I've been to the Sweetwater symposium (Feb. 2000). The part of the symposium I enjoyed most was actually the week prior to the symposium, called "BCU Week." In this week, they offer 4 star and 3 star trainings which covered a couple of days of practice and an assessment. It was a great time for me. The Symposium itself offered numerous courses, such as sculling, rolling, navigation, surf, paddle techniques etc. Each "seminar" would last between 1/2 day to an hour or so, but the time with many of the more popular seminars, the instructors was spread out such that each participant might get only 15 min. with an instructor while the rest of the time was observing the instructor working with others. Discovery Paddle with Nigel was different. It was structured such that it really didn't matter that there were a large no. of paddlers. It was a fun and interesting seminar...don't miss it! In summary, the symposium while helpful, wasn't as "intense" as working on the 3 star and 4 star training all day long. Reviewing the "Fall Fling for 2000" schedule, (see description below)it looks as if this program offers "all day" instructional seminars and trainings which appear to be a mix of BCU week and the Symposium itself. As for Nigel F., I also understand that he is now part owner. The emails from Sweetwater are signed: Jean, Russell, Mark and Nigel Jean Totz, one of the owners, notified me by email of Sweetwater Kayak’s Fall Paddle Fling: October 23 to November 06 2000. Class sizes are limited, so if interested, I wouldn't wait too long to contact them. Sweetwater offers top-notch instruction and are great folks to know. I certainly have enjoyed my learning experiences with them. Hey... the location "ain't bad" either! There is camping available near Sweetwater's shop, where the symposium is held... just watch out for the Racoons. They are little monsters. Don't leave food out!!! One got inside my car and had a feast on all my groceries....worse yet, it was really my wife's car! Check out Sweetwater's website. http://www.sweetwaterkayaks.com/ Hey! You will find a picture of me, standing up in my Romany 18. I'm the guy on the far right; the one with the big smile! If you would like the seminar schedule, and can't get it from Sweetwater's webpage, I'll be glad to forward my copy to anyone who requests it. As for the 5 star training and assesment, you will find it easiest to enroll in a training in Wales. You might have difficulty enrolling without a 4 Star Paddle award. I think a 5 Star training will be available in Wales at Nigel Dennis' "Anglesey Sea & Surf Center (ASSC) Robert Cline *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Sep 06 2000 - 23:05:20 PDT
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