We’ve been giving our passports a workout this year. Last weekend, we were guest coaches at MEC Toronto Paddlefest, a spectacularly well organized event that introduces hundreds of people to canoeing, whitewater kayaking, recreational kayaking, sea kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, voyageur canoeing and water polo. For one high-energy weekend, the beach is filled with boats and the sidewalk is lined with booths. It’s one-stop shopping for all things paddlesports. The north shore of Lake Onatrio is still pretty chilly in early June — the mid-50s at best — so we’re grateful that MEC provides loaner drysuits for participants in rescue and rolling courses. And we always enjoy taking people into the water for their first experience in a Kokatat drysuit. It’s like walking on the moon! The weekend is all about fundamentals and fun. And the two go together well. This year — Paddlefest’s 10th anniversary — we met more students who had already taken classes and participated in guided trips, many of them with the nearby Harbourfront Canoe & Kayak Centre. They came to improve their skills and learn about more opportunities to get out on the water. That’s where the booths come in; paddling schools and outfitters, along with provincial parks and environmental advocacy groups, offered information and encouragement to continue exploring the sport and local waters. Thanks to MEC for bringing us to Toronto, Erik Ogaard and Liz Burnside for taking extraordinary care of us, and the entire Paddlefest crew for a wonderful weekend. We’ll be...

Tom Motte, our Rhode Island connection. While we were in Maine, we briefly met Tim Motte, who tossed out a casual invitation: “Come to Rhode Island!” As with many invitations of this type in the paddling world, much more is implied. The full invitation is, “Come to Rhode Island and I’ll take you on some amazing paddles and introduce you to my kayaking cohort.” And in this case, “You can stay and my house and I’ll make you lunch!” Today’s menu: Peanut butter, banana, pumpkin seed and raisin sandwiches. So, of course, we went to Rhode Island, where we got to know Tim and the Rhode Island Canoe/Kayak Association (RICKA) crew. Meeting on the beach. Tim is a BCU five-star leader. According to the British Canoe Union, this means he: has entered a higher level of performance, involving a high level of personal skill and leadership in advanced situations. It is a leadership award and the appropriate test for paddlers who wish to lead  groups of other paddlers in appropriate locations in advanced tidal waters and  dynamic weather conditions typified by the Climate of the British Isles. The five star leader has the skills and judgement to select appropriate trips for a  range of ability levels.   Tim points out the intended route on a chart. We were privileged to spend two days paddling on the Rhode Island coast with Tim and the RICKA paddlers. Rhode Island has only 40 miles of shoreline if you look at its general coastline, but it has 384 miles of tidal coastline, which includes coast, islands, bays, sounds and rivers 100 feet or wider. In other words, it’s a craggy place, perfect for rock gardening and rough-water paddling. It was great watching Tim lead a group in these waters. In keeping with his five-star award, he adjusted the trip for participants who had varying degrees of comfort in the conditions. It was also great to meet more than a dozen RICKA paddlers from Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts, who realize how fortunate they are to live so near this amazing kayaking environment. Kayaking brings a diverse range of people together, creating strong bonds between people who otherwise would never have crossed paths. When we meet kayakers from other parts of the country and the world, we recognize in them the same passion for paddling, delight in sharing it, and desire to protect the places where it’s possible. Thanks, Tim and RICKA. We’ll be...

