Guillemot Kayaks - New England

Rough Water

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:06:16 -0400

Over Labor Day weekend I attended the second annual New England Intermediate Rough Water Symposium hosted by Tom Bergh of Maine Island Kayak Company. Tom brought in BCU kayaking coaches from England as well as top paddlers from the US. I was there as a local guide to the waters and as an assistant coach.

The video below is something I put together giving my impressions of the event.

While the event has been marketed a little bit as a high-level event for "big-dog" paddlers, it is really intended as an event for intermediate paddlers who are striving to become better. While I always look forward to going out to the same venues we brought the participant to on days when it is really rollicking, those extremely rough days are not conducive to good teaching or learning.

Jamestown, January 23, 2006

Mon, 23 Jan 2006 16:51:22 -0500

Wayne suggested the idea. At first I was waffling. I had been out on Saturday and wasn't sure I wanted to drive all the way to Rhode Island, but I woke up to clear blue sky and almost no wind, so I decided it would be a lot more fun to paddle on the ocean than going to the Connyak pool session.

A big group showed up at the parking lot at Fort Wetherill. Dave, Doug, Kate, Beth, Pete and Donna, Phil, Tony, John, and Wayne were there and the conditions looked perfect. We headed right, going along the rocky cliffs to the west of the put-in. There was a slight swell making the water move in among the rocks. Those so inclined played around in the rocks, looking for passages that became available as the water surged in and out.