ORS History: (length of time with) 14 years Paddling History: Most of Vancouver Island, including Cape Scott, Brooks Peninsula, Kyoquot Sound, Nootka Sound, Clayoquot Sound, and Barkley Sound; Queen Charlotte Islands; Baja; and the Great Lakes. Interests: Kayaking, Fitness, Tennis, Volleyball, Guitar Achievements: SKGABC Guide Trainer, SKGABC Level 3 Guide, Paddle Canada Sea Kayaking Instructor Trainer Level 2, Paddle Canada Sea Kayaking Instructor Level 3, Paddle Canada Sea Kayaking Level 4 Skills; B.Ed, B.Sc Favourite Sports: Hockey, Tennis Favourite Kayak: Valley Nordkapp LV Favourite Adventure: Crossing to Isla Angel de la Guarda, Sea of Cortez (you can read about it in Graham Mackintosh’s book Marooned with Very Little Beer.) Favourite Kayaking Destinations: Brooks Peninsula; Isla Angel de la Guarda Favourite Aspect of Kayaking: Maneuvering and Agility Favourite Musicians: Bob Dylan, Elbow, Jeff Beck, Death Cab for Cutie, Kaki King, Neko Case, Sieges Even, Sonic Youth, Steve Earle, Yo La Tengo Favourite Products at ORS: Sea kayaks, Icebreaker merino, Kokatat paddling clothing, Arc’teryx outerwear
ORS History: Since 2001 Paddling History: Passionate about paddle-sports since 1994, teaching and guiding since 2001 Interests: outdoor gear collecting, tide race paddling, rock gardening Achievements: Helped people get the skills, experience and gear to get out there. Favourite Sports: Paddling. Favourite Kayak: CD Sirocco, CD Expedition, Epic 18X, Delta 17, Point 65 Whisky 16 Favourite Adventure: teaching sea kayaking Favourite Kayaking Destinations: Antarctic Peninsula Favourite Aspect of Kayaking: All the great people involved in paddle-sports Favourite Products at ORS: Werner paddles, Kokatat drysuits, Icebreaker layers, but most of all the fabulous staff!
ORS History: 5 years Paddling History: 10 years, 4 guiding, 3 instructing Interests: vegan baking & cooking, container gardening, health and wellness, the environment, reading Achievements: Fitness Leadership Certification, Outdoor Recreation Leadership Diploma, Marketing Communications Diploma, BSc Geography, BA Environmental Studies, SKGABC Assistant Overnight Guide, Paddle Canada Level 1 Instructor, Advanced Wilderness First Aid Favourite Sports: kayaking, hiking, biking, yoga, weight training Favourite Kayak: Current Designs Andromeda Favourite Adventure: Four months on a fire look out tower in the North West Territories Favourite Kayaking Destinations: Baja and the Pacific Northwest Favourite Aspect of Kayaking/guiding/instructing: The experiences of peace, solitude and wildness and the opportunity to help people become safer paddlers. Favourite Musicians: Too many to name Favourite Products at ORS: Sea to Summit Event Compression Sack, Snap Dragon Flirt Skirt, NRS Sponge, NRS Hyrdoskin pants, Icebreaker, Arcteryx
ORS History: Since 1995 Paddling History: became interested in the outdoors as a child through the scouting movement. enjoyed sailing and the ocean through involvement in the sea cadets. developed an interest in other outdoor challenges through involvement with the Canadian Forces. Paddling became a peaceful way to relate to nature, to help people achieve their goals, to practice leadership and to engage in life affirming risk taking Interests: Rock climbing, racing, yoga, meditation, mountain biking, swimming, motorcycles, adventure kayaking, photography, surfing, and river paddling Achievements: Circumnavigated Vancouver Island (2001) and Haida Gwaii (2006/7) Georgia Strait (2008) and Juan de Fuca Strait (2003) Crossing Certifications through: SKGABC, Paddle Canada, BCU, ACMG, and White Water Instructing Association of BC, Advanced First Aid, Competed in the BC Bike Race (2008) Competed in 14 MOMAR and Sea2Summit Adventure Races Provides adventure therapy using paddling and indoor wall climbing as helping modalities Favourite Sports: loves all nature sports Favourite Kayak: Current Designs Gulfstream Favourite Adventures: Too many to name! Favourite Kayaking Destinations: Hot Spings Island Haida Gwaii, Hot Spings Cove Clayoquot Sound, Long Beach, Seaside Oregon, Gold River, Puntledge River and Okisolo Pass Favourite Aspect of Kayaking: Risk Management, Instruction and Leadership Favourite Musicians: Po Girl, Bedouan Sound Clash, Krishna Dass Favourite Products at ORS: Ice Breaker and Koketat
