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.