requests and inquires for kayak rentals.  We hesitated to add rentals to our business because it would mean more on land and less on water time for us and would limit our availability for teaching lessons.

March 2020 – life changed for everyone on Earth.  LFK was considered a non-essential business in California and had to close.  We did not know when or if we would be allowed to reopen.  In May 2020, when it was looking like we would be allowed to reopen but would be limited to local customers, we pivoted from lessons and tours to kayak rentals.  This was a good move for our customers and kept our heads above water.

Fast forward to 2022, our kayak rental and tour business was fun, got lots of folks out on the water, and paid the bills; however, it limited our availability for teaching lessons.  We researched hiring staff.  Our research indicated that hiring employees for a small seasonal business like ours - the logistics and costs outweighed the benefits.  So we created our summer 2022 schedule so that the two of us could manage kayak rentals, flat water tours, and some instruction.

July 5, 2022 – Jeff hurt his back and was unable to teach, guide, or run the kayak rentals. LFK basically became a one woman show.  Cate juggled the schedule so that she could run the rentals, guide the tours, and teach the lessons.  Our sea kayaking and whitewater of the sea students were stoked on Cate’s teaching, and teaching private lessons on the sea became the her highlight of the summer of 2022.

November 2022 – Each year in November, we review the year, our business plan, and plan for the future.  Our take aways from 2022 were that the majority of our Noyo Meander customers were first timers who are looking for kayak instruction not necessarily a tour. Our kayak rentals and our Noyo Meander Tours limit our availability to teach kayak lessons.  The sea kayak, whitewater of the sea, and other private lesson students greatly valued Cate’s instruction and inspired her to desire to teach more.

We are having a BIG SALE - here is a link to items for sale. Check back as more will be included as we clean out the gear shed.

Lessons - Did you notice that we didn't use the term classes?

Building your skills and confidence is our #1 priority. We have found that students learn best when lessons are tailored specifically to their interests and skills vs classes with open enrollment. Our instructional model has evolved to private lessons for individuals and small groups.

Soooooo - if you are waiting for us to announce classes that we are teaching, you are missing out! Grab your calendar and contact us about your interests and let us develop a custom lesson for you and your paddling partner(s). Sea kayaking and whitewater kayaking are team sports so rally your paddling pals and let us build your skills as a paddling team.

This private lesson approach is flexible and dynamic to your needs - 1/2 day, full day, consecutive days, short boat/long boat, surf/no surf, rock gardening, coastal touring, whitewater river running, safety and rescue, ect. Contact us and let's build a custom plan for you.

 For 2023, we are going to focus on kayak instruction for all ages and abilities.  We will be teaching private lessons and custom/private groups events - we will have a fleet of kayaks available to rent for lessons - see sidebar about why privates instead of group classes. We are both looking forward to more teaching and less boat and equipment schlepping.  We have some other plans too but can’t spill all the beans at once.

Jeff is recovering and is in many ways feeling better than before his injury.  He is now working on rebuilding strength and looking forward to getting back on the water soon.  We are very grateful to the local healers that have helped him recover.

A HUGE Thank you to our friends who have helped us during these challenging times and our customers who have been patient and understanding.  We are excited about the future and hope that you will be a part of it with us.

At this moment, our focus is on selling equipment that we do not need.  In early 2023, we will be reintroducing the new/old LFK – so start dreaming now of a lesson or adventure you would like us to share with you.

Best of Days on the Water,

Cate Hawthorne and Jeff Laxier

Owners/Operators/Guides/Instructors of Liquid Fusion Kayaking

Liquid Fusion Kayaking Owner/Operator/Instructor/Guides - Jeff Laxier and Cate Hawthorne getting read for a surf and rock garden session on the home waters on the Mendocino Coast of California.

 

Used Kayak and Gear Sale

Are you ready to score some deals on used kayaks and kayak gear?

Feel Free Juntos Sit on Top Kayak for Sale

It is time for our end of the season kayak and gear sale. We have sit on top kayaks, sit inside kayaks, whitewater kayaks, and sea kayaks for sale.