Planning a coastal journey during the four-star training. First, a disclaimer: We can’t possibly summarize everything we learned in this post. But we can hit the highlights and explain why this training matters. Second, a little background: The four-star leader sea kayak award recognizes that a paddler has the personal paddling and leadership skills to take a group of four on a short journey in a moderate tidal environment, meaning up to two knots of current, up to Beaufort sea state 4, and moderate surf (up to one meter). This sounds fairly modest, but it’s actually a rigorous program. Candidates are expected to: possess solid personal paddling skills in force 4/5 winds be able to journey 15 to 20 miles in three-star conditions plan safe trips in tidal environments understand practical coastal navigation understand basic weather forecasting understand tides and currents bring and maintain appropriate equipment understand rules of the road understand issues of access conduct a dynamic risk assessment and use this information appropriately execute rescues provide basic first aid deal with various situations that arise with people, equipment and boats know when and how to contact appropriate emergency services And, in addition to all this, assess the skills of participants, make use of their assets on a journey, and offer helpful hints and timely tips to maximize their enjoyment and accomplishments. Safely landing a group on a ledge during the four-star training. We found that the skills we developed in the Great Lakes–paddling in rough water and current, executing efficient rescues, and assessing risks–transferred well and enabled us to be comfortable in the environment. We knew we would need to concentrate on navigation and tidal planning, and this proved true. And we discovered that we need our navigation skills to be as comfortable for us as our paddling skills in order to fully concentrate on leading groups in a tidal environment. This is definitely where we need to do the most work. Working on surf landings with an injured paddler. An element that intrigued us was figuring how much control to exert in a given environment. This is tricky because it involves staying within the remit of the 4 star award, understanding the environment and conditions, and knowing whether you can fix any problems that arise. And it must be done not in the context of coaching (which is what we do most of the time) but while on a journey with friends, with a club or with paying clients. This means they ought to be able to explore and engage with the environment on their own terms as well as on ours. Watching as John demonstrates how boats behave in surf without paddlers. In the end,...

This we believe: becoming certified is more of a commencement than a conclusion of coach education. We gained our first certifications five or six years ago, but that was just the beginning of our journey toward becoming capable coaches. And we’re still progressing along that path. For us, continuing coach education takes several forms. These include: Training in a variety of environments Training in a variety of paddlesports Training with a variety of high-level coaches This process is time-consuming, expensive and often humbling. But it’s also engaging, exciting and eminently rewarding. Over the past few years, we’ve had the privilege of working extensively with Shawna Franklin and Leon Somme of Body Boat Blade, International on Orcas Island, Washington, and Scott Fairty of Summit Sports in Brighton, Michigan. Last month, we spent five days in Chicago working with Nick Cunliffe of Kayak Essentials in Anglesey, North Wales. And we just returned from eight days with John Carmody of Sea Cliff Kayakers in Boothbay, Maine. John Carmody. We chose to work with John for both his reputation and his location. He’s a BCU Level 5 Sea Coach — the highest coach certification in the BCU system — who combines a deep knowledge of seamanship and human biomechanics with paddlesport and coach education. And he’s based on the craggy Maine coast, where an understanding of tides and current, weather and navigation are non-negotiable and provide good preparation for paddling in the UK (home waters of the BCU) and other ocean environments. A lighthearted moment on the beach. We signed up for a BCU four-star leader training with John, but he also invited us to observe a private lesson and a three-star assessment, as well as observe/assist with a three-day course for a group of eight students and their coach, Sylvain Bedard, from Quebec. This gave us seven days on the water with John, along with two days of navigation training on land–experiences that expanded our understanding of the ocean and his approach to coaching in ocean conditions. A conversation before a daylong journey along the Maine coast. Because we recently completed a BCU Level 2 coach training, we appreciated the opportunity to see the principles we’ve been thinking about put into practice by someone who makes it seem effortless. Like any good coach, John chooses a progression based on the students’ goals and skills, and selects a venue to match. The Maine coastline offers plenty of opportunities to work in current, tides, swell and surf, as well as chances to maneuver around, over and between rocks and ledges. John consistently displayed many of the coaching strategies we are working on: individualizing instruction for each student leaving room for experimentation making use of the...

At this year’s Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium, we had the opportunity to work with students who signed up for the “one-coach track.” This meant each of us worked with five students for the entire weekend, rather than being assigned to teach a series of two-hour skills sessions with an ever-changing group of participants who signed up for each of those courses. We chose the one-coach track because we were interested in working on a progression — one of our responsibilities as BCU Coach 2 trainees. But we did so with some regrets because it meant we wouldn’t have the opportunity to work with other coaches and participants at the symposium. We’d be off on our own little learning island. It turned out to be a terrific opportunity. We began by discussing their goals and then videotaping each of the 10 participants performing a set of two-star skills: efficient forward paddling, moving sideways, maneuvering in a small space, and performing a low brace. Some of the participants in our one-coach track watching their videotaped performance as Alec offers observations. Over the course of the next two and a half days, we were able to help them improve those skills. We began with the fundamentals: posture, connectivity, power transfer and feel. We then applied those and other concepts to everything from the forward stroke and edged turns to bracing and rescues. Our standard for everything was “safe, effective, efficient,” enabling them to understand why particular approaches make the most sense and to choose what works best for them. Thanks to the weather, the course culminated in taking those skills into bumpy water for a real-world application. Finally, we videotaped again, allowing our students to see how much they had progressed. It was a rewarding weekend for all of us. One-coach participants testing their skills in bumpy water. The one-coach track allowed us the freedom to work on skills without feeling the two-hour clock ticking, to establish a well-paced progression, and to provide varied practice over two and a half days. In the end, if was a more optimal learning experience for them, and a more satisfying coaching experience for us. The 10 participants and two coaches from this year’s one-coach...

