Bay Area Sea Kayakers (BASK) is a non-profit 501(c7) sports club of several hundred sea kayakers who live throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Our interests include flat-water paddling, kayak-surfing, expeditions, and playing amongst the rocks, in conditions that range from mild to wild. Our club exists to bring paddlers together for companionship, safety, education, exploration, learning, and great food and drink! We're committed to safety both on and off the water, and our club holds insurance through Paddlesports Risk Management. We offer an inexpensive annual Skills Clinic to members, as well as numerous free clinics on skills, rescue, and safety throughout the year. We welcome as members all individuals interested in kayaking. We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive paddling club and to sharing our enthusiasm, skills, and knowledge to increase equity and access to our sport.
BASK trips range from local to international, and are all member-initiated with shared responsibilities for safety. BASK does not supply boats or equipment, although some members are willing to share their equipment. You have to be a member or a guest of a member to participate in on-the-water BASK events and a signed activity waiver is required. Follow the links to learn more about the benefits of membership and to join BASK.
We invite you to attend one of our monthly meetings, either online or in person. They are free and open to the public; in-person meetings include food (suggested donation $8-10). The format of each meeting may vary a bit month to month, but they tend to include members sharing stories, featured speakers, club news, and information about upcoming events. It’s a great way to meet club members and learn about paddling opportunities. For more information see the Events page!
Would you like to speak at a BASK meeting or have an idea for a speaker? Contact the Speaker Seekers. Interested in what type of speakers we’ve had in the past? See a representative list of previous general meeting topics.
BASK Health Guidelines
For the safety of participants at all BASK paddles and other in-person activities, please stay home and join us another time if:
- You're experiencing symptoms of any communicable respiratory illness
- You're testing positive for COVID-19, even if you're feeling well
- In the past week, you've been exposed to someone with COVID-19 via shared air
If you develop COVID-19 symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 within a week of attending an in-person BASK activity, please let the event initiator know. This will allow the initiator to inform other participants, who can then choose to self-test or take other precautions such as obtaining pharmaceutical COVID-19 treatments if they develop symptoms.
Next BASK General Meeting: Wednesday, May 1, (Virtual)
Time: 7-9 pm
Location: Zoom Meeting (invitation will be posted on the BASK calendar on the day of the meeting). Note: this meeting will be recorded.
About: Join us via Zoom for a virtual meeting to hear the latest club news and enjoy a talk by our featured speakers, Laura Zulliger and Melissa DeMarie. Their topic is "How to 'Freshen Up' Your Kayaking: Cross-Training in Whitewater to Elevate Your Sea Kayaking."Join Melissa and Laura as we flow together through ways whitewater kayaking can not only enhance your sea kayaking but also deepen your understanding of hydraulics, boat control, complex rescue scenarios and it's also hella fun! We'll guide you through some ideal approaches for folks eager to get started or intermediates looking to build more skills.
Melissa is the Founder and Chief Instigator of California Watersport Collective. She's a dedicated paddlesports coach, fierce competitor, adventurer, mentor, and magnetic community builder both on and off the river.
Laura is California Watersport Collective's Saltwater Program Director but her relationship with the organization began as a student at a whitewater clinic. Having taught sea kayaking since she was 15, Laura began teaching whitewater kayaking (in addition to sea and surf kayaking) in 2018 with Cali Collective and remains a devoted and often-humbled lifelong student of whitewater.
Stay tuned to Currents and the BASK Calendar for more details.
Got ideas for meetings or locations? Contact Brian Alger, BASK President
