Coaches

Gordon Brown

Gordon is one of only three doubly qualified level 5 coaches (Sea & Inland kayak) in Scotland. This is the highest coach award achievable in the UK. He is Scotland’s only ACA (American Canoe Association) Advanced Open Water Instructor. He has a lifetime’s experience on rivers and the sea. He has trained, tutored and assessed many of the kayaking staff at Glenmore Lodge including the head of the paddlesports department. He has guided on rivers in Nepal where he ran the first river safety course for kayakers supporting commercial rafting. He has trained both British and American Special Forces. He is the Chairman of the Scottish Canoe Association Coaching Committee as well as the Scottish representitive on the BCU level 5 development team, and has written the chapter on sea kayaking for the latest edition of the BCU Handbook. Gordon produced a sea kayak rescue video “Over… and Out” in 1993, and two DVD’s “Sea Kayak – Volumes 1 & 2″. He is the author of “Sea kayak – A Manual for Intermediate and Advanced Kayakers”. He is the organiser of the Scottish Sea Kayak Symposium and contributor at sea symposia throughout the world. Gordon owns and operates Skyak Adventures with his wife Morag on the Isle of Skye.

Shawna Franklin

Co-owner of Body Boat Blade International, Shawna is the first woman in the United States to gain the BCU 5 Star Sea Award, a test of skills and leadership in advanced sea conditions. Putting these hard earned skills to test in 2003, she was the first woman to successfully circumnavigate Iceland with famed solo paddler Chris Duff and Leon Sommé, a trip of over 1600 nautical miles in 81 days. In 2007 Shawna circumnavigated the Islands of Haida Gwaii, B.C., with award winning film maker Justine Curgenven and partner Leon Sommé. As an artist, she is drawn to the sea for inspiration. Her paddling skills allow her a deeper artistic inspiration and in turn many feel her paddling skills have become a form of art. Shawna has been paddling and teaching for over 17 years, she wants to share her enthusiasm for teaching and paddling, and sense of adventure with you!

 

Leon Sommé

Co-owner of Body Boat Blade International, Leon has been paddling and teaching paddle sports for close to 20 years. He has logged thousands of coastal and river miles around the world. Most notably, in 2003, Leon successfully circumnavigated Iceland with Chris Duff and Shawna Franklin, a trip of over 1600 nautical miles in 81 days. in 1998, Leon circumnavigated Vancouver Island, B.C., and most recently in 2007 Leon circumnavigated the Islands of Haida Gwaii, B.C., with Shawna Franklin and award winning film maker Justine Curgenven. Screwing around in small human powered boats is Leon’s passion. He has spent countless hours trying to understand and master the skills of paddle sports. In doing so, he now believes a mastery of this sport is one of the many pathways to enlightenment!

 

John Carmody

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. He owns Sea Cliff Kayakers, a kayak school in Maine.

 

Rob Avery

Rob Avery has been paddling for over 40 years!  He loves to share his passion for the sea and the natural environment.  Rob is a canoe and kayak BCU coach, ACA L5 Instructor, WFR and LNT Trainer.  He has paddled extensively in the UK, the US West Coast, British Columbia and many times in Alaska and has just completed two expeditions in the Aleutian Island chain.  Rob owns and operates Kayak Kraft on Bainbridge Island, WA. He is also the manufacturer’s representative of Valley Sea Kayaks, Snap Dragon Designs and North Water.

 

Jen Kleck

Jen has acheived the highest ranking of any American within the British Canoe Union. In Nov. 2007, she became the first American Level 5 Sea Kayak Coach! She is also a BCU 5 Star sea kayaker, 4 Star surf, and an American Canoe Association certified Coastal Kayak Instructor. She enjoys racing when she can and has set several records in the San Diego’s annual Bay2Bay regatta. She is also competetive in kayak surfing and a member of the 1999, 2000, and 2003 National Champion women’s kayak polo teams. Jen has enjoyed messing about in small boats since childhood in New Hampshire. She has a BA in geology from Colorado College and enjoys natural history of all sorts. Jen owns and operates Aqua Adventures in San Diego.

