Announcement - 8th UK Storm Gathering: February 2016

Location: Trearddur Bay, Anglesey. Paddler: Roger Chandler. Photographer: Mark Tozer

When is it? - The next UK Storm Gathering will run from February 20 to 22 on Anglesey, Wales.

What's it all about? - The idea is to bring together like minded people not quite ready to hang up their paddles for the winter and to network with others looking to take their sea kayaking to another level. There will be challenge, adventures and fun.

What's on offer? - The intention is to run a number of practical workshops and journeys covering the following themes – Safety, Skills and Seamanship. Each day will begin with the option of Yoga For Paddlers with Helen Wilson. Evening sessions will include social events with presentations from guest speakers. A number of retailers and manufacturers have been invited to allow for Q & A opportunities and demo boats.

Who is it for? - Attendance is open to anyone with intermediate sea kayaking skills or above looking for the next challenge. The ability to wrestle a walrus and eat seaguls is not necessary. 

When to book? - We will begin to take booking from September 2015 when the schedule has been finalised.

Please contact the organising team via info.uksgs@gmail.com - if you are in any questions, queries or concerns.

All the best.

UKSGS Team: Mark Tozer • Helen Tozer-Wilson 

• Find Us On Facebook • Follow Us On Twitter •

Announcement - 8th UK Storm Gathering: February 2016

7th UK SGS - Turning Off The Lights

The 7th UK Storm Gathering has now come to a close, and the team are taking a well earned break.

We will keep you informed of future developments, and the next UK SGS is likely to be in 2015.

Thank you to everyone who supported the event, as well as the coaches and participants who attended.

All the best.

UKSGS Team: Mark Tozer • Helen Wilson 

• Find Us On Facebook • Follow Us On Twitter •

Photo Gallery - Jim Krawiecki

• Find Us On Facebook • Follow Us On Twitter •

7th UK SGS, 2013 - Parting Thoughts

Now that things have settled down again, and the storm has moved on, it seems timely to take the opportunity to say 'thank you' to you, the participants, who joined us in Oban.

The impression we get, from feedback received so far, is that the 7th UK Storm Gathering was a tremendous success, both on and off the water.

Kilbowie offered us a very functional base for the event with incredibly helpful staff, and Sea Kayak Oban provided us with a great deal of support, not just a retail presence.

We hope that everyone who attended the evening presentation by Erik and Sarah were as enthralled and entertained as we were.

By and large the on-water sessions appeared to go without incident, other than some cases of sea sickness and a blackend eye plus a missing paddle.

The coaches running each session where of the impression that most people had gauged their skill levels well against the event criteria we created.

With that in mind, it would be great to hear your views about what worked and what, if anything, might we do differently next time. 

Is there are coach you feels deserves particular praise? Would you like to see different session offered next time?

If you have written about the event, please do share it with us and via the various social media outlets we have available.

Also, if you have a picture that sums up the spirit of the Storm Gathering, please do consider posting it on FB or letting us publish it on the website.

The next UK Storm Gathering is likely to be held in 2015 and we are in discussions with Rob McIntyre of Sea Kayaking South West to so if we make it happen in his part of the world.

In the meantime, we really would welcome your thoughts and comments to make the 8th Storm Gathering even better.

Thank you once again, to one and all, for without folk like yourselves attending and coming with such a positive attitude events like this will struggle for success.

All the best, and we hope to see you on the water again sometime.

Cheers!

UKSGS Team: Helen Wilson • Mark Tozer • Nick Cunliffe • Matt Giblin

• Find Us On Facebook • Follow Us On Twitter •

Announcement: UKSGS Timetable

Friday

18.00 Evening Meal For Residents

19.00 Event Registration

Saturday

07.00 - 07.45 Yoga For Paddlers

08.00 - 08.30 Breakfast for Residents

09.00 Morning Gathering and Announcements

09.30 Sessions Begin

16.30 Sessions End

17.30 Evening Meal For Residents

19.00 Evening Presentation, Oban

Sunday

07.00 - 07.45 Yoga For Paddlers

08.00 - 08.30 Breakfast for Residents

09.00 Morning Gathering and Announcements

09.30 Sessions Begin

16.30 Sessions End

17.30 Evening Meal For Residents

Monday

07.00 - 07.45 Yoga For Paddlers

08.00 - 08.30 Breakfast for Residents

09.00 Morning Gathering and Announcements

09.30 Sessions Begin

16.30 Sessions End / Groups Depart

• Find Us On Facebook • Follow Us On Twitter •

Announcement: Guest Speaker

Who: Sea Kayak Oban and the UKSGS Team are pleased to announce that Erik Boomer will be presenting his adventures on Saturday evening, 

Where: November 9th at the Skippinish Ceiladh House. 

