Instructors
ROGER SCHUMANN
ITE ACA Advanced Open Water (L5) IT ACA Surf Kayak (L3)
ACA Advanced White Water Instructor (L5)
BCU 4* Sea Kayak
Wilderness First Responder (WMI)
Roger Schumann is the award-winning author of Sea Kayaking Central and Northern California (National Outdoor Book Award), and Sea Kayak Rescue, as well as dozens of articles over the past 20 years in Sea Kayaker and other magazines. Owner and founder of Eskape Sea Kayaking school in Santa Cruz, CA, he's a playful and innovative instructor who enjoys getting students to do more than they thought they could do.
Paddling since: 1989, teaching paddling since 1990
Hometown: Santa Cruz, CA
Rivers run/seas toured: Most of my paddling/teaching in Northern California, but have also taught classes and led kayak expeditions all over the world, from Alaska to the Galapagos and from Baja to Brazil, including one of the few runs of the Grand Canyon by sea kayak. This year I'll be teaching ACA courses in Chile and Argentina.
Favorite spot: Several, but sea caving along the Mendocino Coast is always among the top 3.
Best memories: Caving in Mendocino, sea kayaking the Grand Canyon, paddling with whales in Baja, any time kayak surfing in Santa Cruz.
Favorite piece of gear: My drysuit
When I'm not paddling, I like to: Downhill ski with my wife, mountain unicycle, play blues harmonica.
One piece of advice for new paddlers: It's all about having fun, everything else is secondary.
ITE ACA Advanced Open Water (L5) IT ACA Surf Kayak (L3)
ACA Advanced White Water Instructor (L5)
BCU 4* Sea Kayak
Wilderness First Responder (WMI)
Roger Schumann is the award-winning author of Sea Kayaking Central and Northern California (National Outdoor Book Award), and Sea Kayak Rescue, as well as dozens of articles over the past 20 years in Sea Kayaker and other magazines. Owner and founder of Eskape Sea Kayaking school in Santa Cruz, CA, he's a playful and innovative instructor who enjoys getting students to do more than they thought they could do.
Paddling since: 1989, teaching paddling since 1990
Hometown: Santa Cruz, CA
Rivers run/seas toured: Most of my paddling/teaching in Northern California, but have also taught classes and led kayak expeditions all over the world, from Alaska to the Galapagos and from Baja to Brazil, including one of the few runs of the Grand Canyon by sea kayak. This year I'll be teaching ACA courses in Chile and Argentina.
Favorite spot: Several, but sea caving along the Mendocino Coast is always among the top 3.
Best memories: Caving in Mendocino, sea kayaking the Grand Canyon, paddling with whales in Baja, any time kayak surfing in Santa Cruz.
Favorite piece of gear: My drysuit
When I'm not paddling, I like to: Downhill ski with my wife, mountain unicycle, play blues harmonica.
One piece of advice for new paddlers: It's all about having fun, everything else is secondary.
TOM NICKELS
Sea Kayak Program Director
BCU Coach Level 3 Sea/Assessor
ACA Open Water Instructor Trainer Educator
BCU 4-star "New"
ACA Advanced Open Water Instructor
Mr. Nickels, as he likes to be called, has been the driving force behind the Mid Atlantic Kayak Festival. With his relentless work ethic and attention to detail we expect the Mid-Atlantic Kayak Festival to be one of the premier kayak festivals/symposiums on the east coast. And remember, as Mr. Nickels always says, "After all the instruction and training, remember the main reason for all of this is TO GO PADDLING!"
Sea Kayak Program Director
BCU Coach Level 3 Sea/Assessor
ACA Open Water Instructor Trainer Educator
BCU 4-star "New"
ACA Advanced Open Water Instructor
Mr. Nickels, as he likes to be called, has been the driving force behind the Mid Atlantic Kayak Festival. With his relentless work ethic and attention to detail we expect the Mid-Atlantic Kayak Festival to be one of the premier kayak festivals/symposiums on the east coast. And remember, as Mr. Nickels always says, "After all the instruction and training, remember the main reason for all of this is TO GO PADDLING!"
