[Paddlewise] Who I am

I'm John Winskill and I live in Tacoma, Washington overlooking Puget
Sound.  I purchased my first kayak in 1971 when I was twenty-one and I
have kayaked ever since. I am very involved on the Seakayak Committee of
The Mountaineers, a large (thousands) member club in the Northwest.  I
have headed the training committee of the Tacoma Branch for a number of
years and I also help with training and guiding for a well known kayak
retailer in the Seattle area.  If you would like to see a picture of me
(a friend took one last fall in Deception Pass), one can be found at:
http://members.aa.net/~lesdiane/Clinics.html
- My friends are forever telling me just how good looking I am - now you
can see why.
I own a number of boats:
Romany 18
Nigel Foster Shadow
Cliffhanger (VCP)
Feathercraft K1
Rip
Vortex
2 Lobo's
Bell Canoe
14' Whitehall rowboat
I have owned many more boats in years past and I am by all accounts a
gear junkie.  I consider myself therefor a bit of an authority on kayak
equipment and systems though I'll be darned if I can get another kayaker
to listen to me - go figure, all that wisdom wasted. 
I have made kayaking skills aquisition and training a primary focus for
a number of years.  (This in leiu of being able to make extended trips
because of a son who is profoundly handicapped.)  Over the last three
years I and a couple of friends have been flying BCU senior instructors
over from Britain, Wales and Ireland four to five times a year
(including a number of clinics arranged with/for Nigel Foster) for
further advanced coaching and training.  I enjoy all aspects of kayaking
especially teaching.  Surfing and tidal current work is where I spend
most of my time in the boat these days though I also enjoy casual,
placid paddling as well.  I don't contribute much to Paddlewise or
Wavelength much these days but every-once-and-awhile something gets me
going.  If you find yourselves in the Northwest look me up.
John Winskill
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