Re: [Paddlewise] LLBean Symposium (was New England)

Atlantic Kayak Tours is sponsoring a very different type of symposium
this summer.  It's strictly a skills symposium; there will be no vendors,
no boats to try out (although they will have boats from their fleet
availabl for people who can't or don't want to bring their own - and they
have an interesting and varied fleet).  This symposium is not designed
for newbies who want to learn about the sport, but for experienced
paddlers who are coming specifically to work on skills.  Doug Van Doren
will be teaching traditional (Greenland? Inuit?) paddling.  Chris Duff
will be there, both to teach performance paddling and to talk about his
trip around New Zealand.  Nigel Dennis will teach navigation skills as
well as paddling and towing techniques.  Other instructors are equally
illustrious.  

There will also be BCU courses given before and after the symposium - 3
Star, 4 Star - both sea kayak and inland, 5 Star, Canoe Safety, and Coach
2 and 3, all of which will be taught by these instructors.  It's possible
to take these courses without attending the symposium, but symposium
participants have first dibs.

Participants will sign up for the programs that they are interested in
beforehand, and will receive personalized schedules before they arrive at
the symposium.

This symposium should also be fun, but the emphasis isn't on what Ralph
refers to as  "informing and romancing" participants about the sport. 
It's on improving skill levels of people who are already committed to the
sport.

By the way - Derek won't be there.

Joan Volin

On Sat, 04 Mar 2000 00:00:21 -0800 ralph diaz <rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com>
writes:
> Symposiums are a good way to be informed and romanced about the 
> sport. 
> The bigger ones have some of the icons of kayaking show up to 
> lecture or
> tell their stories.  As you sit around listening to Derek Hutchinson
> comically tell of his crossing of the North Sea or hear him tell the
> tale of what he and his companions did when paddling a river in the 
> UK
> and running across a coffin, you start feeling like a child at summer
> camp hearing the stories of Indians (native Americans) who once 
> wandered
> the woods around you.  You see all the bright clothing and other
> kayaking gear and try out boats and talk to those more experienced.  
> It
> is indeed very much like summer camp.
> 
> But when you have heard Derek tell his tales so often that you could 
> sub
> for him word for word.  When you have bought your 3rd paddling 
> jacket,
> and 5th paddle.  When you have no more room anywhere to put a new
> kayak.  Then it is time give the symposium route a rest for awhile.
> 
> Incidentally, I can't imagine that any symposium held in the 
> Northeast
> or MidWest in late March could possibly let you test boats on the 
> water
> unless they are ready to enforce some cold water garb rules.
> 
> ralph
> 
> Joe Brzoza wrote:
> > 
> > Is there a website for this Syposium?  And have people found these 
> to be
> > worth-while?
> > 
> > I'm kind of a hands-on type of guy and like to be participating in 
> something
> > rather than just watching someone else do stuff, so I don't know 
> what to
> > think about this sort of thing.  That, and I don't like to go 
> drool over
> > stuff I can't afford (I have a wedding to pay for - no wise cracks 
> please).
> > 
> > I will be attending the Paddling Expo held at UNH 3/31 - 4/1 
> though (it's
> > real cheap).  Maybe that's a warm up to the Symposium?  I thought 
> I'd at
> > least go and see what this Derek guy is all about.
> > 
> > Any comments would be appreciated.
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > 
> > Joe - who doesn't even watch sports on tv - I'm out doing it.
> > 
>
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> 
> -- 
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
> PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
> Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
> "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
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