Some of the top names in kayaking will be joining us for this very special event!
   
Nigel Foster: An exceptionally talented kayak instructor, Nigel holds the highest level of British Canoe Union Coach award in both sea kayaking and kayak surfing. He has been teaching both to kayakers of all levels for nearly 30 years, as well as leading expeditions all over the world. Among his more noteworthy accomplishments are the first circumnavigation of Iceland and the first solo crossing of the Hudson Strait. Nigel has written several excellent instructional manuals and videos. His elegant kayak and paddle designs are currently produced by Seaward Kayaks and Point 65 . Nigel claims to live in Seattle, but seems to spend most of his time traveling the world promoting the sport and teaching his graceful style to paddlers everywhere.
Phil Hadley: Phil's qualifications as a paddlesports coach are too many to list! He is a Paddlesports Development Officer and a National Trainer for the British Canoe Union in England and is involved with rolling out the new BCU coaching scheme. It's these roles that bring him to the US and Phil will be helping to create the next generation of BCU Level 1 coaches this week! Phil loves small boats of all sorts including sea kayaks, canoes, whitewater kayaks, and coracles. He's coached and paddled worldwide including Canada, Finland, Russia, Panama, New Zealand, Europe, and the US.
Nigel Dennis :Nigel Dennis is well known in the world of sea kayaking. He owns Sea Kayaking UK, an instructional and expedition center in Wales as well as a manufacturer of a full range of sea kayaks and Lendal Paddles. Nigel completed the first ever sea kayak circumnavigation of Great Britain together with Paul Caffyn. Since then Nigel has carried out expeditions in Antarctica, Easter Island and the televised expedition around Cape Horn. In many ways Nigel has inspired and facilitated fellow sea kayakers to explore the great coastlines of the world.
Jennifer Kleck: BCU 5 Star Sea, 4 Star Surf, Level-5 Sea Coach / A1* Assessor, ACA Coastal Kayak Instructor and President of Aqua Adventures Kayak Center in San Diego. Jen is the FIRST American to achieve the Level 5 Coach award in the British Canoe Union and is one of only 5 women world-wide who hold the award! Jen loves the challenge of dynamic, moving water whether it be ocean swell and surf, tidal currents, or rivers, and is passionate about sharing the sport of kayaking with others in all it's varied forms.
Russell Farrow: Russell owns Sweetwater Kayaks Outdoor Center in Tampa, Florida. He is a Level 3 BCU Coach, an A3 coach assessor, and 5 Star Trainee. In addition to sea kayaking, his outdoor background includes mountain biking and climbing - sports have taken him all over the world. Most recently, Russell has paddled down the northeast coast of Labrador (some call it one of the most challenging coastlines in the world) and Croatia. Among Russell's many talents, he is also a professional musician and you will find him jamming around the campfire Saturday night with our local talent. As lead guitarist, Russell has appeared on Saturday Night Live and many other stages. Russell recently won the Immersion Research contest "Vacation To Hell". For his efforts, he and 3 friends got an all expense paid kayak trip to the arctic.

John Carmody: John has lived on the ocean almost his entire life and loves all types of boats. About 20 years ago, the sea kayak became his vessel of choice, and he has moved through the ranks of both the ACA and BCU to the top levels of coaching. Noteably, he is a BCU Level 5 coach! 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 safe effective, efficient technique for his students. John guides far and wide, instructs at Kayak Symposiums throughout the US, and is a Team paddler for both P&H Kayaks and Werner Paddle.

Jake Stachovak: Jake has paddled most of his life, adapting his choice of craft to his geographic location and interests. He spent 3 years running Aqua Adventures with Jen Kleck before deciding to fulfill a life-long dream of circumnavigating the eastern US by kayak and moving home to Wisconsin. Well, it turns out the winters are long and cold in his home state and it was easy to convince him to thaw out for a while in San Diego!

Eila Wilkinson: Eila is a big kayaker in a tiny package! A relative newcomer to sea kayaking, she has accomplished a tremendous amount in a short time including becoming a Level 2 BCU coach, and recently circumnavigating Ireland solo in just 37 days! Eila, along with Nigel Dennis of Sea Kayaking UK are working with the Outdoor Partnership to bring Kayaking into primary schools on the Isle of Anglesey, Wales where she hopes to inspire the next generation of expedition paddlers with her infectious enthusiasm.

Duane Strosaker : Duane is one of SoCal's most accomplished sea kayakers. Among his most noteworthy accomplishments are numerous crossings to all but one of the Channel Islands, top honors at the first Greenland Competition in North America, and a descent through the Grand Canyon with a greenland paddle (possibly the first...and no doubt the last). Duane also designs and builds much of his own equipment including kayaks and paddles and recently acquired a bit of fame over an uncomfortably close encounter with a great white shark. Check it all out at www.rollordrown.com!
 

 
 

 
  Christo Kuzmich : Christo has spent countless hours in the outdoors and comes from a long line of backpackers. He even proposed to his wife on the top of Mt. Whitney after the two spent a week backpacking in the Sierras with a diamond ring sewn into his shorts! Christo manages the Adventure16 store in Mission Valley and knows a thing or two about camping gear and how to fit it all into a kayak. You'll learn from Christo that you don't have to suffer when you kayak camp!
 

Contact us at:
E-mail:

Southwest Kayak Symposium
C/O Aqua Adventures Kayak Center
1548 Quivira Way
San Diego, CA 92109
Phone: (619) 523-9577
Fax: (619) 523-9579