Yay! This spring Jason Self of Kayak Trinidad in Humboldt County opened his new paddle shop in the beautiful town of Trinidad on the Northern California coast. One of my favorite places to paddle, Trinidad is situated on a stunning section of coastline. Noted for its public beaches and offshore rocks, Trinidad is part of the California Coastal National Monument. Trinidad Head, a rocky promontory on the north side of Trinidad Harbor protects the harbor and waters south. This protected area is ideal for kayaking. You can mosey around sea stacks enjoying views and wildlife, which often includes whales, or you can opt for adventure on the high seas of this wild Pacific coastline.
Kayak Trinidad, Humboldt County’s premiere paddlesports instruction and guiding center, offers private lessons, group instruction, and guided tours and includes options for all levels of paddler. Now their new store at the corner of Scenic and Main offers quality kayaks and paddling gear. Whatever your needs on the water, this store can supply you with the best gear in Humboldt County. From P&H Sea Kayaks, Pyranha, Stellar, Immersion Research, Werner Paddles, Sweet Protection, Astral, NRS, and more, Kayak Trinidad can get you the goods.
Trinidad is a wonderful place to see migratory birds, porpoise, seals, sea lions, and otters, as well as underwater sea life as you explore the rock gardens, sea stacks, and kelp forests. It’s always an awesome place to paddle, but right now, migrating grey whales are making their way north from Baja to Alaska with their calves. Trinidad Bay is a popular stop for whales, and in March, April, and May you can see them resting, playing, and feeding in and around the bay.
I stopped by the new store to chat with Jason and check out the place. Jason’s goal is to create an opportunity for ocean adventure and to turn people on to everything kayaking has to offer. Through Kayak Trinidad, people new to the ocean can experience whales from the cockpit of a kayak and local paddlers have a hub where they can exchange information and buy and sell gear. By encouraging all kinds of people to get out and paddle and exposing them to the beauty, splendor, and wonder of the Redwood Coast, Jason creates advocates for the health and welfare of the marine environment.
Living in a rural location where it’s hard to get groceries much less quality kayak gear, Jason (in his own words) finally decided to bite the bullet and plant the flag. Now there’s a bright, shiny new specialty shop that caters to kayakers. Because it’s hard to get started in the sport of kayaking, Jason encourages people to bring in used gear as consignments. He and his staff make sure everything is legit, and they do what’s necessary to get all equipment that comes through the shop in good order while keeping costs as low as possible. Right now they have several high-performance British sea kayaks that are both well-used and well-loved. It’s great to know that kayakers and the places they paddle have a strong supporter established in Trinidad.
Trinidad and its surrounding area offer a variety of paddling options. There are rivers, bays, a string of beautiful lagoons, and of course, the mighty Pacific. You can get the info you need to paddle these waters, as well as buy or rent gear from Jason and his staff at Kayak Trinidad. Check them out at https://kayaktrinidad.com/
Thanks to Jason Self and Kayak Trinidad for all they do to promote our sport and also to staff member Andrew, who sold me a nice pair of Astral water shoes I’ve been wanting. You guys rock!
