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
June 11-13, 2010
Hi Rough Water Symposium Paddlers Past and Future, July 2009
After a long sculling brace and many inquiries from our paddling community, we've decided to move the date of the Northeast Rough Water Symposium from this Labor Day weekend to Friday, June 11 - Sunday June 13, 2010. It will again be based out of Pt Judith's Camp Fuller where we can all bunk and share home cooked meals together. We'll have both flood and ebb tides each day, and chances for more lively sea states in June. It will be the long, lazy days of early summer, fewer power boaters competing for space…and a chance to get prepared for the upcoming paddling season. Nigel Dennis and his strong Pro paddlers will be in full force along w our top notch Fishers Race Team members. Our emphasis remains on rock gardens, surfing and tidal races which is central to our purpose, along with continued commitment to building our paddling clubs & community.
At this point we do know that:
We will have TWO good tides to access each day.
A lumpier sea state will increase the Fun-Fear factor of rock gardens and surfing.
Camp Fuller will again allow us to eat and sleep together in one great facility on the harbor; and our imported chef will be keeping us healthy and full with real home made style meals.
Nigel Dennis and his group of strong Pro paddlers will be here in force, some old some new...and some ringers.
Our excellent local coaches of Greg and Paula, Rick and Ciro, Billy and Peter, Cheri and Turner, Nick and Carl along with Jen Kleck, Sean Morley, Greg Stamer and others currently unknown...
At the least we're pretty sure the RWS will be offering the following trainings:
Rock Garden Play I-III - we don't want to tell where.
Surf Training I-III - Narrows, Matunuck, Napatree & some secret stashes.
Tidal Race Trainings & Play I-III - Narrows, Napatree, Wicopesset and Fishers Race.
Traditional Greenland Paddling in conditions - Rolling and Beyond.
Real Strokes in Conditions - There are only 2 Strokes!
Incident Management - You Say You're Ready?
Core Paddling - Real Power for Regular Paddlers.
Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning - BCU program.
BCU 4 Star Sea Kayak Leader Training - BCU program.
BCU 5 Star Sea Kayak Leader Tidal Day, Training & Assessment - BCU program.
What trainings would you like to see? There's still time if you let me know.
Open canoe's? Surf boats? Wave skis? BCU 2 and 3 Star? Adventure trips?
Thanks for your strong support in years past. Info on 2010 should be available in a month, and as always, prior RWS paddlers will have first dibs on signing up. I believe this switch will make for an even better event; we hope you'll consider joining us. Hey, put it on your calendar!
"A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner."
Until we get a paddle wet,
Tom, June and the Fishers Race Team of
Rick, Greg & Paula, Nick and Carl, Cheri & Turner,
Maine Island Kayak Co www.maineislandkayak.com
70 Luther St, Peaks Island, ME 04108
207-766-2373 tom@maineislandkayak.com
Nigel Dennis Kayaks www.seakayakuk.com
Rick Stoehrer rickstoehrer@hotmail.com
Greg Paquin coach@kayakwaveology.com
Paula Riegel fatcat@metrocast.net
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
2008 site
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