Also we will be selling used paddles, new and used life jackets, wetsuits, drysuits, splash wear, boots and lots of other miscellaneous kayaking equipment and gear. We are cleaning off the boat rack and the equipment shed so this will be our biggest sale in years.

Click on the Button Below for More Information and Prices




Mendocino Coast Kayak Adventures in 2021

Family kayaking fun on Fort Bragg’s Noyo River.

Family kayaking fun on Fort Bragg’s Noyo River.

Greetings Friends of Liquid Fusion Kayaking,

We hope that you are hanging in there during these crazy times.  Thank you for your enthusiasm and support for LFK. One of the biggest lessons that we learned in 2020 was the need to be flexible. You may have noticed that we have not published a 2021 schedule.  Don't worry, we are still in business and plan to be teaching, guiding, and renting kayaks in 2021 and for many more years.

We are currently working on our spring and summer tour and rental schedule. We will have the tour schedule published and open for reservations by February 1, 2021.

Kayak Rentals on Fort Bragg’s Noyo River

Kayak Rentals on Fort Bragg’s Noyo River

Kayak Rentals on Fort Bragg’s Noyo River

We will officially be open for kayak rentals and tours May 1, 2021. Prior to May 1, we are scheduling private tours and private lessons.

Kayak Tours on the Noyo River and Mendocino Coast

For 2021, we will be offering our Noyo Meander Tour, Noyo Sea Kayak Tour, and Custom Sea Kayak Tours. For maximum safety and fun, we are planning to offer all tours as private tours. We will have our schedule posted by February 1, 2021; however, you do not need to wait until February 1 to schedule a tour with us. Contact us with your dates and interests and we will schedule a fun adventure for you.

Kayak Lessons

In May 2020, we shifted to teaching private lessons instead of group classes and GUESS WHAT!?!? We saw our students progress faster and learn more in custom private lessons than in group classes. 

For 2021 and beyond, we are restructuring our programs to focus on private instruction for individuals, couples, and small groups.  Our personal favorite is teaching a small pod of paddlers with similar interests and skills to build their individual skills and skills as a paddling team. Contact us with your interests and let’s schedule a kayak lesson for you.

Do you have questions? Are you ready to schedule a tour or lesson? Contact us and let’s make plans to get you out on the water!

We look forward to sharing the magic of Fort Bragg, the Noyo River, Mendocino Coast, and Eel River with you. We are optimistic that 2021 is going to be an awesome year on the water. Make sure you get out there!

Cheers,

Cate and Jeff

Owners/Operators of Liquid Fusion Kayaking

Liquid Fusion Kayaking’s Dynamic Duo - Jeff and Cate

Liquid Fusion Kayaking’s Dynamic Duo - Jeff and Cate

Closed for October

Greetings Friends of Liquid Fusion Kayaking,

We hope that you are healthy and doing well.  We are both healthy and well.  Liquid Fusion Kayaking had a super busy summer season. 

We are going to be closed for the month of October for personal and professional development.  We will be back in the office in November and plan to run private lessons throughout the winter months and into the early spring.

We plan to reopen for kayak rentals and tours in the spring of 2021.

Thanks for your continued interest and support of us and Liquid Fusion Kayaking!


Be well, Stay Safe, and Be Kind,
Cate and Jeff

Reopening for Kayaking on the Mendocino Coast

Liquid Fusion Kayaking’s owners/instructors enjoying a few quiet moments camping in the redwoods close to home on the Mendocino Coast.

Liquid Fusion Kayaking’s owners/instructors enjoying a few quiet moments camping in the redwoods close to home on the Mendocino Coast.

Greetings Friends of Liquid Fusion Kayaking,

We hope that you are healthy and well!!!

