This past weekend was the Lumpy Waters Symposium put on by Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe. Held in Pacific City, OR it was a weekend of instruction and playing on the Oregon coast with California-like weather. It was my first year teaching at the symposium and first time paddling that area. But I am definitely going back. The home base for the weekend was an RV park just across the road from the pub which was right on a perfect surf beach. A short drive south led to the Salmon river for some surfing and caving; a short drive north led to Oceanside for some surfing and rock gardening. With nice cabins with hot showers for the coaches it made for an incredibly easy and fun weekend.
But while location is key, the real fun at these events is the people. The students are eager and ready for advanced courses; you get to teach with a variety of awesome instructors; and if you're really lucky you get to stay an extra day and paddle with your buddies. I rode up to the event with Sean (much nicer than driving solo) and was looking forward to seeing Dave and Paul from Alder Creek and Matt from the San Juans and Chris from Nova Scotia. It is this variety of folks from across the country that makes the weekend seem more like a paddling party than work. And getting in a half day of surfing and rock gardening before heading home was one of the best days of paddling I've had on the ocean.
Pictures HERE and video below. It's hard to get good pictures or video while teaching but I got some good shots this time. But the stuff from our paddle the day after is much better - check out the last half of the video to see for yourself.
My kayak memoir, A Paddler's Journey, is now available in paperback and eBook formats. Through tales of adventure and misadventure, share my experienced on my journey from eager novice to seasoned expert and professional instructor. More details on the website: www.APaddlersJourney.com
Most of my adult life has been spent teaching and managing one thing or another. Two decades ago I discovered kayaking and after spending a few years enjoying the sport I decided to try to make it my career. I have taught kayaking, guided trips, managed kayak schools and paddled all over the world. I have since settle down with my wife to raise my daughter on the Mendocino Coast - one of the most beautiful kayaking locations I've found.
PaddleBC documents my seven week road trip to British Columbia, including a solo circumnavigation of Moresby Island (Queen Charlottes).
But while location is key, the real fun at these events is the people. The students are eager and ready for advanced courses; you get to teach with a variety of awesome instructors; and if you're really lucky you get to stay an extra day and paddle with your buddies. I rode up to the event with Sean (much nicer than driving solo) and was looking forward to seeing Dave and Paul from Alder Creek and Matt from the San Juans and Chris from Nova Scotia. It is this variety of folks from across the country that makes the weekend seem more like a paddling party than work. And getting in a half day of surfing and rock gardening before heading home was one of the best days of paddling I've had on the ocean.
Pictures HERE and video below. It's hard to get good pictures or video while teaching but I got some good shots this time. But the stuff from our paddle the day after is much better - check out the last half of the video to see for yourself.
Is a Paddle Oregon video in your future?
ReplyDeleteOregon is certainly worthy of it but I don't think I'll have that much free time in the near future. I'll leave Oregon to the locals - I'm a Cali boy.
ReplyDelete