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Author Archives: Gary Doran
Learning and Teaching Rolling
Learning to roll your kayak is like learning a new dance: you need to do the right step at the right time, then practice until your movements become rhythmic. Learning to Roll Rolling is the ultimate self-rescue technique for kayakers. There is no real mystery to learning how to roll; it is simply a matter [...]
Posted in Courses, Tips & Tricks Tagged course, gary doran, kayak, kayaking, learning, ocean river adventures, rolling, teaching 1 Comment
Kayaking and Fitness in the Off-Season
While you can still get out kayaking at this time of year, the ‘off-season’ is a good time to consider starting or restarting an individual conditioning program to increase your fitness and get you ready for next season’s paddling excursions. When I first got into kayaking over 20 years ago, I remember thinking that it would [...]
Posted in Staff happenings, Tips & Tricks Tagged aerobic, fitness, gary doran, kayaking, nutrition, off-season, resistance training, sports, stretching 1 Comment
Seal Launches, Savage Rocks, and Sniveler’s Slit
Earlier this month, I flew out to Ontario to take part in the Georgian Bay Storm Gathering, from October 13-16, in Snug Harbour (just north of Parry Sound). I had been invited to lead some on-water sessions and to give a talk about sea kayaking on the West Coast. The Storm Gathering is open to intermediate to advanced [...]
Posted in Courses, Events, Reviews, Trips Tagged adventures, David Johnston, gary doran, Georgian Bay, kayak, kayaking, Savage Rocks, seal launch, Sniveler's Slit, Snug Harbour, Storm Gathering, Tim Dyer 1 Comment
Kayaking in BC and Ontario
Each fall, on the weekend after Thanksgiving, Ontario hosts the Georgian Bay Storm Gathering, a time for experienced sea kayakers to paddle together in what are expected to be stormy conditions. This year, I was asked to speak at this upcoming event about what it's like to paddle on the West Coast of BC, compared to paddling on the Great Lakes in Ontario. This has made me reflect on some of the interesting differences--and similarities--between paddling on the Great Lakes and paddling on the West Coast of BC.
Fog and Surf
On August 25, we launched our kayaks from Tofino into beautiful Clayoquot Sound for three nights of open coast beach camping. This would be the setting for our Paddle Canada Sea Kayaking Level-3 Skills Course. The students, on this advanced course, were four experienced sea kayakers—three from Victoria and one from Vancouver. All were looking to gain the skills and experience for traveling on the exposed coast, where surf can be encountered when landing or launching, and there are stretches of coastline where landings can be difficult.
Posted in Courses Tagged clayquot sound, course, gary doran, ocean river adventures, paddle canada, tofinio Leave a comment
We Welcome New Paddle Canada Sea Kayaking Level-1 Instructors
Last month, five exuberant paddlers earned certification as Paddle Canada Sea Kayaking Level-1 Instructors during a course I taught with the assistance of Janette Galan. This nationally-accredited course ran from June 30 to July 3 in the pleasant waters around Victoria on Vancouver Island. Most importantly, the qualified course graduates will be passing on safe paddling skills to a broad range of new paddlers, whether it's during a formal course they will be teaching, or during informal discussions that might occur while they are out paddling with friends or on club outings.
Posted in News, The Store Tagged course, instuctor training, kayaking, ocean river adventures, vancouver island, victoria 2 Comments
Kayaking in Style with Mothership Tours
With our sea kayaks safely stored on board, we set out on June 15 from Campbell River aboard the beautiful Columbia III Mothership. Our first destination was Desolation Sound, where we enjoyed some spectacular scenery and reviewed our rescue techniques in the unusually warm waters of this area.
Posted in Courses, Trips Tagged desolation sound, hole in the wall, kayaking, mothership tours, ocean river adventures, tours, vancouver island Leave a comment
SKGABC Spring Guides Exchange
Twice a year, Sea Kayak Guides gather together at Guides Exchanges to share skills and information. This past Exchange took place on Lake Cowichan from April 29-May 1. One highlight from the weekend was a visit from Kevin Floyd, who had travelled from Inuvik to give us a presentation about the traditional Inuit kayak from this region. Some of the unique characteristics of this kayak include a round chine (it's tippy) and significant 'horns,' which he believed assisted in lifting the kayak from the water to prevent wet hands—a danger in an icy climate. Kevin says there are still some elders who recall seeing these kayaks used to hunt beluga whales. Kevin is working to retain this important piece of kayaking history.
Posted in Events Tagged Guides Exchange, ocean river adventures, Sea Kayaks Guide Alliance, SKGABC Leave a comment
Leadership in Sea Kayaking: From Buried Grab Loops to Bee Stings