As we write this newsletter, we realize how vast our audience is.  Regardless of if you live across the street or across the world and if you are a casual or avid paddler - we consider you to be our friend and care about your well being.  As we are reopening Liquid Fusion Kayaking, we are carefully following Mendocino County and California health orders and industry recommendations.  We realize that much is unknown and are proceeding slowly and with upmost care and attention to detail in our risk management to ensure your health and well being.

We are on the eve of Mendocino County releasing their shelter in place orders and are excited to welcome our friends from near and far back into our home waters.  Getting out in nature and on the water has amazing healing properties and provides an escape from the reaches of the pandemic and political controversies. 

For 2020, all of our instructional programs are going to be conducted as private lessons.  If you were planning to take a class with us this summer, contact us to schedule it as a private lesson.

Kayak lessons enable you to have more fun on the water! 
Become a safer more efficient paddler under our coaching and have more confidence and go further, faster with less effort.  Get your feet wet with our Learn to Kayak on the River Lesson
or take the Plunge to become a better kayaker with our Kayak Skills Lessons
or 
Contact us for a Custom Private Lesson in Sea, River, or Surf.

Looking for a quick kayak skills tune-up – when you rent a kayak from us you can upgrade your rental to include a personalized 15 minute skills tune-up.

Kayak rentals grant you the freedom to meander or hammer.  Kayaking on flat water is low risk and offers you the opportunity to get out in nature on your own terms.  The Noyo River is gorgeous and teaming with life – ducklings, harbor seal pups, fawns, singing birds, wildflowers, and lots of fresh air and greenery.  Rentals are also a great way to try out different kayaks.

Our 2 and 4 hour Noyo River Rentals are super easy and simple.  Make your reservations online and then show up and paddle. 
24 Hour Rentals are available for those that want to take a kayak to another location.

Noyo Meander - 

Relax with a guided meander on the placid waters of the Noyo River where all ages are delighted by curious harbor seals, amazed by gigantic sea lions, teased by quirky river otters, and intrigued with coastal birds. 

LFK's Noyo Meander tour is a slow paced 1.5 hour dry and mild kayak tour for all ages and abilities.  No previous kayak experience necessary. All equipment is provided.

Noyo Sea Kayak Tour -

Journey via sea kayak from the quiet waters of the Noyo River Estuary through the historic Noyo Harbor and out into the wild Pacific Ocean.  Along the way, Liquid Fusion Kayaking’s naturalist guides will share with you the wildlife, nature, and history of the area and kayaking tips and tricks. 

This 2 hour sea kayak journey begins and finishes at LFK Headquarters on the quiet waters of the Noyo River.  No experience necessary and all equipment provided.

WEBINARS


The California Watersports Collective invited Cate to be a guest instructor for their webinar series. There are a couple more webinars left.  If you didn't catch them live, you can purchase downloads of them on the Cali Collective Website for $5 each.  Lots of great information from top instructors in sea and whitewater kayaking.

Whitewater of the Sea
Learn what it is and why you should do it!  If you are already a whitewater of the sea convert, Cate's multimedia presentation with videos, photos, and tips n tricks will entertain you and get you excited to play on the sea!
Available for Download Here
 

Surfzone Tips n Tricks

Interactive webinar for both short and long boaters.  Grab your paddle for at home drills that will build your skills and bring out your inner wave warrior.  Topics include etiquette and safety, paddle out technique, catching the wave, surfing, and wipe-outs.
Available Soon!

Videos – Let us know what you want to see.  We are working on our video skills so that you can learn and play with us virtually.  Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and Let us know what you want to see – instructional, entertaining, lifestyle, bloopers, scenery, nature, ect.

1:1 Virtual Coaching – Do you want to become a more skilled paddler?  Do you have access to the water?  Do you have a phone or digital camera and internet?  Do you want a personalized skills assessment and performance paddling plan? Are you committed to doing weekly training sessions?  If so, we are looking for a few motivated paddlers to test our new virtual coaching program.  Contact us for a free trial of our virtual coaching.

 Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter.  These are challenging times, and we are working to evolve LFK accordingly.  Please reach out to us if you have any suggestions as we navigate these uncharted waters or if you just want to say hi.