All proceeds raised will go to the RNLI.

• Find Us On Facebook • Follow Us On Twitter •

Announcement: Event Accommodation

Kilbowie Outdoor Centre is next to the Sound of Kerrera and is a mile to the south of Oban, Argyll. The centre will be our base for the main event. 

We have negotiated a three tier accommodation structure with Drhue Forbes - singl (£50p.n), twin (£45p.p.p.n) and dorm room options (£35 p.p.p.n). All include breakfast,packed lunch and dinner. 

You will need to book accommodation directly with Kilbowie.

When contacting the centre, please state clearly which option you would prefer. 

Telephone: 01631 563287 E-Mail: Kilbowie@ea.n-lanark.sch.uk

• Find Us On Facebook • Follow Us On Twitter •

Announcement - It's Time to Sign Up

Get in touch for your booking form & session choices - info.uksgs@gmail.com

• Find Us On Facebook • Follow Us On Twitter •

Announcement: Event Timetable & Sessions

Below is a guide to the sessions that will be running during the 7th UK Storm Gathering.

A full list of activity descriptions will be sent out when booking forms are requested.

Please be sure to check what level you are when making your choices.

Each day will begin with a pre-breakfast option of Yoga for Paddlers with Helen Wilson.

We plan to put on some form of social event each evening including presentations.

SATURDAY 9 NOVEMBER

ALL LEVELS                                                                                                                                                                

Core Skills: Fun, Balance, Games & Rolling            

Safety Essentials:  Boat Care and Repair.                        

Fundamental Seamanship:  Navigation            

LEVEL 1 - 2                                                                                                                                                                   

Core Skills: Effective Stroke Work

Safety Essentials: Leadership For BCU 3 – 4 Star Paddlers

Fundamental Seamanship: Sea Kayak Journey

LEVEL 2 - 3                                                                                                                                                                  

Core Skills: Intermediate Moving Water Skills

Safety Essentials: Leadership For BCU 4 – 5 Star Paddlers

Fundamental Seamanship: Sea Kayak Journey

LEVEL 3                                                                                                                                                                       

Master Class: Rough Water Boat Handling

SUNDAY 10 NOVEMBER

ALL LEVELS                                                                                                                                                               

Core Skills: Efficient Forward Paddling

Fundamental Seamanship: Navigation

Master Class: Greenland Techniques and Traditions

LEVEL 1 - 2                                                                                                                                                                  

Core Skills: Introduction to Moving Water

Safety Essentials: Incident Management

Fundamental Seamanship: Sea Kayak Journey

LEVEL 2 - 3                                                                                                                                                                 

Core Skills: Intermediate Moving Water Skills 

Core Skills: Moderate Water Boat Handling

Core Skills: Intermediate Tide Race Skills

Fundamental Seamanship: Sea Kayak Journey

MONDAY 11 NOVEMBER

ALL LEVELS                                                                                                                                                              

Core Skills: Fun, Balance, Games & Rolling

Safety Essentials: Boat Care and Repair

Master Class: Open Crossings - Tools & Tactics

LEVEL 1 - 2                                                                                                                                                                  

Core Skills: Introduction to Moving Water

Safety Essentials: Leadership For BCU 3 – 4 Star Paddlers

Fundamental Seamanship: Sea Kayak Journey

LEVEL 2 - 3                                                                                                                                                                

Core Skills: Moderate Water Boat Handling

Safety Essentials: Leadership For BCU 4 – 5 Star Paddlers

Fundamental Seamanship: Sea Kayak Journey

LEVEL 3                                                                                                                                                                      

Master Class: Rough Water Boat Handling

If you have any question, queries or concerns please contact the UKSGS Team - info.uksgs@gmail.com

• Find Us On Facebook • Follow Us On Twitter •

Announcement: 7th UK Storm Gathering Symposium

When is it? - This year's UK Storm Gathering will run from November 9 - 11 in Oban, Scotland.

