Nothing is weaker than water, yet nothing overcomes immovable objects as water does.
There is no substitute. Thus weakness overcomes strength and gentleness overcomes rigidity.
No one denies it and no one tries it.
Lao Tzu.
Symposium, Who’s Going, Course Descriptions and Schedule, Venue, Costs & Forms,
Directions and Fine Print, General Information
New England Intermediate Rough Water Symposium
Point Judith, Rhode Island, USA
August 29 to 31, 2008
Video by Nick Schade of Guillemot Kayaks
RWS Supporters, Donors, Giftors
The following great items were provided for our paddlers benefit and were given away at our Saturday nite raffle and awards ceremony. We want to thank the following suppliers. These are products that we use ourselves – we use them hard and for years, and believe you too might want to consider for your toy box.
Nigel Dennis Kayaks – These remain the current standard for expedition work around the world, and most athletic novices can use them too. The Romany and Explorer started the composite high stability modern boats, kayaking ‘shaped skis’. www.seakayakinguk.com
Custom built Lendal Paddle – The expedition standard from Scotland now made in Maine. Four piece, straight or crank, choose your length, offset and blade for the day! http://www.lendal.com/touring
Kokatat Storm Cag We think this is one of the best of Nigel’s modern version of ancient clothing, and use it ourselves. www.kokatat.com
Reeds Chillcheater - Transpire fleece top certificate. You’ve see this in Justine’s This is the Sea videos, great 3 season alternative. www.chillcheater.com
Malone J-Dock Wall Mount. Maine based business, solid value, works and lasts. http://www.maloneautoracks.com/gearstorage_317.html
Northwaters Sea Kayak Guide Tow – The industry standard for many of us and is easily modified for a variety of uses. http://www.northwater.com/home.html
If you have a $10 head then wear a ball cap, otherwise consider:
Predator helmets. www.predatorhelmets.com
Gath Gedi Convertible Helmet with visor http://www.murrays.com/gath/gath_gedi.html
MTI / PalmUSA - Aleutian jacket, Sidewinder pants, Ocean pro towline, MTI Play pfd. www.Palmequipmentusa.com
RWS Paddlers and Friends, September 5, 2008
We hope the rock gardens, surfing and tidal stream experiences at our RWS will continue to enlighten your paddling. Many of you had solid gardening sessions over at Newport, good surfing Sunday morning, and decent tidal race work out around Fishers. I know a few of you have new appreciation for the horsepower of even a mild tide race. Any of you who experienced Cheri’s skill progressions are better bracers and rollers. The 4 Star Sea Leader paddlers worked pretty hard under Andy, Fiona and Nigel. We hear that many of you have greater interest in pointing your bows into the lumpy bits and have expressed renewed confidence in the jobbly water. We know some of you willingly tested the extreme hull strength of the modern NDK style boats.
We hope the RWS added to the development of our intermediate paddling community. We heard good conversations about rough water technique at our gatherings. We know folks learned more about taking care of each other out there. Its not every day we get to experience the true schooling supplied by Andy Stamp, the practical ways and power of Nigel and Fiona, the crazy antics of the Peter, Billy, Harry, Phil, & Simon antics, the surf training of Dale Williams and the excitement for any form of paddling by California Jen Kleck. The Cheri, Greg and Turner shows drew more looking for their version of drown proofing. We were lucky to have such a solid group of strong, competent local coaches and guides to point the foreign coaches at the right pieces of water. Carl, Nick and Ron’s multi-media shows during dinner were a great addition (and more of their photos will be up on our website shortly).
We hope you have a few new paddling friends, and will continue to seek out supportive paddling people who together will move our great sport forward.
We were happy to help you get to know the great local talent in our New England paddling coaches like Greg, Billy, Peter, Paula and Rick, and meet the younger but soon to be leading UK coaches. We hope you’ll extend your personal thank you to the generosity of the Fishers Race Team who donated many days to make this event a reality. Most coach and guide contact info is up on the website.
But it’s your attendance that makes the RWS. June and I strongly feel that the real magic of any such event’s success arises from the paddlers who attend – from your commitment and active participation in creating that magical something that makes such events worthwhile.