Best of days on the water,
Jeff Laxier and Cate Hawthorne

Liquid Fusion Kayaking During Covid-19

Greetings Friends of Liquid Fusion Kayaking,

We hope that you are healthy and managing to navigate these crazy times.  These times are trying for everyone and affect all of us differently.  We like the analogy that we are not in the same boat but all are in the same storm.

How are you weathering the storm?  We have been getting emails from friends and colleagues.  While everyone has different challenges during this time, we are ALL looking forward to getting back out on the water. 

Need a water fix now - check out the California Women's Watersports Collective's Online Coaching Series   Of course don't miss out on Cate's sessions May 6 and June 6.

How are we weathering the storm?  It feels like we are treading water - just keeping our heads above water.  We don’t mind treading water, but it is not something that we can do indefinitely.  Liquid Fusion Kayaking is currently closed due to California Shelter in Place Orders. We have been tending our veggie garden, making wood, running, doing weight and flexibility training, and planning for when we can share adventures on the water again.  

Our crystal ball is a bit foggy so we are not sure when we will be able to get people out on the water again.  As soon as we know, we will let you know.  We are hopeful that shelter in place orders will be lifted for summer.


Mendocino County has been extremely restricted and conservative because of the limited resources in the county should an outbreak of Covid-19 happen.  We are extremely sensitive to the needs of our community and have been working hard to comply with what they deem to be in our community’s best interest.  Currently all public access points to the water on the Mendocino Coast are closed.  Until recently we were not allowed to drive to exercise.
 
We are fortunate to have private access to the water.  One day, we put on our drysuits and hiked from our house to the Noyo River.  We swam across the river to access our sea kayaks and went out on an adventure.  We thought you might find it entertaining so here is a video - SIP Triathlon.

As shelter in place orders are loosened, we are developing additional health and sanitation measures to minimize the risk of virus transmission during kayaking.  Social distancing, small groups, digital forms, and gear sanitization are several measures we will be implementing.  If you have suggestions, please share them with us.

Kayak Rentals

To get folks out on the water as easy as possible when outdoor recreation is permitted, we are going to be renting kayaks and stand up paddle boards on the Noyo River.  We will let you know as soon as we are up and running.

How to Help

Small businesses are struggling and people have been asking us how to help.  We encourage you to do these 5 things for all of your favorite small businesses.

1.  Be patient, be kind, and follow shelter in place orders and beach and park closures. 

2.  Write a review about us and post it on Trip Advisor, Google, YELP, Facebook.

3.  Subscribe to our YouTube Channel.  We have posted several new videos and have plans for future videos. 

4.  Follow, like, share, and comment on our Facebook and Instagram posts and YouTube Videos This motivates us to keep posting content and helps more people see our content.

5. When we open - Spread the word - Tell your friends, share our social media, book trips, buy gift certificates!!!

Despite social distancing, we can still connect during this time. We are working primarily out of our home office these days. Feel free to drop us an email and let us know how you are doing and of course if you have any questions.

Be well, Stay Healthy, Be Kind -

Cate and Jeff

Fun Specialists

Liquid Fusion Kayaking

Sea how we go to the grocery store.Kayak crabbing and kayak fishing are how we are putting food on our table during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sea how we go to the grocery store.

Kayak crabbing and kayak fishing are how we are putting food on our table during the Covid-19 pandemic.


Mendocino Kayaking in 2020

Wahoo!  It's time to get excited about kayaking in Mendocino County.

Grab your calendar and let's plan to paddle and play in 2020!

Liquid Fusion Kayaking is an owner/operated instructional kayak company based in Fort Bragg, California. We teach sea kayaking, whitewater river kayaking, surf kayaking, rock gardening, and guide wildlife and nature history tours. If you haven’t kayaked in our Mendocino Waters, NOW is the time to make plans to get here. If you have kayaked in Mendocino before, then you know how awesome it is. Let us help you plan a new kayak adventure and help you share it with your family and friends.

