Read about Russell Farrow
Read about Nigel Foster
Read about Don Thompson
Read about Donna Thompson
Read about Bob Chierico
Read about Chad Maynard

Russell Farrow
BCU 5 Star Training/Sea Kayak
BCU 4 Star Award/Sea Kayak
BCU Level 3 Coach/Sea Kayak
BCU Level 3 Coach Aspirant/Surf
BCU Three Star Award/Canoe TSRA Certified Solo Open Boat
Wilderness First Responder

President of Sweetwater Kayaks, Russell's excellent product knowledge enables our customers to be outfitted to best suit their paddling needs. In addition to sea kayaking, his outdoor background includes mountain biking and climbing. These sports have taken him all over the world; Scotland, France, Switzerland, Canada, Andorra, Spain, Morocco, Hawaii, and North America. Among Russell's many talents, he is also a professional musician. He plays guitar in the band, "Sizemore".  There music is available on iTunes and tangoradio.com and at the shop. He has appeared on Saturday Night Live. In 2005, Russell organized the Labrador 2005 Expedition and paddled down the northeast coast of Labrador (Some call it one of the most challenging coastlines in the world.)

In 2007 he paddled in Florida (leading trips in the everglades), the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Mexico, San Diego, Deception Pass, Washington, Alaska, Scotland, Outer Hebrides, and Georgia.

He and his "Team Sweetwater" won the IR Vacation to Hell grant, and in the summer of 2008 paddled in the High Arctic of Canada's Baffin Island.  A DVD and presentation has come out on that expedition.

He has written articles for Canoe Focus Magazine as well as developed paddling and adventure DVD's.

Nigel Foster
BCU Level 5 Coach/Sea & Surf
BCU Level 4 Coach/Inland Kayak & Open Canoe
BCU 5 Star Award/Sea Kayak, Open Canoe, White Water & Surf
Wilderness First Alert

A partner and Director of Training at Sweetwater Kayaks, Foster has been long recognized as the dean of surf kayaking, having pioneered the sport in the 1970's. Since then, Foster has paddled solo or led expeditions in the waters off Norway, Sweden, Baffin Island, and the Faroe Islands. He was the first to circumnavigate Iceland. In 2004, he and Kristin Nelson paddled around the north end of Labrador. During early summer 2006, they paddled the Misty Fjords in southeast Alaska, and during late summer 2006, they paddled Sweden and Denmark. Early 2007 saw him in New Zealand, Mexico, and back home.

Nigel is the author of "Kayaking: A Beginner's Guide", "Nigel Foster's Sea Kayaking: Secrets From The Pro", "Nigel Foster's Surf Kayaking", "Guide to Sea Kayaking in Southern Florida", "Open Canoe Technique: A Complete Guide to Paddling the Open Canoe." Nigel has designed his own line of sea kayaks: Silhouette, Legend, Shadow, Echo. Most recently he has designed a new line of kayaks distributed by Point 65 Kayaks: Whiskey 16, Whiskey 18, Double Shot Tandem and Cappuccino 13. In addition to sea kayaks, he has created his own accessory line which includes clothing, PFD, tow line and other exciting products. His articles are often featured in Sea Kayaker, Canoe Focus, and other outdoor publications. His classes are always exciting and fun!

Don Thompson
DIRECTOR OF FUN
BCU Aspiring Level Three Coach/Sea Kayak
BCU Four Star Award/Sea Kayak
BCU Canoe Safety Test
BCU Two Star Award/Canoe
BDA Three Star White Water Paddler
ACA Instructor
First Aid
CPR

Don, Director of Fun at Big D's Kayaking and Sweetwater Kayaks, has been a paddling guide and corporate trainer for four decades. Since 1963, when he led his first paddling tour, he recognized that his paddling students wanted to become technically competent paddlers and have a lot of fun while building their skills. To that end, his wife Donna and he created PrecisionMania© - a technically precise, synchronized and humorous demonstration of kayak paddling techniques.

Many of my colleagues call him “The Clown Prince of Kayaking,” in part because he likes to laugh and have fun but also because he created "Bananamation" - using a banana, which looks a lot like a kayak, to demonstrate the effects of wind and water while paddling. He is accomplished in both sea kayaking and white water and has been associated with Sweetwater Kayaks since 2003.

Donna Thompson has been paddling for nearly twenty years. Donna teaches paddling classes, leads guide trips and helps out on Sweetwater Kayaks Demo Days. She was the very first Precision "maniac."

She is a very talented teacher, having received several awards and acknowledgements for her past teaching experiences. At one training event prior students put out the word that Donna was a great instructor, and every new student signed up for her classes leaving the other teachers alone with their paddles.

In her spare time, Donna (and Don) train service dogs for the blind as Area Coordinators for Southeastern Guide Dogs.

Chad Maynard