ImpexKayak Posted October 22, 2004 Share Posted October 22, 2004 I just wanted to take a second to say what a great time I had working and paddling with a number of paddlers from your club this past week at Sea Kayak Georgia. I was very impressed with the high level of skills these paddlers brought along with them to the event. They were all more than prepared to take on the goals they set for themselves. It is areal pleasure to see a group of paddlers, and a club, that holds themselves to such high standards. Not to single anyone out, but congratulations again to you all. I really look forward to being more active with your club in the following year and getting some more time of the water with you all.Happy paddling.DannyImpex Kayaks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2004 Share Posted October 22, 2004 A group of us locals who did BCU training/ assessment at SKG. ..Paula R., Suz., Rick C., James K., Ken C. we were 5 of 8 to get our 4 star with Fiona Whitehead as assessor. Alex and Scott were there working on their coaching. Danny was there ripping it up in the surf. All the royalty of British sea kayaking was there, both Nigels, Fiona, Axel Schoevers (the dutchman), Pete Bray...Tom Bergh and Steve Maynard too. Fiona Whitehead (maybe 28 years old?) paddled mostly solo around all of the British Isles and Ireland this past summer. Axel did part of it with her. http://www.aledw.freeola.net/greenlander_r...nderrace023.jpg To those who don't realize it, MICKO's Tom and Steve are considered in at the top of that group and we are lucky to have them and our fantastic New England coast. I particularly enjoyed having my sea kayak surfing skills tuned up a notch by local Georgian, Dale Williams..even an old dog like me learned some new tricks. I really valued the quiet and considerate coaching style of Axel Schoevers (a Werner twin!!). Werner, he'll be looking for you in CA , next week. The most colorful character award goes to Pete Bray who solo paddled a 27 foot kayak across the North Atlantic in 2001. He went right across the Flemish Cap from Newfoundland to Ireland in 76 days. One day Paula, me, James and Nigel D's girl friend Tara had the pleasure of a 18 mile paddle with Pete...He was a British SAS Sergeant who climbed and paddled to eliminate the enemy, and tells you what he thinks !! He grilled us all day on our knowledge of paddling, navigation, seamanship...and one story after the next. We may see more of him in our area in the future, I hope !! He is one tough s.o.b., he has used many of his 9 lives !!, he survived 36 hours in the water before rescue on his first attempt after the kayak went down. Did I say he was the first to Circumnavigate GB in a kayak double?? And is planing to attempt a speed record, for the second time,!! to row the same north atlantic route next summer !! Well, I highly recommend the BCU week...where day after day in your boat with the best paddlers in the world at your side you grow very quickly. Paula and Suz made a quantum leap down there, don't mean to single them out but its true; While Rick "back decked" a vomiting, white knuckled guy, back into shore through 4/5 foot surf break, Suz towed the empty boat in, got rolled, had the presence of mind to then release the waist tow, roll up and get the @#$! out of there,and Paula who learned to lock in on some big surf rides, flying by not moving a muscle, just locked into that stern rudder. Rick and James of course were solid as usual. There are some great local paddlers as examples who have gone from 2 star to now working on 5 star in just a few years of this immersion tactic..it works and its such a fantastic atmosphere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2004 Share Posted October 22, 2004 pic too big ..moved it to http://www.nspn.org/htdocs/dcforum/DCForumID3/5400.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick stoehrer Posted October 22, 2004 Share Posted October 22, 2004 as we speak, this juggernaut has the hatches off her and is half full of fetid rain water. it is enormous when you stand next to it, but i'll bet it gets real little, real quick in the middle of the atlantic for 72 days.it's on blocks outside of Nigel Dennis' place in Wales. We walked by it every night on way to pub and then sort of stumbled past her hours later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suz Posted October 22, 2004 Share Posted October 22, 2004 Correction ... RICK C was the one who actually paddled in to the beach with the swimmer on his deck. I had the easy job of paddling in the empty boat. Must get some sleep....More later - Suz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markstephens Posted October 22, 2004 Share Posted October 22, 2004 Wow, you and Paula are Four Stars now?Dayam!I am IMPRESSED!!Congratulations, Hot Stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Gwynn Posted October 22, 2004 Share Posted October 22, 2004 My hat's off and congratulations to all that passed their 4* this past week at SKG. Your dedication and hard work has paid off. Can't wait to see you all and hear the stories you must have. I'm so bummed out I couldn't go, maybe next year, or maybe Sweetwater this February. Anyone else going to Sweetwater? [http://www.sweetwaterkayaks.com/] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccarlson Posted October 22, 2004 Share Posted October 22, 2004 Congrats to all of you... good job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scamlin Posted October 25, 2004 Share Posted October 25, 2004 Rick:I think Nigel said that the one at his center is Pete's FIRST kayak, the one that sprang the leak. Nigel bought it, well, just because it is a historic kayak.Not sure where the second one is, the one that made it to Ireland.Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eneumeier Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 Paula R., Suz., Rick C., James K., Ken C. we were 5 >of 8 to get our 4 star Fabulous all!Liz N. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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