Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium 2014 - Rough Water Paddling is a Team Sport by Kate Hives

Thanks to Nikki Rekman Sales team and Kokatat Regional team member, Kate Hives for this great write up of her recent experience at the Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium.  

 It will never cease to amaze me how much I love packing up my kayaking gear, tying down my boat and lashing my paddles to a trailer getting ready to jump into a cramped car for 18 hours with 4 other people. With full knowledge that I will be drinking gas station coffee, eating biscuits smothered in gravy at strange roadside diners at 2:30 in the morning and traveling the same distance back not 3 days later with the same stinky boys and the added bonus of wet gear...I couldn't be more stoked!

           

The whirlwind trip down to San Francisco for the 6th annual Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium was even better than I had imagined. Traveling with coaches Rowan Gloag and JF Marleau, film maker Marty Perry and with Sterling from Sterling's Kayaks at the helm, the drive was an entertaining blur, streaking across Washington and Oregon into Northern California. This event brings together paddlers from across North America of all skills and abilities, with a stellar lineup of coaches, and then lets them loose in one of the most scenic and dynamic ocean environments around.

The monolithic icon of the Golden Gate Bridge frames the awesome ocean playground of tidal races, pounding rock gardens, surf break, kayak fishing and coastal tours of infamous places like Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary.

Organized by Sean Morley and Matt Palmariello both dedicated to the paddling community, the Symposium offers collaborative teaching opportunities for coaches from around the world. It focuses on intensive skill building workshops for students seeking everything from basic rough water skill and rescue refinement to dynamic conditions coaching in rock gardens and surf, long boats and short. The end result is a high concentration of quality coaches and motivated sea kayakers all brought together to create a tight-knit community that rivals the enormity of it's red-gated backdrop.

            ...And all that brings me to the point...

           

 Rough water paddling is a Team Sport!!! The thing that makes all this rough water paddling possible, what allows us to push the limits of what has been done before and have more fun than should be legal while doing it, what helps us to access that deep visceral connection to 'play' is... the people who you get to do all of that with, who support you in your growth and that you trust to save your ass in a tight situation. Yes, sea kayaking can be about the freedom to pick up and leave, off on our own and in charge of our own adventures. This freedom is something that I value deeply and am so often grateful for, but when I decide to go PLAY in some big water, surfing waves into beaches or over rock shelves, I know I will have so much more fun if I know I have my team watching my back...and my boat.

             

On day two we shuttled down to Halfmoon Bay, California. This spot is said to have a great break and the right aspect for the direction of swell we had for the day. Just outside of 'Mushroom Rock' where we were surfing, is where the famous 'Maverics' wave forms up, with the right conditions, for big wave surfing. The swell report was not epic, but we hoped to catch some good waves in more moderate conditions. When we arrived, the sea state was small with a 10-15kn NW wind, creating a little chop and confusion. The waves seemed to be ghosts. One minute you were looking at a 5-6 foot face and the next it had been reduced to a tiny white ripple. As students learned about waves and how to catch even the most elusive, my favourite part was hearing the calls from a friend and fellow paddler sitting outside the surf break, hollering to paddle harder to catch that perfect wave. It's about knowing that if something goes wrong that there will be someone working on making it right. It's about solving a puzzle with the input of other experienced boaters and about the smile on your face when all the pieces finally fit together. What I saw at Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium this year was a sport reinvigorated, tonnes of new and young paddlers bubbling to the surface ready to learn from the masters in order to push this sport into the future.

 

Kate proudly paddles in #Kokatat gear, using #Werner Paddles, while in a #Seals Sprayskirt :)

          

On night two of the event I had the opportunity to present The Hurricane Riders premier screening of our latest film edit called 'King of the Beach' in front of a good sized audience. They were not all there to see me, no, they were all gathered to see what was about to be a most amazing presentation from Eric Boomer and Sarah McNair-Landry about their epic journey across Baffin Island by kayak, ski and foot. It was packed with film and photo eye candy and I am glad I did not have to follow that act, but feel honoured to have been able to experience the energy of this community.  Events like Golden Gate not only bring together world class coaches and students but they also create a sense of belonging to those who otherwise enjoy the freedom and autonmy of the kayak. 