Our local environment. Photo credit: Joyce Ann When we think about taking advantage of a local paddling environment, we tend to think about exciting and even exotic things: rock gardens, tidal races and tiny islands. Here in Chicago, we don’t have any of those natural features. Our 28-mile shoreline is manmade, an urban coast comprised of beaches and break walls, punctuated by piers and harbors. Our shoreline is highly developed, and in places, the offshore waters are bustling with tour boats and recreational traffic on summer weekends. How do you take advantage of that? Some of Chicago’s offshore manmade structures: the Chicago Harbor Light and breakwall. In fact, this environment is ideal for a course on risk assessment, leadership, group management and good decision-making. These were the foci of our recent Open Water Journeying course, which we created to enable students to plan and execute safe and enjoyable day trips. Participants in our Open Water Journeying course making sure their boats and kit are ready for the day’s paddle. Over the course of the day, we assessed the actual risks we faced that day and found ways to mitigate them. We discussed general principles of leadership and group management, agreed upon ways to communicate among ourselves, and practiced communicating with lock tenders and commercial vessels. Following appropriate protocol to hail the lock tender on a VHF radio. We developed strategies for safely paddling through areas with complex boat traffic patterns. We kept together as a tight group during longer crossings and correctly estimated the time it would take us to complete them. Keeping a group together during a longer crossing. We launched and landed on docks and other structures. Chicago offers a variety of launching and landing challenges. We’ve long appreciated other features of our shoreline: the break walls that generate exciting clapotis when waves approaching and leaving them collide; the north-facing beaches where we can surf when conditions are right. But it’s easy to overlook this area’s other environmental assets–a hazard of paddling any place that’s very familiar–or to regard them as negatives. Following proper procedures in the Chicago Harbor Lock. Photo credit: Joyce Ann Sure, there are days when we wish there were less traffic, and we definitely take advantage of every opportunity to paddle or coach in places with more beautiful and interesting natural features. But wherever we are, we try to appreciate what we have. And when we’re on the water in Chicago, that’s Lake Michigan’s urban coastline in all its manmade glory. Making good choices before a complicated crossing through boat traffic. Photo credit: Joyce...

We recently posted a request to a local paddle club listerv seeking five “guinea pig” students for a coaching update we’re helping run. Within two days, we had more than a dozen volunteers who were eager for one hour of free rolling instruction. We accepted the first five, and told all of them about an upcoming three-week bracing and rolling class at the same location. So far, none of them has signed up. We were struck by the fact that all of the respondents mentioned their frustration at having an unreliable roll and acknowledged their need for instruction, but none was interested in signing up for an inexpensive, three-session course. What is it about “free” that induces people to spend time and gas, while even a modest fee discourages them? And more importantly, why do so many people think that paddling instruction should be free? We can hardly begin to calculate what we’ve spent over the years on training and certifications, let alone the cost of the gear and travel that enabled us to develop as coaches and paddlers. We’ve put a lot of time and money into kayaking, and we plan to spend more, because we value the sport and what it has given us. All the coaches we respect most, including our mentors, are also committed to ongoing training. Obviously, we aren’t in this for the money. Coaching is tremendously rewarding in other ways. We get to introduce people to a sport we love, figure out how to motivate and coach them, and watch them progress. We get to dream up new games and activities, explore new ideas and techniques, and share what we learn with others. Like any passion, coaching becomes a microcosm and metaphor for everything else in our lives. So it’s baffling when others don’t see its value. To be fair, we don’t have any trouble filling our courses, and the people who do enroll demonstrate their appreciation for paid instruction. But what about all the people who publicly state their desire to improve but won’t pay for lessons? Why do they think instruction should be...