Winter and Spring Mendocino Kayaking

Private Kayak Lessons

In the winter months, we are teaching kayak rolling and private sea, whitewater, and surf kayak lessons. This is also the best time of year to catch us in the office for planning adventures.

Kayak roll lesson

Whitewater Kayaking in Mendocino County

In the spring, Mendocino County’s Eel River is running. We teach classes and guide trips on the Eel. The Eel River is a gem in the spring with gorgeous, wilderness scenery. The Eel River offers lots of fun rapids and options for Class II and Class III whitewater and multi-day whitewater trips. Check out our Mendocino Whitewater Kayak Adventures.

Whitewater Kayaking on Mendocino County's Eel River

Sea Kayak Classes and Mendocino Sea Kayak Club

In the late spring, kayakers can get ready for summer kayaking with our sea kayak classes and introduction to kayaking lessons. The Mendocino Coast is a beautiful place to build your sea kayaking skills. Join us for a private lesson, weekend class, or our Mendocino Sea Kayak Club. We guide sea kayak tours as well but recommend waiting until summer and fall when ocean conditions are usually best and sea bird nesting and seal pupping season is over.

Mendocino Sea Kayak Classes

Summer Mendocino Kayaking

Summer and early fall are typically the best seasons for kayaking on the Mendocino Coast.

Sea kayaking out of Noyo Harbor into the ocean

Kayaking on the Noyo River

Spring and summer kayaking on the Noyo River delights all ages and abilities.  Treat yourself and your family and friends to a Noyo Meander where you will paddle under the lush canopy of the riparian and redwood forest to a song bird symphony.  Our Noyo Meander is an idea first kayak trip.  If you want to try out kayaking or get a friend or family member hooked on kayaking, do a Noyo Meander with us.

Family kayaking fun on the Mendocino Coast

Whitewater Ocean Kayaking

Are you looking for a unique, Mendocino adventure?  If you are adventuresome, able to swim, and willing to get wet – Whitewater of the Sea is a one of a kind ocean kayaking adventure that will rock your world!  In 3 hours, we teach you basic ocean kayaking skills and guide you to kayak and play among the whitewater, waves, and rock gardens of the Mendocino Coast.  Conditions permitting, we will also kayak into sea caves.  This is a super fun kayaking adventure to share with your adventuresome friends and family members.

Mendocino Whitewater Ocean Kayaking

Mendocino Coast Sea Kayaking

If you want to try out sea kayaking without getting your feet wet, check out our Noyo Sea Kayak Tour.  This tour encompasses multiple ecosystems as we paddle on the Noyo River Estuary through the estuary, through the harbor, and out into the ocean.  We have several options for this trip – including joining one of our special tours and paddling your own kayak or a kayak tandem with a friend.  Or you can book a private Noyo Sea Kayak tour and customize the experience – including the option to ride in the front of a tandem sea kayak paddled by a guide.

Sea kayaking in Fort Bragg's Noyo Bay

The Mendocino Coast is a great place to learn to sea kayak and to build your sea kayaking skills.  LFK’s Cate Hawthorne and Jeff Laxier are internationally renowned sea kayak instructors.  They are the ideal instructors for building basics or learning kayak skills for rock gardens or surf.  Check out Liquid Fusion Kayaking’s Art of Sea Kayaking Mendocino Series that includes focused rock gardening and surf classes.  Or join LFK’s Mendocino Sea Kayak Club for ongoing learning and fun.  Custom and private sea kayak lessons and Mendocino sea kayak tours are also available.

Kayaking Mendocino Sea Caves

Fall Sea Kayaking on the Mendocino Coast

Fall is one of the best months for sea kayaking on the Mendocino Coast. We have a bit of flexibility in our schedule for custom sea kayak tours and adventures in the fall – Mendo Your Way!  Grab your calendar and let’s schedule a magical Mendocino sea kayak adventure.