KELLY BLADES
Kelly has been working in the paddle sports industry for years. He is the Midwest guy for P&H sea kayaks, Pyranha kayaks, Venture kayaks, and Feel Free kayaks. He is a pro paddler for Werner Paddles, Immersion Research, and NRS. He is an ACA Open Water Instructor and the Midwest Coaching officer for the BCU. In other words, he does a whole lot of stuff with kayaking.
Kelly has been working in the paddle sports industry for years. He is the Midwest guy for P&H sea kayaks, Pyranha kayaks, Venture kayaks, and Feel Free kayaks. He is a pro paddler for Werner Paddles, Immersion Research, and NRS. He is an ACA Open Water Instructor and the Midwest Coaching officer for the BCU. In other words, he does a whole lot of stuff with kayaking.
DANNY MONGO
"Werner Paddles has given me the opportunity to do what I love for a living and a day does not go by that I am not thankful. It's just amazing to me that every time I pick up any kind of paddle, climb aboard any craft I still have that same stoke in my heart and soul that I did when I was 16. I have certainly worked hard over the years to establish myself as an instructor and working to perfect my own paddling skills along the way, but I think what makes me successful is I am really just like the people I work with. We're all just out there to have a good time. I mean I have never lived out of my kayak for more than 2 days, I have never ran a water fall bigger than 40 feet and I am just not out there looking for that adrenaline rush. I love being on a flat calm lake or class 2 white water as much as I enjoy the big stuff." Werner truly provides Danny with more of a lifestyle than a career. He is 36 years old paddles most every day and spends 8 months a year living in the Werner rig and 4 months as his home in Asheville, NC. Keep an eye out for him when he swings through your town on the running trail, white water take out, lake, local surf spot or any where else the paddlers gather. Bar stools not excluded.
"Werner Paddles has given me the opportunity to do what I love for a living and a day does not go by that I am not thankful. It's just amazing to me that every time I pick up any kind of paddle, climb aboard any craft I still have that same stoke in my heart and soul that I did when I was 16. I have certainly worked hard over the years to establish myself as an instructor and working to perfect my own paddling skills along the way, but I think what makes me successful is I am really just like the people I work with. We're all just out there to have a good time. I mean I have never lived out of my kayak for more than 2 days, I have never ran a water fall bigger than 40 feet and I am just not out there looking for that adrenaline rush. I love being on a flat calm lake or class 2 white water as much as I enjoy the big stuff." Werner truly provides Danny with more of a lifestyle than a career. He is 36 years old paddles most every day and spends 8 months a year living in the Werner rig and 4 months as his home in Asheville, NC. Keep an eye out for him when he swings through your town on the running trail, white water take out, lake, local surf spot or any where else the paddlers gather. Bar stools not excluded.
ALISON SIGETHY
ACA Open Water Instructor
ACA Adaptive Paddling Instructor
Wilderness EMT
CPR Instructor
After 20 years in marketing and print production, Alison left the corporate world to pursue her love of paddling and art. She stays busy making kayaks and other environment- inspired sculptures in her glass studio and paddles whenever she can. Paddling Experience Alison has been paddling for seven years and teaching kayaking for six. She is an ACA Open Water Instructor, an ACA Adaptive Paddling Instructor, and a BCU 4-star paddler. Alison does a great deal of teaching in the DC & Northern VA area and is well known for her teaching ability
ACA Open Water Instructor
ACA Adaptive Paddling Instructor
Wilderness EMT
CPR Instructor
After 20 years in marketing and print production, Alison left the corporate world to pursue her love of paddling and art. She stays busy making kayaks and other environment- inspired sculptures in her glass studio and paddles whenever she can. Paddling Experience Alison has been paddling for seven years and teaching kayaking for six. She is an ACA Open Water Instructor, an ACA Adaptive Paddling Instructor, and a BCU 4-star paddler. Alison does a great deal of teaching in the DC & Northern VA area and is well known for her teaching ability
ACA Advanced Open Water IT
BCU Coach 4 Sea Award
BCU Coach 3 River
A native of England, he spent his childhood in the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District walking the mountains and hills with his family. At the ripe age of 8, Peter began kayaking and soon proceeded through the British Canoe Union syllabus. At 17, Peter joined the British Army where he spent much of his time skiing and mountaineering throughout Europe. By his early 20?s he was instructing in Bavaria and the Hertz Mountains in Germany on both white water and flat water. Before completing his 14 years with the British Army he found time to sail the west coast of Scotland and explore much of the British coastline in a sea kayak. He followed that with years of ice climbing in the French Alps, leading groups up the peaks of the Pyrenees Mountains and winter mountaineering in Scotland. He gained his 404 navigation experience during his tour of duty in Desert Storm.