What's it all about? - The idea is to bring together like minded people not quite ready to hang up their paddles for the winter and to network with others looking to take their sea kayaking to another level. There will be challenge, adventures and fun.

What's on offer? - The intention is to run a number of practical workshops and journeys covering the following themes – Safety, Skills and Seamanship. Each day will begin with the option of Yoga For Paddlers with Helen Wilson. Evening sessions will include social events with presentations from guest speakers. A number of retailers and manufacturers have been invited to allow for Q & A opportunities and demo boats.

Who is it for? - Attendance is open to anyone with intermediate sea kayaking skills or above looking for the next challenge. The ability to wrestle a walrus and eat seaguls is not necessary. Please contact the organising team - info.uksgs@gmail.com -  if you are in any questions, queries or concerns.

Where will it be? - The event will be held at Kilbowie Outdoor Centre which is situated on the edge of Oban and overlooks the Sound of Kerrera. Kilbowie will be offering three accommodation options - shared dorm, twin and single rooms. All come with dinner, breakfast and a packed lunch. Please contact the centre directly to book your bed nights.

How much will it be? - The cost of the event will be £150 for all three days or £120 for Saturday and Sunday only. We will be begin taking bookings from June 3, 2013.

What else is there? - BCU and specialist programmes will run in the week following the main event from November 12 through to November 17. You will have the chance to access various training and assessment courses as well as take private rolling classes or learn about Greenland Kayaking.

Who is organsing it? - Helen Wilson & Mark Tozer (Greenland or Bust) & Nick Cunliffe and Matt Giblin (Kayak Essentials).

If you have any question, queries or concerns please contact the UKSGS Team - info.uksgs@gmail.com

• Find Us On Facebook • Follow Us On Twitter •

Storm Gathering USA - Reflections

On a recent visit to the United States, I had the opportunity to catch up with my good friends Warren Parker and Taino Almestica. Whilst it is always a great pleasure to see my paddling buddies from across the pond, this occasion was particularly special as the guys had been busy organising their first ever sea kayak symposium, and it meant I could join in.

Having participated in and been guest coaches for previous UK Storm Gathering events on Mull and Anglesey, Warren and Taino had gone away feeling suitably inspired to create their own unique experience for paddlers in New York City, naming it Storm Gathering USA - The Urban Paddlers Symposium. Putting together an event of this nature is never without issues, yet with time and effort they had managed to bring all the right elements together to create something worthwhile for those who signed up to take part.

The workshops and locations chosen provided a suitable blend for those 'urban paddlers' that attended, who in this instance were mainly members of the New York Kayak Club though other interested parties showed up including one keen lady from Ohio. There was a balance between classroom activities and on the water seminars. The weather played its part in providing strong winds and rain, making the Hudson very atmospheric at times and as well offering up at least one sunny day at Manhattan Beach.

So there was coastal navigation, incident management, 3* training and assessment as well as rough water handling at Breezy Point. There was plenty of interaction between coaches and participants, which all went some way to enlightening each other about the concept of urban paddling as well as demonstrating there are further horizons to explore as well. I must admit the Hudson and its environs makes for a very special paddling experience as well as creating some unique conditions for sea kayakers. Its quite something for a 3* assessment to occur under the watchful gaze of Lady Liberty.

The event was hosted by Randall Henriksen who is proprietor of the New York Kayak Company which is located at Pier 40, just off West Side Highway. I had the privilege and pleasure to be a guest coach for Randy in the summer of 2003, so it was nice to catch up with him also and see how business was going. One major development is that NYKC is now the North American dealer and Northeast distributor for Tiderace Sea Kayaks. Along with this, Randy's store holds probably the most complete collection of Kokatat products anywhere I know, and he assures me shipping overseas is not a problem.

So a big well done to Warren and Taino for getting their first Storm Gathering USA off the ground and on to the water. I look forward to future developments. In the meantime, I also want to say a big thank for involving me and for the cold beers and laughter. 

More pictures can be found here :o)