The weather gods were mildly cooperative – it was too calm maybe for some of you. But we find the best learning happens at 70% - while we’re still smiling – instead of when we’re forced to be at 100% of our abilities. Shuttle snafu’s were at a minimum, lots more experienced the Cheri/Turner/Greg Stamer show, large numbers enjoyed the raucous rocks of Newport with the crazy boys, and a fair number committed to the challenging new BCU 4 Star Sea Leader training overseen by Andy Stamp, Fiona Whitehead and Nigel Dennis. Each morning 80+ coaches and paddlers got on the road to multiple put-ins with a minimum of fuss. Believe we further developed the Fishers Race Team for future events, and reminded a few of you that the modern hulls like Nigel Dennis's kayaks work darn well in bumpy water.
So until we again get a paddle wet…thanks for spending your weekend helping move paddle sports up a notch. We hope that any of you wandering across Casco Bay, will stop in for a cup of coffee, enjoy our brew pub, a shower or a rest…
Good Journeys,
June and Tom and the Fishers Race Team
Maine Island Kayak Co
Peaks Island, ME
New England Intermediate Rough Water Symposium
Point Judith, Rhode Island, USA
What do the following coaches and paddlers all have in common?
Nigel Dennis, Andy Stamp, Fiona Whitehead, Dale Williams, Greg Stamer, Jen Kleck, Phil Clegg, Simon Osborne, Billy Stark, Peter Casson, Cheri & Turner, Harry Whelan, Greg Paquin, Rick Stoehrer, Paula Riegel, Ciro de la Vega, Carl Tjerandsen, Nick Schade, Marc Bourgoin and Tom Bergh?
Answer
We are all meeting at the NE Intermediate Rough Water Symposium in Pt Judith, RI on Thurs, Aug 28th for 3 days of paddling in tidal streams, rock gardens and surfing with a bit of new BCU 4 and 5 Star. We look forward to visiting with each other and sharing fresh ideas about expeditioning, coaching and paddling.
But the RWS is really for you…for the developing, intermediate level paddler looking to improve, interested in studying, questioning and trying new things with a solid, strong, caring group of coaches and guides. The RWS is not some crazy cowboy event for the Big Dogs - they should try and follow these coaches down through Penryn Mahr on Springs on a big day. Instead, this is about advancing your personal paddling, about building our paddlesport community, about friendly, supportive, professional coaching relevant to your skill level. This is why we’ve rented Camp Fuller for a three day event – where we can all eat, sleep and paddle together for multiple days from one base located in warmer waters.
So we invite you to come get a paddle wet with us…join us for this 3 day weekend of bumpy (maybe even lumpy) training, family style meals in the dining hall overlooking the bay, tenting and sleeping cabins next to community baths with hot showers, quiet walks along relaxing fields, evening gatherings around a beach fire on the warm shores of Pt Judith’s inner harbor, our very own RWS paddlesports giveaways and awards ceremony, evening stories about trips in far off lands…
Come help build our community, Share Tall Tales.
Until we get a paddle wet…
Maine Island Kayak Co, Nigel Dennis Kayaks and the Fishers Race Team
Tom Bergh tom@maineislandkayak.com, 207-766-2373
Greg Paquin coach@kayakwaveology.com
Rick Stoehrer rickstoehrer@hotmail.com
Paula Riegel paulariegel@comcast.net
‘A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner’
Welcome Paddlers and Friends, August 13, 2008
We are getting close to our NE Intermediate Rough Water Symposium featuring Tidal Streams, Kayak Surfing, Rock Gardens. Rolling and a dash of BCU thrown in, Aug 29-31. We’re looking forward to playing in the warm water with you all, and helping grow our paddling community. We choose Camp Fuller in part because we can all gather, eat and sleep as a group. So please bring your community cooperation, your stories, your helping hand – and with a bit of paddling, I’m sure we’ll all leave with new friends and greater knowledge of our chosen sport.
Arrival & Departure.Clearer directions will be on website in a couple of days. We hope you’ll show up Thurs PM, unload and settle in…maybe go demo NDKs and VCPs that will be there…get prepped for the next morning. Arrival anytime after noon on Thurs, Aug 28th . Lunch and dinner on Thursday, Aug 28th are on your own (coaches, guides and staff will be fed over a working dinner). If you are going to be later than 8:00PM Thurs eve, then please come Friday morning before breakfast, 6:30-7:00AM so you can get checked in, breakfasted and loaded for the day. If arriving Friday AM, please be already packed for the day with your paddling clothes at the ready as you’ll be in the minority and your fellow paddlers will be ‘chomping at the bit’ to get out on the water. After returning from paddling on Sunday, we are all be checking out that evening; our host closes down the camp starting the next morning for the winter.