Mendocino sea kayak rock gardening

We are excited about 2020 and look forward to sharing the waters, wildlife, and wonders of Mendocino with you.  Let’s plan an adventure together!

Cheers, Cate and Jeff

Mendocino Kayaking Fun Specialists - Jeff and Cate

Winter Has Arrived

The Endless Summer of 2019 has ended and winter has begun on the Mendocino Coast.

Winter Storm Surf in Noyo Harbor

Due to the unseasonably warm and dry weather, we extended our Noyo Meander tour season into the fall. Kayakers who came out with us this fall were treated to the gorgeous colors, reflections, tranquility, and wildlife of the Noyo River in fall. Most days, we were the only people kayaking on Fort Bragg’s Noyo River. We definitely weren’t the only life though. Winter migratory ducks have arrived. The coho salmon have started migrating up the river to spawn. The salmon migration attracts the usual crew of harbor seals and river otters and this year a bald eagle has been cruising along the Noyo.

Fall kayaking on the Mendocino Coast

The remainder of the fall will continue to be beautiful and full of life on the Noyo; however, we are ending our Noyo Tours for the season. Come kayak with us on the Noyo next spring and summer when the Noyo is green and the days are warm and long.

Mendocino Family Kayaking Fun

For the Winter of 2019 - 2020, we will be offering kayak instruction. Sea kayak, whitewater river kayak, surf kayak, and kayak rolling lessons are available by private appointment after January 1. We have our tandem sea kayaks all spiffed up and will be available for custom sea kayak tours.

Greenland kayak roll lesson

Contact us if you would like to schedule a private lesson or custom tour with us this winter.

Cheers,

Cate and Jeff

Whitewater of the Sea

Ocean kayaking on the Mendocino Coast of California is amazing.

On super calm days, you can explore miles of rocky coastline and sea caves. BUT - the truth is that super calm days are few and far in between. When developing a tour to share the magic of ocean kayaking on the Mendocino Coast, we realized that more days were on the sporty side than the mellow side.

We like sporty!!! In 2009, we launched our Whitewater of the Sea Mendocino Ocean Kayak Adventure.

Whitewater of the Sea - aka - kayaking in ocean rock gardens. On the Mendocino Coast, Liquid Fusion Kayaking has created a unique and fun 3 hour whitewater of the sea adventure for beginning through advanced kayakers. This is a great introduction to rock gardening and a fun way to play in the waves, sea caves, and whitewater in the ocean.

LFK’s Whitewater of the Sea is a 3 hour ocean kayak adventure playing in the rock gardens and whitewater features of the Mendocino Coast. No experience is necessary and some of our best participants are first timers. Seasoned paddlers are amazed at how much they get to do and experience with us in such a short period of time. One or our secrets is using highly maneuverable whitewater kayaks. We have sit on top kayaks for those who do not know how to do a kayak roll and whitewater river runners for seasoned paddlers with a reliable roll.

Earlier this summer, we had international traveler and adventurer Kyle Mulinder aka Bare Kiwi join us for a whitewater of the sea adventure. He is a sea kayak guide in New Zealand and was keen to experience an ocean kayaking experience where the instructors take their students into the rocks rather than avoiding them. Kyle had a blast and shared that LFK’s Whitewater of the Sea Adventure was the highlight of his California tour and one of his top 5 adventures to do globally - Thanks Kyle! That’s a huge compliment. Read more about Kyle’s California trip and see his gopro video on this site.

So what are you waiting for? Get yourself to Fort Bragg on the Mendocino Coast of California for a

Liquid Fusion Kayaking Whitewater of the Sea Adventure.

If you are on the timid side or not 100% sure that whitewater of the sea is for you, you can schedule it as a private/custom event. If you are adventuresome and ready for some ocean whitewater - use this link to book your trip.

Need more convincing? Here is a video from a recent whitewater of sea adventure with a family celebrating their mom’s special birthday.

Yinz kids from Central PA celebrating their mom's special birthday with an ocean kayak rock gardening and sea cave adventure on the Mendocino Coast of California.