HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU THINK PADDLING FESTIVALS AND SYMPOSIA ARE AND HOW DO THEY GROW THE SPORT?
ASK A PRO
Paddling festivals and symposia are key to instructors’ professional development and prevent genetic drift: over-emphasizing regional styles and methods that inadvertently marginalize others, missing what’s new in the paddling world. For instructors teaching in a country as vast, sparsely populated and with such variety of paddling environments as Canada, symposia provide consistent opportunities to deepen and expand our knowledge base. They also facilitate the exploring and integrating of ideas and skills not prevalent in specific geographical areas as well as those on the cutting edge.
Laurel Archer, Paddle Canada Lake, Moving Water and Tripping Canoe Instructor
Paddling festivals and symposia provide a reason for the entire tribe to get together, satisfying that primal urge for a sense of belonging. They’re also a convenient excuse for traveling to unique destinations to ex- plore unfamiliar waters and meet new peo- ple. I enjoy random encounters and casual conversations with old paddling friends who I run into while walking around the grounds. I welcome the opportunity to meet new paddlers during interesting on-water sessions. I always feel invigorated after attending a festival or symposium.
Gary Doran, Paddle Canada Sea Kayak Instructor Trainer
There is enormous potential for these events to contribute to the growth of the sport by reaching a broader range of people
and creating an accessible, non-threatening venue for people to muck about in boats with qualified support. Overall, paddling festivals and symposia excel at deepening, rather than growing the sport.
Fiona Hough, Paddle Canada Moving Water and Canoe Tripping Instructor Trainer
Where else are you going to paddle with such a high ratio of skilled paddlers? Even those that paddle regularly with a skilled group become complacent over time. Symposia allow you to have a few days of fun with great folks and expand your paddling horizons in a very safe and supportive environment.
Ian Pineau, Coordinator & Professor, Outdoor Adventure Naturalist Program, Algonquin College
These events provide outstanding value for all paddlers. Symposia offer great instruction for beginners and a chance for more experienced paddlers and instructors to share and network. Take the opportunity to try and talk about the wide variety of boats, boards and equipment represented at the event.
Mark Scriver, Paddle Canada Instructor
Symposia are great for newer paddlers to get exposure and feel welcomed to the larger paddling community of which they are a part.
Conor Goddard, Paddle Canada Sea Kayak Instructor
PRO-DEALS FOR INSTRUCTORS
Paddle Canada Instructors and Instructor Trainers get fantastic pro-deal discounts on top quality gear—up to 55% off retail. We encourage all eligible members to take advantage of these generous programs.
OUTDOOR RESEARCH Go to www.
outdoorresearch.com/vip. Create an account. Select “Professional Guide” in Pro Classification Field then input “Paddle Cana- da” for Name of Organiza- tion. Outdoor Research will send you your account login credentials by email in a day or two.
LEVEL SIX Email info@
levelsix.com to get set up.
NORTH WATER Email northwater@
northwater.com or call 1-800-567-9283.
KEEN
FOOTWEAR Go to
pro.keenfootwear.com/ ca/en/pro (don’t use “www”). Submit your name and password. Request a code. Input “Paddle Canada” for Company and Keen Referrer.
AQUAPAC Go to
store.aquapac.net/ paddlecanada (don’t use “www”).
SAFETY LINES IT CAN HAPPEN TO ME!
WITH A NEW paddling season upon us, it’s now time to ready the equipment for another season and start advertising courses. The most important item to remember on our list is to dust off our conviction to the philosophy: “It Can Happen To Me.” Whether we have the honesty to admit it to others or not, every year there are several near misses or mishaps in the activities that we are charged to so carefully undertake. Unfortunately, every year we learn
of the tragic fate of those that were not so lucky to escape the mishap; some of whom were well-trained and experienced paddlers. Often the difference between the lucky and the not-so-lucky comes down to our com- mitment to the important philosophy: “It Can Happen To Me.” No matter how well prepared we
are, or how carefully we adhere to our conservative decision-making policies, sometimes minor and seem- ingly insignificant events suddenly line up to produce major and some- times irreversible events. These can occur in our personal paddling activi- ties, or facilitating or participating in training activities. Initially minor problems in skill, equipment or per- sonalities, that we all too often leave unresolved, can manifest themselves into disastrous results. We have all faced these minor
problems many times. The solution remains the same: recognize the risks, fix the problems while they are small, minimize the number at play at any one time and know when to quit and head to shore. As leaders in our paddling com- munities, we have a responsibility to not only teach people how to paddle safely, but to teach them how to make their paddling trips safe. Our actions, and not our words, are often the most powerful teaching tools. Demonstrate your belief in the “It Can Happen To Me” philosophy in everything you do while on and around the water. Remember, it is what we do when we think no one is watching that really counts. ERIC WILLIAMS President Emeritus
www.adventurekayakmag.com 79
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