Jean Totz
BCU A3 Level 2 Coach Trainer & Assessor
BCU Level 3 Coach/Sea Kayak
BCU 4 Star Award/Sea Kayak
BCU 5 Star Training/Sea Kayak
TRSA Whitewater Training

President of Sweetwater Kayaks, Jean is also the Director of the Florida Gulf Coast International Sea Kayak Symposium at Sweetwater Kayaks. Jean received her Level 3 BCU Coach (Advanced Open Water) Award and 5 star training (Tidal, Surf and Leadership skills) at Nigel Dennis' Anglesey Sea and Surf Center in Holyhead Wales. Jean has paddled Whitewater on the Tellico River in Tenn. and the Nantahala and the Ocoee rivers in North Carolina. Her passion is open water kayaking; "Experiencing the dynamics of the sea along with the wind, waves, and current from a kayak is exhilarating and challenging." Some of Jean's paddling highlights have been: the Sucia Islands just off of the Orca Island in Washington State with Nigel Foster and friends; 5 star training in Vancouver and in Maine; coaching for New York Kayak Company, Sea Kayak Georgia, Aqua Adventure in San Diego; and paddling 68 miles in 22 hours as part of the Water Tribe Challenge. In addition to kayaking, Jean enjoys gardening, homemaking, beading, inline skating and running. In her previous life, she practiced dental hygiene for 12 years. She is married Greg, who is a police Lt. and her business partner.

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
TSRA Certified Solo Open Boat
Wilderness First Responder

A partner at 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 lead guitar. 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 this summer will be paddling in the high Arctic of Canada.

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. 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!

Bob Chierico
BCU Level Two Coach Aspirant/Sea Kayak
BCU Three Star Award/Sea Kayak
BCU Canoe Safety Test
First Aid
CPR

Bob has been paddling since 1994. He moved here from Queens, NY. He is an avid fisherman, loves music, ballroom dancing, and paddling.

Don Thompson
DIRECTOR OF FUN
BCU Aspiring Level Three Coach/Sea Kayak
BCU Four Star Award/Sea Kayak
BCU Canoe Safety Test
First Aid
CPR

Don has been paddling since he was a teenager and kayaking for about twenty years. Most of this experience was part time as Don pursued a career in computer technology, eventually leading several IT organizations. While that was fulfilling, he finds working at Sweetwater is pure fun. Don brings laughter and good spirits to his classes, tours and work around the shop. He has been dubbed "The Clown Prince of Kayaking" and is now our Director of Fun.

Don is accomplished in sea kayaking and also likes to play in the surf. His newest challenge is white water river running. Yet, his greatest paddling passion is Florida rivers, especially tight turning, swiftly flowing rivers.

Whether in the shop or coaching, Don is very service oriented, which carries over into another of his passions. He raises and trains guide dog puppies for the blind.

BCU Level Two Coach Aspirant/Sea Kayak
BCU Three Star Award/Sea Kayak
BCU Canoe Safety Test
First Aid
CPR

Donna has been paddling for nearly twenty years. While having a full time career at Raymond James Financial, she also makes the time to teach paddling classes, guide trips and help at Demo Days. She is a great asset to Sweetwater Kayaks.

Donna, also has another passion: helping raise and train guide dog puppies for the blind. She is a group leader for Southeastern Guide Dogs, where she is responsible for the puppies being raised in North Pinellas County.

David is a marine biologist who specialized in the study of crustaceans. He conducted research for the State of Florida Marine Research Institute for 30 years before retiring from there. He was cofounder of an international, nonprofit scientific society of zoologists who study crustaceans, The Crustacean Society, and for six years he was the editor of The Journal of Crustcean Biology, which is published by the society. He is currently a Research Associate at the National Musuem of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. David loves the ocean. He loves to be near it, on it, and in it. That is why he became a marine biologist and why he took up sea kayaking later in life. He eschews motorboats, preferring to paddle or sail as a means to get close to nature quietly. Naturally, he gravitated to Sweetwater Kayaks. He says he was attracted to Sweetwater by the warm and friendly attitude shown by its owners and staff, as well as their genuine desire to help others become better, or more efficient kayakers. He is always ready to eagerly assist clients, whether it's finding the right kayak or which trip to go on.

Phil Eversole
BCU Level Two Coach/Sea Kayak
BCU Four Star Award/Sea Kayak
BCU Canoe Safety Test
First Aid
CPR

Dennise is the Assistant Symposium Director of the Florida Gulf Coast International Sea Kayak Symposium at Sweetwater Kayaks. She began paddling with her husband Leon in 1995. They have completed two Everglade Challenges together, one of which was a 300 mile non supported trip to be completed in 7 days or less. Dennise has also paddled some class 2-3 whitewater rivers. Dennise enjoys spending time with her husband and son Matt. She also enjoys hiking, inline skating, and bicycling. You can find Dennise in a local hospital in the Emergency Department working as a Registered Nurse when she is not kayaking.

Phyllis & Dave Murphy
BCU Four Star Training/Sea Kayak
BCU Three Star Award/Sea Kayak
BCU Canoe Safety Test
First Aid
CPR
ACA Instructor Intro to Kayaking
ACA Essentials of Kayak Touring (Level 2)



Phyllis also has: BCU Level 2 Coach
Dave is also aspiring to: BCU Level 2 Coach

Phyllis and Dave love to be on the water and paddling, anywhere. They have been paddling a number of years up and down the East Coast and when they decided to become more disciplined in their sport, they found Sweetwater. They have been in an ongoing learning experience with training from the best coaches around the world. Last year they were fortunate to paddle the Atlantic for a week in nasty weather and rougher conditions and because of their training were able to do well. They are proud to be members of the Sweetwater Team.




Chad Maynard
Kayak Rental Guru










Greg Totz

A partner in Sweetwater, Greg supports the Sweetwater team and empowers Jean, his wife, to fullfill her dream to create a great sea kayaing center. In addition to his full time job, he is dedicated to providing Sweetwater customers with the attention they need to have fun on the water.