ITE ACA Advanced White Water (L5)
IT ACA Advanced Open Water (L5)
ITE ACA Surf Kayak (L4)
ACA Swiftwater Rescue Instructor (L4)
Wilderness First Responder (Nols)
BCU L3 Inland & AdvProf
BCU 4* Sea Kayak
Former ACA WW Canoe Instructor (L4)
Former SRT 1 Instructor
Ben has been paddling for over 30 years, and teaching/guiding for over 20. He has taught paddling on four continents and competed on three. Presently he works at the Kayak Centre, Wickford, RI and is co-owner and head instructor of Kayak Camp with his wife, Elizabeth. He has led trips and traveled extensively in South America, South Africa, Europe and North America. He enjoys competing in sprint , sea kayak, slalom, rodeo, marathon canoe and kayak, outrigger, surf ski and wildwater events.
RUSSELL FARROW
BCU 5 Star Training/Sea Kayak
BCU 4 Star Award/Sea Kayak
BCU Level 3 Coach/Sea Kayak
BCU Level 3 Coach Aspirant/Surf
TSRA Certified Solo Open Boat
Wilderness First Responder
BCU 3 Star Canoe
Russell Farrow is the owner of Sweetwater Kayaks in St.Petersburg Florida. He is a BCU Level 3 Sea Coach and has paddled expeditions all over much of the northern hemisphere. Has been published in several paddling magazines world wide and plays guitar in the band "Sisemore". Paddling sea , and surf kayaks along with solo canoes are a true love of his.
BCU 5 Star Training/Sea Kayak
BCU 4 Star Award/Sea Kayak
BCU Level 3 Coach/Sea Kayak
BCU Level 3 Coach Aspirant/Surf
TSRA Certified Solo Open Boat
Wilderness First Responder
BCU 3 Star Canoe
Russell Farrow is the owner of Sweetwater Kayaks in St.Petersburg Florida. He is a BCU Level 3 Sea Coach and has paddled expeditions all over much of the northern hemisphere. Has been published in several paddling magazines world wide and plays guitar in the band "Sisemore". Paddling sea , and surf kayaks along with solo canoes are a true love of his.
BCU Four Star and BCU-Coach Level 2
ACA Level 3 Certified Instructor
Bill is a full-time custom paddle-maker and craftsman who prefers to make paddles the old-fashioned way. One at a time and with just a few simple tools.
He started using the Greenland-style paddle nearly a decade ago and quietly became one of the first to ever obtain both the BCU (British Canoe Union) 3 and 4 Star Awards while using the skinny-stick, and is the first to receive a BCU coaching award while using the Greenland paddle during a part of his assessment.
He enjoys talking about paddling, especially when he has the chance to introduce others to the magic of the skinny-stick, whether with one of his own or with one you've carved yourself. For more info on Bill and his paddles visit www.lumpypaddles.com
ED SCHILLER
ACA Open Water Instructor
ACA Coastal Kayak Instructor Trainer
BCU 4 Star (Sea)
Ed began paddling as a youngster in the Adirondack region of NY and has since had the opportunity to paddle various locations along the East coast from NY to Florida as well at the Caribbean waters of St Lucia and the scenic and exciting waters of Anglesey, Wales. As a certified Virginia EcoTour Guide and Master Naturalist, Ed also enjoys outdoor photography. Ed is co-owner of the Virginia Sea Kayak Center.
ACA Open Water Instructor
ACA Coastal Kayak Instructor Trainer
BCU 4 Star (Sea)
Ed began paddling as a youngster in the Adirondack region of NY and has since had the opportunity to paddle various locations along the East coast from NY to Florida as well at the Caribbean waters of St Lucia and the scenic and exciting waters of Anglesey, Wales. As a certified Virginia EcoTour Guide and Master Naturalist, Ed also enjoys outdoor photography. Ed is co-owner of the Virginia Sea Kayak Center.