Sleeping. I recommend that you bring your tent. Cabins are 6-8 occupancy and they are available until based on your reservation form until filled. There’s a set of cabannas out back for a roof but maybe no screens. I heard tell of bugs last year but being from Maine, didn’t actually notice.
Camp Fuller. This 110 year old YMCA camp is on a beautiful spot, unreachable in todays’ market. It does have rules that work out for us and the locals. Road into the Camp is super-slow-and-easy. Quiet hour begins at 9:30PM. No smoking or drinking of alcohol (unless its in your own unmarked private cup or non-alcoholic bottle which you might want to bring. Message, be discrete, and for sure none in the dining hall). All else is basic courtesy. Once at the camp we ask for no use of cars. Its all park and walk distances, and gets you talking w your neighbor.
Showers & Bedding. Regardless please bring your own bedding and towels. Camp Fuller has community shower rooms and baths that are very decent, kind of like high school.
Meals. Breakfast and dinner will be served over a half hour period each day so you need to organize yourself accordingly. We’re bringing in Chef Bill Hinderer to oversee meals. He’s worked w us for years. You’ll need your own snacks, special foods or dietary needs beyond simple vegetarian for those who’ve so signed up (we’re providing a lot but not a restaurant). June’s a vegetarian so that part is well done. For those that ordered a field lunch, it will be ready for your pick up each am. If you didn’t, then be sure and bring your own lunch as you’ll be gone all day each day. Regardless remember your on-water snacks and water.
Clothing. Mostly weather dependent. Dress for your course. If its warm weather, we found light stuff was great. Water temp is really decent for the NE as we are on the S side of the banks which receive the Gulf Stream. Rain gear recommended. Drysuits are a not a necessity, but a good paddling top is worthwhile. You should know your personal needs. If you’ve questions, ask one of us before you arrive. Wool, poly and fleece are great. Cotton is nice for the campfire or dining hall. More dry stuff is better than none. We are not a fan of sandals, and the coaches will prefer closed-toed shoes, may require for rocks and surfing. Everyone should have a helmet – if you have none then the half helmets usually fit in our day hatches. Some sort of bag for quickly moving from car to boat is great.
Personal Paddling Gear. Suggest you have your paddling gear organized into a net or duffle bag of appropriate size for an easy, quick load each morning into the cars and then into the boats. You should plan on being dressed for paddling when you leave Camp Fuller (maybe a change for afterwards in someone’s car). You might want to mark your gear, then we’ll know who to call for all the stuff we found last year!
Cars and Boats. Camp Fuller and RWS policy is ‘no cars’ once on the grounds. There are designated parking areas which we ask you to use. As you come in each day we’ll ask you to drop your boat down on the field and later move it near the appropriate trailer marked for your next day’s paddle. If you must park right next to your tent, please recognize that it is probably right next to another’s tent too.
Course Meeting Immediately After Dinner. For Fri and Sat nights immediately after dinner, there’s a mandatory meeting for the next day’s course with your coaches and fellow paddlers. Please don’t wander off w/o attending or you may miss your course the next AM. Coaches will be checking in with each of you, answering questions, organizing expectations and setting the schedule for your group the next AM. Trailers will be organized and probably loaded the night before so our morning will be smoother. As for Friday’s courses there will be a meeting at 8pm Thurs eve in the dining hall for all paddlers who have already checked in. The Friday morning arrivals will just need to find the marked trailer for their course and move quickly.
Carpooling. We carpool to the put-ins so if you are interested, the coaches will be counting car seats each evening before. Several of the put-ins are slim on parking, so one and two seaters (LOVs) aren’t our first choice. If you are willing to be a driver, please fill up before pulling into Camp, as there will be NO TIME for gas stops in the AM.
BCU 4 Star Sea Leader Training and BCU 5 Star Tidal Training Days. Please go to www.bcuna.com . There are definite requirements for those seeking to obtain BCU endorsement signatures. Please read and follow the requirements. We don’t have discretion to bend the BCU’s rules which is how it maintains its quality of programming. There will likely be opportunity for those seeking to just audit the new BCU 4 Star Sea Leader training if your pre-requisites are not in place. Read the website and drop Tom an email w questions – after you have read the website. These are great opportunities, but definitely require homework and planning on your part.
