How would you like to spend the summer doing things your friends may not be willing to try in the water?
For starters, how about a dookie dive just for the thrilling fun of it?
Or perhaps you are a booger, or a kook.
Confused yet? Well, these terms are commonly used in water sports. A dookie dive is a loss of power while kitesurfing that results in a crash into the water. A booger is a bodyboarder, and a kook is the word used for an inexperienced surfers.
These and many other terms await you in water sports lessons being offered throughout the Puget Sound area.
Whether you want to learn kitesurfing - a surface water sport that uses the wind to putt the rider through the water - surfing, sailing, waterskiing, scuba diving, body boarding or diving, there are lessons for any interest.
Although you may have to travel a distance for some of the lessons, most locations are a single day trip away.
Here is a list of some places that offer water sport lessons:
Surfing
Skookum Surf Company
1220 48th Place, Seaview
Surfing season: May 1- October 15
Lessons include a two-hour lesson, a wetsuit, and a surfboard. They range from $69 per person for a party of two or more, or $99 for a private lesson.
Sailing
Puget Sound Sailing
5632 Marine View Drive, Tacoma
Lessons include American Sailing Association certification, textbooks, materials, lecture, and food. Classes are offered in the basics to racing techniques. Members and boat owners receive a reduced rate off the price of all classes. Discounts are also offered for multiple classes.
Gig Harbor Sailing Club & School
3226 Harborview Dr., Gig Harbor
Sailing classes range from $65 an hour and up for two people and two hour minimum. $15 for each additional person. Non-members rate is $259- $869 for classes that range from 12 - 30 hours of instruction.
Scuba Diving
The Scuba Schools Group
2000 Westlake Ave. N. #210, Seattle
Tacoma phone - 253-229-3389
Scuba Schools Group offers beginning to advanced water diver certification classes. The cost is $369 per person. A tropical referral certification course is offered to give the diver ocean training for $259. Military identification card holders receive a 15 percent discount.
Seattle Water Sports
6820 NE 175th St, Kenmore
888- 481-2754
Seattle Water Sports offers a variety of lessons. Contact the shop directly for details and information concerning discounts.
Kiteboarding
Seattle Kiteboarding Center LLC
17230 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park
Kiteboarding is the fastest growing water sport in the world. As a result more and more water sport companies are offering the sport. Locally, kiteboarding lessons are offered at Jetty Island, Everett which has perfect conditions for the surface water sport. The winds are just right and shallow waters making the water warmer than other Puget Sound locations. Several classes are offered by Motion Boardshop including a three-hour introduction to kiteboarding for $99, a four-hour comprehensive course for $349, and a four-hour lesson for $199.
Other sites to check out for kiteboarding: www.bigwinds.com, www.gorgekite.com, www.newwindkiteboarding.com.
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