*** This message posted as a courtesy to fellow sea kayakers *** *** Please reply directly to swkayaks_at_aol.com *** IF YOU HAVE NOT YET REGISTERED, PLEASE DO IT NOW!!! TIME IS RUNNING OUT!!! Nigel Foster, Derek Hutchinson, Linda Legg, Scott Williams, Dave Hadden (Current Designs), Chris Hipgraves (Dagger) and Bill Tynen, M.D. will be the featured instructors at the 1998 Sweetwater Kayaks Florida Gulf Coast Sea Kayak Symposium: February 27 - March 1, 1998, Ft. Desoto Park, Tampa, FL. The final schedule of the 21/2 days of instruction in sea kayaking and paddling promises an EXCITING weekend. To capitalize on the resounding success of the 1997 event, we have expanded the paddling sessions and de-emphasized lectures. A strong representation of intermediate and advanced paddlers have registered and will provide a diverse array of skill levels among participants. Beginners will benefit greatly from the camaraderie and support of the strong paddlers attending. An Eco-tour to view birds and other sea monsters will be featured Friday afternoon. At the same time, more challenging conditions will be featured concurrently on the trip to Egmont Key. Due to an expected overflow attendance, there will be a second Egmont trip Saturday afternoon as well. On Saturday morning Derek Hutchinson will teach his renowned Masters class, and Nigel Foster will present a Technical Skills session. The diverse offerings are too numerous to list here. The tour across the mouth of Tampa Bay to Anna Maria Island and back will present the most demanding paddling of the weekend, requiring the completion of a 10-mile open water paddle in 4 hrs. DEMOS There will be a large number of kayaks for demos: Valley Canoe Products, Nigel Dennis Kayaks, Seaward, Current Designs, and Dagger. KAYAK RENTALS For more information about rentals call (941) 346-1179 or email swkayaks_at_aol.com. If you are coming to the symposium and need to rent a kayak, contact us soon so that we can help you secure a boat for the symposium. Various kayak shop's will also be attending as participants and there will be opportunities to rent boats from these shops as well. Contact us for details. CAMPSITES For those of you wishing to camp at Ft. Desoto Park and don't have any local friends that can reserve and pay for a campsite in person at the park within the month preceding the event (27 January - 27 February), Sweetwater Kayaks has reserved a series of 7 campsites that symposium participants will be able to share. We have reserved some campsites from Thursday-Saturday, others Friday-Saturday. Call (941) 346-1179 or email swkayaks_at_aol.com for more information about campsites. ** We do emphasize that if you want a private campsite, that you reserve it on your own. ** WEATHER AND PADDLING CONDITIONS If the El Nino-driven storm track that has been delivering storms to the Gulf Coast all winter remains active, then strong winds, cool temperatures, and exciting sea conditions could be the mode for the 1998 Sweetwater Kayaks Florida Gulf Coast Sea Kayak Symposium. Extra fuzzy layers and paddle jackets and warm camp clothing might be a good idea just in case. If you bring all your "warm gear" we'll be guaranteed sunny, hot weather. There are a wide array of paddling areas and the main instructional lagoon will remain protected; however, exciting sea conditions will provide a wider array of teaching and learning opportunities. Drawing on the success of the 1997 Florida Gulf Coast Symposium, the 1998 symposium program will include instructional sessions on basic, intermediate and advanced paddling skills, tours for beginner, intermediate, and advanced paddlers, as well as sessions on rolling, towing, surfing, bracing, navigation, and rescues. The great thing is, no matter what your skill level, there will be a wide selection of activities for you to choose from. The $165 registration fee includes participation in all activities, the continental breakfasts, the catered dinner, and evening programs. Join us for this exciting and fun weekend of sea kayak instruction. For more information and to obtain a registration form and brochure, contact: Sweetwater Kayaks, 5263 Ocean Blvd., #7, Sarasota, FL 34242, (941) 346-1179 Fax (941) 346-0713. *** swkayaks_at_aol.com *** ________________________________________________________ Robert Starling Member ASMP / APSG Robert Starling Photography, Inc. Orlando, Florida Phone 407 521-0041 Fax 407 521-0031 http://www.starling.com NetGuide Magazine Internet Site Of The Day *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************
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