Jack Stachovak (sta-ho-vee-ack)

Born in Wisconsin, Jake got started in kayaking while living in South Florida after college. He then further honed his skills with Jen Kleck at Aqua Adventures Kayak Center in California before embarking on the kayak trip of a lifetime; a continuous 5740 mile loop around the eastern united states in 2010. Jake is now residing in Wisconsin trying to resist the call of the water while nurturing an upstart home remodeling business. Through his presentations and coaching opportunities, Jake tries to share his love of the sport and give back, as much as he can, all that paddle-sports have given him.

Bryant Burkhardt

Bryant Burkhardt is an avid kayaker. His paddling journey began a decade ago paddling the swells off Catalina Island in Southern California. He is an ACA certified Instructor Trainer in both Coastal Kayaking and Advanced Whitewater. Bryant’s paddling career includes former head instructor for the UCLA Marina Aquatic Center. In 2006 he captained the U.S. National Kayak Polo Team at the World Championships in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He is California Canoe & Kayak’s Whitewater Program Director. Bryant has put his paddling adventures and experience on film and has created the DVD Paddle California.

Ben Lawry

Ben has been paddling for over 30 years, and teaching/guiding for over 20.  He has taught paddling on five continents and competed on three. Presently he works as head instructor and owner of Kayak Camp with his wife, Elizabeth.  He has led trips and traveled extensively in South America, South Africa, Europe and North America.  Ben splits his time now teaching paddling and working with stores.  His teaching also takes him to symposiums, shows and paddling rendezvous all over the United States.  As a brand ambassador, he is involved with kayak design in sea, light touring and racing kayaks.  All of which has led to an in-depth knowledge of instruction/guiding practices and procedures, strong commitment to quality service, as well as excellent organizational and problem solving skills.  He enjoys competing in sprint, sea kayak, slalom, rodeo, marathon canoe and kayak, outrigger, surf ski and wildwater events.

Sean Morley

Originating from the UK and now a resident of Marin Co, CA, Sean began kayaking at the age of ten with the Boy Scouts and often paddled alone, exploring the relatively sheltered waters on the south coast of Cornwall, England. He took part in his first kayak race in 1978 and has competed in many disciplines of paddle sport since then including white water slalom and downriver racing, marathon, sprint, wave ski, surf life saving and surf kayaking with success at national and international level. He began expedition sea kayaking in 1996 and in 1998 set a record for the fastest crossing of the Irish Sea. In 2004 he achieved his childhood dream by completing the first solo circumnavigation of the UK and Ireland by sea kayak; the first ever to include all of the inhabited islands. The 4500 mile expedition took 183 days and is the longest kayak journey ever undertaken in British waters. His achievement was featured in the DVD ‘This is the Sea 2’ by Justine Curgenven (Cackle TV). In 2005 Sean assisted British kayak manufacturer Valley Sea Kayaks with the design of a new High Performance surf kayak called the ‘Rush’. He began participating in kayak surfing competitions in 2006 as a way of promoting the new kayak and in 2007 became the World Masters Champion and gained 2nd place in the Open category of the High Performance Class at the World Surf Kayak Championships. In September 2008 Sean attempted to break the record for the fastest circumnavigation of Vancouver Island. He completed the 700mile (1000km) circumnavigation in 17 days, 4 hours and 49 minutes taking over 6 days off the previous record. In 2010 Sean paddled to six of the eight Channel Islands of California. Sean is an ACA Level 4 Coastal Kayak Instructor and Level 3 Surf Kayak Instructor working with California Canoe & Kayak. He is supported by Werner paddles, P&H sea kayaks, Kokatat Watersports Wear and Snap Dragon Designs spray skirts.

 

Matt Nelson

Matt is a coach within the BCU system, and holds the Coach Level 3 Sea, and 5-star Sea awards. His experiences in sailing and kayaking have given him a body of experience to draw from, and a deep appreciation for the power of the ocean and coast. Matt is now resident in Marin Co. California and is looking forward to sharing his passion and knowledge with clients.