ACA Open Water Instructor
BCU Coach Level 3T
CCU 4 Star Award
Kevin has done big trips to Anglesey, Wales; Shuyak Island, Alaska; the coast of North Carolina; the Florida Keys; and several trips throughout the Everglades. Kevin is a self-styled symposium slut with a controlled addiction to BCU five star trainings. He instructs at different events throughout the Southeast U.S. His day job is as a custom home builder in the mountains of Virginia, and when not building he paddles alot of flatwater on mountain lakes, smaller whitewater rivers in a whitewater boat, and small, twisty mountain streams in a solo canoe.
ACA Open Water Certified
Paddling since: Seriously since 2002 (I took my first sea kayak course in 1989)
Hometown: Wayne, New Jersey
Rivers run/seas toured: Various coastlines, bays, inlets, rivers, and lakes from Maine to Florida (i.e. Bar Harbor and Stonington, Maine / Point Judith, Rhode Island / Indian River Inlet, DE /Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River / Lake George, Hudson River and New York Harbor, NY / Corson?s Inlet, New Jersey / Tampa Bay, FL)
Favorite spot: Martha?s Vineyard, MA
Best memory: The first time that I participated in an attempted rescue in the surf zone
Favorite piece of gear: My boat, an NDK Explorer
When I'm not paddling, I like to: Spend time with my family in the outdoors
One piece of advice for new paddlers: Be patient. Developing your paddling skills takes time and it is a lifelong process.
ACA Advanced Open Water Coastal Certified, ACA Whitewater Certified
Paddling since: 1998
Hometown: Alexandria, VA
Rivers run/seas toured: Much sea, surf, and river paddling on the east coast. Major trips: Sea: crossed Lake Ontario (NY), paddled the length of the Everglades (FL); Surf: many overhead days on at 'Town Landing' (RI); River: Bottom Moose (NY), many days on the Potomac (VA/MD), Watauga (and the Suicide Boof!) (NC).
Favorite spot: Just about anywhere in NY
Best memory: Sitting out in the middle of Lake Ontario with the closest land being 500 feet straight down.
Favorite piece of gear: Whatever is keeping me warm that day
When I'm not paddling, I like to: Hang out with my son, Carsten
Advice for new paddlers: Careful, it's addicting.
BCU 4* (sea)
BCU Coach L2T (sea)
BCU 2* (canoe)
Wilderness First Responder
While pursuing a forty year career in the outdoors, Charlton has worked as a guide, teacher, administrator and a company owner. Some highlights include nearly ten years with four Outward Bound Schools, teaching and guiding at the Nantahala Outdoor Center, owning and operating a climbing/expeditioning business, a fly fishing guide service, a bicycle touring company and a sea kayak outfitter.
Charlton did a stint at the United States Military Academy at West Point, worked as a steeplejack in New York City while chasing an opportunity in the theater (this included working on the construction of the World Trade Center) and guided for the National Science Foundation in Antarctica. He has been a professional journeyman, climber, skier, kayaker, sailor, cyclist and fly fisher. The guy cooks, tells stories and cleans windows!
LYNN PETROTTE
ACA Coastal Kayak Instructor L3
BCU Lifeguard, BCU 3*T
Lynn began practicing yoga in 1992. Yoga helps her develop more body awareness, flexibility and inner peace. The breath awareness gained through yoga proved indispensable on a recent coast of Georgia paddling trip. Lynn is always seeking ways to deepen her practice. She is an Iyengar-inspired teacher registered with the Yoga Alliance. Lynn, along with her husband and fellow yogi, Charlton DuRant, own Ocean Air Sea Kayak in Folly Beach, SC.
ACA Coastal Kayak Instructor L3
BCU Lifeguard, BCU 3*T
Lynn began practicing yoga in 1992. Yoga helps her develop more body awareness, flexibility and inner peace. The breath awareness gained through yoga proved indispensable on a recent coast of Georgia paddling trip. Lynn is always seeking ways to deepen her practice. She is an Iyengar-inspired teacher registered with the Yoga Alliance. Lynn, along with her husband and fellow yogi, Charlton DuRant, own Ocean Air Sea Kayak in Folly Beach, SC.