 Being jammed in a car for 36 hours is totally worth it, to then be swept up with a whole bunch of strange, usually interesting, talented and often independent people together for a weekend of inspiration, great conversation and some good ol' fashioned shredding! I'm so excited to see so many good friends and new faces and can't wait to see where we steer this ship!!!

Outfitter Profile - West Coast Expeditions - Kyuquot Specialists

 

We are very privileged to have some wonderful partners in the Outfitting world using only the best paddling gear available.  West Coast Expeditions is one such Kokatat Watersports Wear and Werner Paddles outfitter, they are one of the oldest operators in Western Canada specializing in marine education adventures, and possibly the only one committed to one location for over 40 years!  

Impressive.

I met owner, David Pinel back in my Ocean River Sports days in Victoria and it’s a pleasure to be working with him all these years later.  I asked David to share with us more about WCE.

Photo courtesy of Ann Fisher

Marine biologist Jerry Lang began boat-based tours in Kyuquot in 1972 and his nephew Rupert Wong, also a marine biologist, introduced sea kayaking in 1988 as our primary way of getting around.  Today, we continue to focus on sea kayak-based tours out of a unique wilderness retreat on Spring Island – our platform since 1978.  The camp infrastructure and location is unmatched for access to sheltered and open coastal paddling, “Glamping” comforts (waterfront walk-in tents with wooden beds, thick mattresses, and pillows; plus hot shower and all-weather dining shelter), flexible programs, diverse resources, Aboriginal cultural interactions, and about 1500 sea otters in our immediate neighbourhood!  We’re on Canada’s westernmost island to do what we do – so we’re very remote and well off the beaten path! We’re very well positioned for multi-generation family adventures, corporate retreats, and workshops that are kayaking focused or otherwise (e.g., yoga, photography, and painting).  We feel grateful every day for what the area offers, including the reciprocity of a positive and supportive relationship for over 40 years with the local community of Native and Euro-Canadian residents.

photo courtesy of Boomer Jerritt

Our staff are superb paddlers, guides, and educators.  They are comfortable, informed, articulate, and entertaining company whether exploring the intertidal zone, coaching basic or advanced skills, navigating challenging waters, bantering with laughter, or reflecting about humans as part of ecology…amidst the myriad of complex global issues.  Our staff is extremely flexible in how we cater each adventure to the skills, interests, and opportunities of each person and each day.  And our chef-prepared meals that feature, among other things, locally caught fish are something that many guests rave about and keep returning for!

In 2014 programs will continue to feature the perennial favourites of 4 to 7 day “Base Camp” adventures, and 6 to 8 day “Expeditions” that are staged from our wilderness retreat.  With expert partners we’re also planning some custom kayak fishing packages, a photo tour, specialty training workshops (Greenland paddling, and Paddle Canada courses), and a unique combo adventure from the base camp with a mix of kayaking and boat-based day trips right up to the Brooks Peninsula.  We used to do more of the combo boat/kayak tours in the 1990’s and only recently acquired a power boat that again allows us to reach further afield with our small group kayaking and shore-based exploring throughout the Kyuquot and Checleset territory.

Photo courtesy of Boomer Jerritt

West Coast Expeditions offers options for almost every age and ability, as long as they’re happy camping!  Our base camp platform allows access to paddling options suited to new and veteran kayakers, all skill levels, all ages (so far, 6 months to late 80’s!), and a range of specialty interests (from calm water photography and wildlife viewing, to more ‘spicy’ outings along rugged coastlines, through arches, into sea caves, and threading around boomers).  Sometimes we have guests who are less interested in the kayaking and simply want to enjoy activities and relaxing from camp: wandering the rich shoreline and intertidal zone, ‘retreating’ to the sanctuary of nearby giants in the old-growth forest, reading a book, cultural interactions, and group time around meals.

 

Family Friendly -
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Calder Thompson

We’re fueled by guests frequently reflecting that their time with us was “the best vacation ever”.  The reasons are different for everybody, but the recipe is the same:  we treat people like individuals, listen, laugh, and excitedly connect them with what the area offers.

Thanks so much David.  If you are considering a trip to Canada's gorgeous West Coast, contact David and Caroline and the crew at WCE.  Tell them we sent you.  They will work hard to ensure you have a trip of a lifetime!