 

Roger Schumann

Co-founder, owner and primary instructor for Eskape Kayak, Roger is an American Canoe Association Instructor Trainer Educator in Level 5: Advanced Open Water who has been teaching sea and river kayaking since 1990.  He is known nationally for his many articles in Sea Kayaker magazine, and he is also the award-winning co-author of two books on kayaking: Sea Kayaking Central and Northern California: Best Trips From Morro Bay To The Lost Coast (winner of a National Outdoor Book Award) and Sea Kayak Rescue.

 

Duane Strosaker

Duane has a BCU and Greenland style background and likes to blend the best of both worlds. His favorite types of paddling are surfing and crossings. Of the eight Channel Islands in Southern California, he has crossed to seven and circumnavigated six, with 32 crossings between the mainland and Catalina Island. Four of his articles on paddling destinations have been published by SeaKayaker magazine. In 2010 he crossed to all 23 Southern California offshore oil rigs to raise awareness of them, survived a great white shark attack, ran the Grand Canyon with a Greenland paddle, and won the Greenland Week Competition in Washington State. He enjoys helping kayakers teach themselves so they can pursue their own adventures.

 

Helen Wilson

Helen is a sea kayaker out of Arcata, California. She specializes in traditional paddling skills using traditional equipment. She competed in the Greenland National Kayaking Championship in 2008 (Qaqortoq, Greenland) and 2010 (Nuuk, Greenland), receiving four medals in five disciplines.  Helen performs rolling demonstrations, presentations and instructs at events worldwide. Her travels this year have taken her to numerous locations in the U.S., Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Israel, Greenland and Canada. In November she was a judge for Greenland Week, a traditional skills competition taking place in Seattle, Washington.  She has written skills articles for several publications including Sea Kayaker magazine, the Masik and Ocean Paddler magazine, in which she has an ongoing feature. In May she released an instructional DVD, Simplifying the Roll with Helen Wilson, which is available worldwide.  Helen’s website, www.greenlandorbust.org, is very active and contains a popular blog that she uses to document her travels and a question and answer section that her students use frequently.

 

Deb Volturno

Deb has spent over 23 years instructing and sharing her passion in one of the most dynamic environments on the planet – where the sea meets the shore!  She has been a presenter/instructor at sea kayak symposiums on the West Coast of the US and in New Zealand, as well as a contributor to several kayaking books, videos/dvds, and magazines.  Deb is an ACA Level 5 Instructor Trainer Educator in Coastal Kayaking, a Level 3 Instructor Trainer in Surf Kayaking.  She also is a Commander in the Tsunami Rangers.  This past summer found Deb paddling the remote waters of Haia Gwaii, an island archipelago nearly 100 miles off the coast of British Columbia, Canada.  Deb lives on the “edge” (on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington) where she teaches high school science and math, and paddles almost daily.  Find Deb at “TortugaTrek – Sea Kayaking Instructional Adventures and Expeditions” (tortugatrek.com).

 

Paul Kuthe

The Pacific Northwest provides a training ground that rivals those found almost anywhere in the world.  It is there that Paul crafts his own skills, as well as those of his fellow paddler.  As Program Director at Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe, he enriches the paddling experiences had by all who share the water with him.  Whether it’s dropping class V creeks or paddling out to surf a big set… combining a love of paddling big water, and traveling deep into the wilderness allows Paul to adapt and excel in varied conditions.  Paddling has always been, and will continue to be, an escape, a livelihood, and a way of life.  He lives to boat.  Paul started with Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe in 2004 at age 20 as an ACA certified whitewater instructor and worked his way up to the demanding job of Program Director.  He credits the British Canoe Union for most of his modern coaching abilities.  He is a level III BCU whitewater Coach and a 5 star sea leader.  He brings 20+ years of participating, teaching and promoting paddle sports to the diversified job of planning, organizing and directing the educational realm of Alder Creek.  Building and nurturing ALL paddling communities by studying many diverse disciplines and improving safety awareness has been a career goal for Paul.  Whether creek boating, canoeing, slalom racing or sea kayaking, he feels a kinship to those who share his passion for our waterways.  

