Who We Are - Symposium Coaches 2012

John Carmody

BCU Level 5 Sea Coach
ACA Open Water Instructor
ACA Level 4 Surf Instructor
BCU 4Star Sea Assessor
Wilderness First Responder
Registered Maine Sea Kayak Guide

Senior Sea Kayak Instructor-
St Michael’s College Wilderness Program
Adjunct Instructor, Expeditionary Studies Program, SUNY Plattsburgh

With the exception of a few misguided years a while ago, John has lived on the ocean his entire life. He has been in and around most every type of boat, tending towards the wind and human powered types. Almost 20 years ago, the sea kayak became his vessel of choice, and he has enjoyed adapting his “Big Boat” skills to kayaks.

John’s love of the traditions of the sea is infectious as he passes his seamanship and navigation skills on to his students. As a Coach, his understanding of the human body and biomechanics, gives him unique insights into what will make his students more efficient, safer from injuries and better able to enjoy these centuries old craft in more exposed environments.

John has led trips throughout Maine, the Canadian Maritimes, and the British Isles. He regularly instructs at Kayak Symposiums throughout the US.

John is a Team paddler for both P&H Kayaks and Werner Paddle.

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

http://www.nigelfosterdesigns.com/
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!

Phil Hadley

Phil, known to friends as “Foxy", is from a town in the heart of England called Dudley, although fairly close to Birmingham - he is NOT a Brummy!

For those people who don't know Phil (there can't be many!) he was the West Midlands Paddlesport Development Officer for nine years and contributed two chapters to the BCU Coaching Handbook.

Phil is massively involved with the BCU: as a national trainer he is one of the key people rolling out the new Coaching Programmes and Performance Awards in the UK, Europe, Mexico and the United States. Phil does a lot of work approving centres for the BCU and is the technical adviser of choice for many centres and organisations.

Phil ran the first ‘new’ Level 1 course in the US back in 2008 at the Sweetwater Symposium and is looking forward to visiting Florida again to deliver more courses with his infectious enthusiasm.

He has a BSc Hons degree in Sports Science and loves paddling and coaching.

Phil can train and assess the following BCU qualifications:
1-4 Star Canoe and White Water Kayak
3 star Sea Kayak
Level 1 and Level 2 BCU Paddlesports Coach Award
'Old style' BCU L3 Training Canoe and Inland Kayak
'Old style' BCU L2 Assessments Canoe and Inland Kayak
'Old style' BCU L3 Assessments Canoe and Inland Kayak
Foundation Safety and Rescue Training
Canoe Safety Test
Aquatic First Aid.

Jen Kleck

Jen is an American Canoe Association certified Coastal Kayak Instructor as well as a British Canoe Union 5 Star and Level 5 Coach. She is only the second woman in North America to achieve this ranking in the BCU. She enjoys racing when she can and has set several records in the San Diego's annual Bay2Bay regatta. She is also competitive in kayak surfing and a member of the 1999, 2000, and 2003 National Champion women's kayak polo teams. Jen has a BA in geology and enjoys natural history of all sorts.

Chad Maynard
Weedon Island Rental Guru
BCU Coach Level 2 UKCC
BCU Three Star Award/Canoe
BCU Four Star Award/Sea aspirant
Foundations, Safety, & Rescue Training (FSRT)
First Aid
CPR

Prior to plunging into the sport of kayaking in 2005, he spent years racing sailboats and fishing the lakes of Northern Ohio. He took his love of water with him as he headed off to college in Southeast Ohio where he majored in computer science and minored in mathematics. While at college he enjoyed canoeing and fishing the numerous fresh water lakes and rivers. When he is not on the water paddling, the most likely place to find Chad is handling Sweetwater’s rental fleet at Weedon Island Preserve or teaching kayaking courses through the shop. Chad is also striving to obtain his British Canoe Union (BCU) UKCC level 2 coaching certification so he can bring his love of the sport to others. In addition to his participation in kayaking and other water sports he has a full time career in the information technology (IT) field, including owning his own business (KC Computing, LLC). He loves all types of music, bowling, cooking, rollerblading, weight lifting, Texas hold’em, and is an avid golf duffer. FORE!!!!