Questions and Concerns. We encourage timely questions and concerns. Please know that if you ask us one day before the event to help you with a special need, ex: to bring you a skirt cause you can’t find yours, that is unlikely to happen. On the other hand if you ask me today about whether your boat is right? Or whether you can rent a Romany RM, then we will have time to help.
New NDK Kayak. The RWS is a teaching event, but MIKCo is in the business of selling boats, and many of those that paddle these boats around the world are here. So if you want that new NDK (Nigel Dennis Kayak) from our set of highly customized expedition grade retail boats, then check the MIKCo website for what’s in stock. We’ll prep it for you and bring it on down! All new boat purchasers receive custom fitting. RWS participants receive 10% off for boats purchased in Y 08. No sales tax for non-Mainers.
Your Paperwork. Its up to you to get it to us, so if you’re incomplete….Everyone should have paid in full by now. If there are any significant changes in contact info, medical conditions, need-to-know’s then please send in writing or by email so it will be attached to your other papers.
So You’re Ready to Paddle .bring a smile and a treat for a friend, bring your stories, your questions and deepest wonders, bring your guitars and song… and lets see what we can create down in the sweet, warm waters off Pt Judith at our annual NE Intermediate Rough Water Symposium. We are very pleased to have such a great set of committed coaches, guides and staff to bring their version of sea kayaking to us all. Until we get a paddle wet…
Good Journeys,
Tom and June of MIKCo
Nigel Dennis and the NDK Pro Paddlers
Fishers Race Team
Tom Bergh tom@maineislandkayak.com
Greg Paquin coach@kayakwaveology.com
Paula Riegel fatcat@metrocast.net
Rick Stoehrer rickstoehrer@hotmail.com
Maine Island Kayak Co in association with Nigel Dennis Kayaks is again hosting an Intermediate Rough Water Training Symposium in the warm waters surrounding Point Judith Rhode Island, USA the weekend of Labor Day, August 29th - August 31st, 2008.
Year 2008’s Symposium will again focus on skills and play geared towards the intermediate+ paddler in rock gardens, surf training and the tidal streams off of Fishers Island, Ct….home to Race Rock Light; “the Race” as it’s known to locals. The Race is several miles offshore and provides current in the 3 knot range on flood and faster on the ebb. A less dramatic and committed journey is readily available at the other end of Fishers Island, while still offering valuable tidal work. This year we can access one early morning flood and an afternoon ebb. Combine that with a lick of wind and our seasonal storms and conditions would be within the remit to hold our 5 star programs each day.
Like last year, a successful symposium brings together many levels of the paddling community to exchange ideas, ask questions and share stories in advancement of our sport. Camp Fuller, a YMCA youth camp on a protected Bay is conveniently located and reasonably appointed. It allows us all to spend time together - hanging around, dining and general organizing - in one location without having to drive to separate accommodations. The camp provides breakfast and dinner, has a large dining hall/meeting room for presentations, extra space for classes, gathering of groups, shared cabin type lodging, open cabannas, or your tent for those of us who prefer our own private housing. This year we are bringing in our good friend and top-notch group chef, Bill Hinderer to keep us nourished and satisfied.
We will shuttle to various put-ins - good surfing and decent rock gardens are only minutes away. The crew paddling to Fishers Island and Race Rock light will have a 40 minute shuttle ride.
Please accept this letter as an INVITATION to you the paddler and other coaches and instructors interested in joining us. Good events require adventurous minded paddlers along with strong professional, competent coaches, guides and volunteers. The NDK sponsored paddlers here are strong, committed and fun. Additionally, w e are fortunate to have a group of competent local paddlers and guides committed to the delivery and success of this Symposium.
Please let us know on the sooner side if you are interested in attending this Rough Water Symposium. If you have questions in the meantime that need answering, fire away. You can see photos of last year on the website.
We are again hoping for a solid event here in New England to help replace our Gulf of Maine Sea Kayak Symposium of years past and with your able participation, this can be an exciting and enriching training and paddling event!
Until we get a paddle wet,
Tom and June Bergh and the Race Team
Maine Island Kayak Co.
Peaks Island, ME 04108
207 766 2373 – W
tom@maineislandkayak.com