 

Matt Palmariello

Matt started paddling in 1999 and immediately fell in love with paddling.  Wanting desperately to spend the summer on the water, he quickly learned what he was doing and began guiding and teaching on the coast of New Hampshire.  Once on the west coast, Matt taught paddling for Aqua Adventures in San Diego and now teaches for California Canoe & Kayak.  Matt is an ACA Level 4 Instructor and BCU Level 1 Coach.  In addition to sea kayaking, he also loves canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding.

 

Jeff Laxier

Jeff Laxier is a patient instructor, guide and mentor. Since 1996, Jeff has taught and guided kayaking and has fallen into a passion of teaching many kayak disciplines. In 2005, Jeff started Liquid Fusion Kayaking - a company providing instruction and guided adventures in sea, whitewater river, rock gardening, and surf kayaking.  Jeff is a BCU Coach and ACA Whitewater Instructor and former member of the San Diego Mountain Rescue Team and the U.S. Marine Corps. Jeff currently resides on the Mendocino Coast where he has developed rock gardening adventures that are fun and accessible to paddlers of all skill levels and abilities. When it rains don’t look for Jeff on the coast. In the rainy season, Jeff rallies whitewater boaters and migrates off the coast to run Northern California’s creeks and rivers.

  

 

Steve and Cindy Scherrer

Paddling a canoe at age 10 got Steve hooked on watersports and he has been an enthusiast ever since.  Cindy started paddling when she met Steve in 1983 which launched a love affair with paddling that continues to evolve. Whitewater, flatwater, kayaks, canoes, creekin’, squirt boats, competition, cata-rafting, sailing, kayak surfing, sea boating… it’s ALL good.  They were co-founders of Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe in Portland, OR and worked the retail/ instruction/ guide scene for nearly 20 years.  They sold the shop in 2004 and now work as an integral part of the Confluence Watersports team.  Working closely with R and D fine tuning and testing the design of boats and gear allows them plenty of opportunity to paddle.  Steve is an ACA Instructor Trainer Educator in Advanced Open Water and Cindy is an Open Water Instructor and is excited to share her experiences of the mental and physical challenges women face. Making their home in Ocean Park, Washington allows them to paddle year ‘round in one of the countries finest paddling environments.

 

Gregg Berman

Gregg started paddling in the warm waters off the Florida Keys nearly 20 years ago. Despite some initial trepidation at the confined spaces of the closed cockpit boat, within minutes he was hooked. Since that time he has taught and guided extensively in Florida, Alaska, California, and Lake Superior including leading expeditions in the Everglades, Prince William Sound and Isle Royale. His love for big seas brought him to California where you can kind find him in the rock gardens, playing in the tidal races in San Francisco Bay or surfing the ocean waves in both long and short boats. He has written for several magazines and at the time of the Symposium will have articles in both California Kayaker Magazine and Sea Kayaker Magazine on The Ergonomics of Outfitting Your Kayak and Surfing with Sea Kayaks respectively. He is a Level 5 ACA Coastal Kayak Instructor and has trained extensively in the BCU system as well. He has instructed with several kayak companies around California as well as the local San Francisco Bay area and currently works with Environmental Traveling Companions out of Sausalito and Sunrise Mountain Sports in Livermore. Gregg is a member of the locally based kayak troupe Neptune’s Rangers. In addition to kayaking, Gregg is an emergency room nurse and a tide pool and marine naturalist.