Steve Maynard

BCU Level 5 coach sea, Assessor Level 5
Head of Paddle Sport
Expeditionary Studies Department
SUNY Plattsburgh

He is the head paddlesports instructor for the Adirondack Experience and Expeditionary Studies Major at SUNY Plattsburgh and one of the original affiliates with Seacliff Kayakers.

Steve has worked as an outdoor pursuits instructor since 1987 when he started kayaking on remote sea lochs in North West Scotland. Since then he has paddled, guided and coached extensively in the United Kingdom, and throughout Europe and North America.

Steve holds qualifications in many adventure sports, including sea kayaking certifications at the highest level from the British Canoe Union (Level 5 Coach Sea and Level 5 Assessor Sea) and American Canoe Association (Advanced Open Water Instructor).

Steve enjoys nothing more than helping people improve their understanding of technique and environment to make stronger safer paddlers.

http://www.seacliffkayakers.com/Home.html
http://www.plattsburgh.edu/academics/exp/expoverview.php

Kristin Nelson is an accomplished kayaker and instructor. A white-water kayaker in the 1990’s, Kristin initially disregarded sea kayaking, expecting it to be boring. Friends showed her otherwise. Her first open crossing was from USA to Canada, across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Vancouver Island. In 1997 she made her first multiday kayaking journey, self-sufficient from a kayak, around the Island of Mull in Scotland, and between the islands to the south. With the western Washington Pacific coast as a playground, her surf and rough water skills improved. She has kayaked the Grand Canyon, and in 2004 paddled a five-week self-sufficient arctic wilderness trip from Ungava Bay, around Northern Labrador to finish at Labrador’s northernmost village. (A 675 mile long journey in totally uninhabited territory, punctuated by encounters with polar bears. The story appeared in Sea Kayaker Magazine.)

From the mid-1990’s she began assisting Nigel Foster, instructing all around the world as a long-term apprentice, becoming more and more useful to him as her personal skills developed and as she became familiar with a wide range of instructional skills. Since then she has assisted Nigel guiding trips and teaching in Sweden, Denmark, Canada, Spain, New Zealand, as well as all over the USA.

Modest by nature, Kristin most often offers a superb support role while Nigel instructs, and when asked what she does for a living she declares “I’m a ceramicist”. There is truth in that. For years she has made a name for herself by creating colorful tableware of a unique and distinctive style, sold across the USA and in Japan. But her other life “following” Nigel around the globe, is likewise special and appreciated. She offers a gentle feminine approach to sea kayak balance and control and a keen perception of the anxieties and needs of others, really helping people learn without fear. You’ll see her standing in her kayak wearing her self-designed kayaking dress (a creation she ran up before paddling the Grand Canyon) or cruising down the face of an ocean wave with a quirky smile on her face.               http://www.krikristudio.com/"

Michael Shugg
BCU/ UKCC Level 2 coaching award
BCU 4 Star Sea Leader
and 3 Star canoe award
ACA Level 4 Open Water Instructor certification.

He has paddled in Baja, Alaska, British Columbia, North Carolina, Georgia and his home waters of Florida. In 2010, he completed a solo circumnavigation of Vancouver Island paddling 662 nautical in 35 total days.

In August 2010, Michael Shugg completed a solo circumnavigation of Vancouver Island starting and finishing on Orcas Island Washington. Vancouver Island has become popular for record attempts because of its unique combination of accessibility and challenge. Though not attempting a record, Michael chose Vancouver for the challenge of currents, winds, open Pacific waves and swell along with its natural beauty and wildlife. Michael will talk about his Vancouver expedition and the transition from two-week trips to expedition paddling.

