Early Season Course Offerings 2012

Good afternoon All,

It's been quite a winter on the Maine Coast this year. The wise among us know the fury that March can bring, so let's hope the lion decides not to roar this year.

The season starts earlier every year. I'm off to Golden Gate Kayak Symposium/Southeast Kayak Symposium/Kayak Camp over the next three weeks; back for a short bit, then it's The Southwest Kayak Symposium, Baja and Wales before being ready to get on the water here in Maine.

There is quite a buzz from the folks at P&H about the new boats, a new skeg design, and some new ideas in the works. You can keep up to date on any developments at http://phpaddlers.com/. As always, all the demo boats are available to try in real conditions.

I'm looking forward to traveling with my just arrived four piece Cyprus from Werner Paddles. Danny Mongo is the man! If you are traveling, this option saves a ton on luggage charges.

The schedule is slowly sorting itself out, and I wanted to make you all aware of the early season courses.

May 7-11 Sea Kayak Guide Training- BCU 4Star Leader Training/Review, http://www.seacliffk...Leadership.html

Sea Training Overview:

The Sea Cliff Kayakers Sea Kayak Guide Training is an intensive 5-day program designed for committed sea kayak enthusiasts, instructors, outdoor professionals or current guides wishing to develop or enhance the technique and skills required to lead groups in dynamic and complex open water coastal environments. The training will focus on the individual needs of each participant, developing and refining their personal paddling skills, instructional tactics, seamanship, rescues, leadership and decision making. The course is a blend of land based workshops and on-water practical sessions; since our goal is to develop guides who are proficient in a variety of sea states the schedule will be dynamic and we will be accessing a variety of on-water venues. The majority of on-water sessions will be scenario driven and taught in the context of skills development tours, where participants will function as the instructor/guide. Participants will have ample opportunity for self assessment in addition to instructor and peer feedback. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to assess for the BCU Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning Course.

Todd Wright will be co-instructing this course. Todd has recently added BCU Level 5 Trainee to his very impressive resume!

May 12-13 BCU 4Star Sea Leader Assessment, http://www.seacliffkayakers.com/BCU_Courses.html

Successful performance at this level indicates that a candidate has the personal skill

level and leadership ability required to;

• Lead a group of 4 (not including themselves) paddlers, on short (six to eight

miles, of at least three hours paddling). Journeys in moderate tidal water

environment with winds not exceeding force 4/sea state 4.

• Judge the conditions and the standard of the group and make appropriate

decisions about the planned route along with the need to modify plans as

required.

May 26 BCU Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning, http://www.seacliffkayakers.com/BCU_Courses.html

his course is designed for those paddlers carrying out coastal journeys including islands up to 2 nautical miles offshore in areas of tidal movement up to 2 knots and winds of up to force 4 and is suitable for those seeking their 4 star award sea.

This course is designed to compliment the areas covered in the 4 star leader training. The aim of this course is to give the student the tools to enable them to plan and navigate effectively on coastal journeys in moderate sea conditions.

May 27-28 BCU 4Star Sea Training, http://www.seacliffkayakers.com/BCU_Courses.html

This discipline specific test is designed to indicate that the candidate has the skill level to safely paddle and lead other competent paddlers on sections of moderate water. A four Star paddler will have the all round paddling ability, safety, rescue and basic leadership required to undertake trips on sheltered - moderate water with a group of paddlers able themselves to be able to operate in a self-sufficient manner.

At Sea Cliff Kayakers, we are proud of our qualifications. Our goal is to give you the highest quality instruction from some of the most respected sea kayak coaches in the world. As always, if you have a particular goal in mind, let us know so we can help you achieve it. Contact me if you have any questions, [email protected]. www.seacliffkayakers.com