  

Mark Tozer

Mark Tozer has been messing around in boats for over 21 years now, both as an active paddler and coach. In that time, he has had some incredible sea kayaking adventures in a number of amazing places including Greenland, Alaska, Baja, Norway, Scotland, Wales, Australia and New Zealand.  Having completed his doctorate (PhD) in expedition leadership, Mark has gained a number of British Canoe Union awards including the coveted Level 5 Coach (Sea) as well as being an established trainer and assessor for several BCU certificated courses. Also, he was instrumental in establishing the UK Storm Gathering symposiums, and continues to organize the events now in their sixth year. Mark is currently an ambassador for Kokatat Watersports Wear, Tiderace Sea Kayaks and Mitchell Blades in the UK. Mark splits his time between Arcata, CA and the UK.

  

Matt Krizan

Matt’s first experience with kayaking was taking a Beginning Sea Kayaking class from California Canoe & Kayak (CCK) in November of 2005. He knew as soon as he sat down in the boat that he’d be doing it a while, and he began to chew through all of the classes that CCK had to offer. Later in the spring of 2006 one of the CCK instructors suggested he should teach which pushed Matt even further into the downward spiral of kayaking fever. As a marine biologist, Matt enjoys sharing his love of marine critters and the marine environment with anyone who’ll listen.  

 

Michael Pardy

Michael is the past president of the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC. He is also a Lead Guide, Guide Trainer, and Examiner with the SKGABC. He is a Senior Instructor Trainer with Paddle Canada. Guiding and instructing paddlesports for over 24 years, Michael also has extensive retail and business experience in paddle sports. He coauthored the 2002 Handbook of Sea Kayak Safety and Rescue, published by Ragged Mountain Press. Michael is a founder and Director of Sea Kayak Instruction and Leadership Systems (SKILS)

Rowan Gloag

As a Paddle Canada Level 2 Instructor and Level 4 Skills, Rowan is an enthusiastic, committed and professional sea kayak Instructor. With over ten years experience, Rowan brings a unique and very positive style on Instruction to paddling programs and leadership development. As an active sea kayaker, Rowan’s skills and passion are demonstrated in his courses, his commitment to the The Hurricane Riders, and his paddling films. Rowan is very proud to be a part of the team at Hooksum Outdoor School.

 

Dan Arbuckle

Dan is an excellent sea kayaking instructor and the owner/operator of Headwaters Kayak in Lodi, CA.  When not running the business you’ll find Dan in the surf zone and rock gardens of the California coast, touring the Delta trailing a fishing rod or spending time with his family.  He’s very active with paddling clubs in California and is supported by Sterlings Kayaks.  

 

Nick Castro

 

 

 

Tom Reilly

He has been paddling for over 23 years and loves learning, sharing and playing. He has been teaching environmental science for over 15 years and blends his passion for paddling with his love of the outdoors. Tom has been an American Canoe Association (ACA) instructor for 18 years. He is also an Eagle scout and is an Instructor Trainer with the ACA. He has over 10 years experience working as an instructor for the Cal Poly Adaptive Paddling Program helping adults with physical disabilities get out on the water. If he is not spending time with his family, then he is on the water paddling, fishing, kiteboarding, diving etc. He is the owner and operator of Momentum Paddlesports based on  the Central Coast of California.

 

Kim Grandfield

In 1975 Kim quit his engineering job to pursue the outdoors full time.  He founded Sunrise Mountain Sports in Livermore California based on the concept of creating retail customers by leading them on outdoor adventures.  Kim has always gravitated towards colder places including ice covered mountains and kayak trips with floating ice.  He has led 8 climbing expeditions to Alaska including two visits to the top of Denali.  He is a master igloo builder having built hundreds of igloos during the course of his annual igloo class over the last 30 years.  (Like kayaking, igloo construction is an Inuit skill).  Since adding kayaks to his outdoor store selection in 1997, Kim has focused more on kayak skills and trips.  He is an ACA Level 5 Advanced Open Water Kayak Instructor and has been on kayak expeditions to Patagonia, Baja, The Bahamas, East Greenland and Alaska.  He recently completed a 300 mile kayak trip from Homer, AK to Seward, AK.  Kim operates an on-water kayak demo/rental/instructional facility on lake Del Valle near his store in Livermore, California.