Jake Stachovak

BCU 4 Star Sea Kayak & 3 Star Open Canoe
BCU Level 1 Coach & Level 2 Trainee
ACA Sit on Top Kayak Surf Instructor

Education: Associates in Business Management & Residential Design
Occupation: Kayak Bum (also kayak guide/instructor and carpenter) & author

Starting in December, 2009, Jake took on the “Portage to Portage Paddling Project”, a 5000+ mile solo kayak journey around the Eastern United States. You can read about it, including his trip blog, and even download a trip poster at http://www.portagetoportage.com/.

  Greg Stamer grew up paddling open canoes but was instantly captivated by sea kayaks and got his start in 1988. Home is wherever he happens to be, but central Florida is his home base.

Greg is the President and founder of Qajaq USA, the American Chapter of the Greenland Kayaking Association (Qaannat Kattuffiat).

Greg is perhaps best known for his study, teaching and writings of Greenland technique and culture. He has written articles for Sea Kayaker magazine and authored the chapter, “Using Greenland Paddles” in “Eastern Arctic Kayaks, History, Design, Technique” by John D. Heath and E. Y. Arima. Greg is a featured paddler in Justine Curgenven’s “This is the Sea” video, and is a guest-instructor in “Nigel Foster’s Sea Kayaking Series”.

 Greg participated on the first American team, when the annual Greenland Kayaking Championship was opened to outsiders in 2000. He won his age group in the World Class (which combined all Greenlanders and foreigners), and earned medals in different disciplines, including long distance racing and rolling. Greg returned again in 2002 and earned another gold medal for rolling. While there he enjoyed kayaking in several locations along the Southwest Greenland coast in a traditional skin covered kayak; “The Greenlandic coast and fiords are truly soul-inspiring in their beauty. Works of man are few, and the immense landscape both humbles and empowers you at the same time”.

In June 2007 Greg and Freya Hoffmeister circumnavigated Iceland (1,620 km) in 33 days (25 paddling days), a record. Greg used a carbon Superior Kayaks Greenland paddle on the trip.

In June 2008 Greg circumnavigated Newfoundland solo (2,102 km) in 44 days (35 paddling days), a record. Greg used take-apart carbon Superior Kayaks Greenland paddles on the trip (86″ and 88).

http://www.gregstamer.com/

http://www.qajaqusa.org/

Tom Nickels
Before relocating to Washington, DC in the Summer of 2007, Tom spent nearly 15 years kayaking in Charleston, SC – during the last five he operated the successful sea kayak training and tour company OceanAir Sea Kayak. He began volunteering for the Charleston Parks and Recreation Department water-based program and later advanced to a part-time paid safety staff position in the kayak program. In April, 2002, he advanced to “Lead Instructor” status.

He received his ACA Open Water certification in February 2002. In October 2002 he continued his kayak instruction by taking and passing the BCU 4 Star, held at Sea Kayak Georgia. Nigel Dennis was the instructor.

He worked for two seasons, in 2002 & 2003, for a local SC outfitter, on a contract basis, where his role was to provide guide and nature interpretation services for wide variety of kayak tours. He also provided ACA kayak class instruction. He has been a presenter/instructor of the BCU 3* and 4* class and various ACA classes at the East Coast Canoe and Kayak Festival held in Charleston, SC. He is now a regular coach at the "BCU Safety Symposium" held in North Carolina, the Sweetwater Kayak Symposium held in Tampa in February and BCU Week/Sea Kayak Georgia on Tybee Island.

In 2002 Tom founded OceanAir Sea Kayak, a successful sea kayak tour and instruction business in Folly Beach, SC. For five years he offered the finest private and small class instruction in the Charleston area while also conducting a wide range of interpretive, scenic and challenging paddling tours.

In June 2007, Tom and his wife Gloria sold OceanAir Sea Kayak and moved to Washington, DC where Tom is now the director of the sea kayak instruction program at Potomac Paddle Sports. Tom also teaches at numerous BCU and ACA sea kayak symposia along the east coast.

Don Thompson
DIRECTOR OF FUN
BCU Aspiring Level Three Coach/Sea Kayak
BCU Four Star Award/Sea Kayak
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.