ORS History: 7 years teaching and guiding Paddling History: 11 years. Got into kayaking after breaking a leg mountain biking. Former Sea Kayak Program Director at VCKC. Currently President of SISKA Interests: Cycling, Hiking, Skiing, Woodworking, West Coast Native Art Achievements: Paddle Canada LV 4 Skills, Paddle Canada LV 3 Instructor, SKGABC Assistant Overnight Guide, Essential Wilderness First Aid. Favourite Sports: Kayaking, Cycling Favourite Kayak: Wilderness Systems Tempest 170 ( maybe Nordkapp LV soon) Favourite Adventure: Going to Kauai every year Favourite Kayaking Destinations: Haida Gwaii, The Bunsby Isls., Nuchatlitz Favourite Aspect of Kayaking: The dynamic, ever changing environment of the ocean Favourite Musicians: ZZ Top, Rod Stewart, John Fogarty Favourite Products at ORS: Outdoor Research Clothing and Gear
ORS History: 3 years as staff (store & adventure center) and a few other affiliated trips over the last 15 years. Paddling History: I have always loved the water, since I was a child. I became interested in sea kayaking living on Hornby Is. when I was twenty. Paddled in Clayoquot Sound for a summer and then became a guide the next summer; 16 years ago. Worked as a sea kayaking guide for 12 years, mostly in Clayoquot Sound and a season in Honduras. Interests: Kayaking, running, hiking, cycling, laughing, smiling, acupressure and acupuncture. Achievements: Sea kayaking Guide, Paddle Canada Instructor, Jin Shin Do® Acupressure Practitioner & Instructor, Registered Acupuncturist & Diploma in Traditional Chinese Medicine Favourite Sports: Sea kayaking, running, hiking, cycling Favourite Kayak: I own a Current Designs Solstice GTS and love it; she has taken me many miles! I would love to have a more sporty play boat as well. New ones coming out all the time! It’s nice they actually make boats for women now. Favourite Adventure: Paddling a canoe down the Essequibo River in Guyana, South America and seeing a jaguar! Favourite Kayaking Destinations: Baja California, Clayoquot Sound, Vancouver Island and its islands in general. Warm countries are nice for the climate but not for some of the bugs or poisonous animals. Favourite Aspect of Kayaking: Seeing wildlife, marine life and being so close to the water; the serenity! Favourite Musicians: I just saw The English Beat, 54 / 40 & Leonard Cohen this spring; they were amazing. So many favourites from different genres; ska, world beat, jazz, rock etc. Basically I like good music & especially when it is live! Favourite Products at ORS: I cannot believe how far women’s outdoor clothing has come! Dangerously great! Ice Breaker and Arc’teryx are a couple brands I enjoy and fit me well. ORS is now stocking more variety in kayaks again; I think this is great!
ORS History: was invited to be part of the adventure centre this summer. Interests: baking bread and other delicious things, flying airplanes, slack lining, researching and learning about sustainable energy and transportation solutions. Achievements: I live an adventure filled life in the best part of the world surrounded by wonderful people, and get paid to things that I love, now that’s an achievement!! Favourite Sports: kayaking, skiing, cycling in all it’s forms, tennis, bocce ball Favourite Kayak: I love my gulfstream, but am also a big fan of the Libra, and I’ve spent a heck of a lot of quality time in a solstice Favourite Adventure: This one is impossible, way too many to choose from! Kayaking the Bahamas is certainly up there, winter camping on the prairies in a snowstorm at -35 C was pretty sweet, canoeing the Churchill river was amazing, mountaineering in the Andes was phenomenal too, the list goes on… Favourite Travel Destinations: Malaysia is glorious, Peru has been the best place for adventure, and the middle east is somewhere I can’t wait to explore more of! Favourite Musicians: I listen to lots of independently produced Canadian musicians ranging from popish stuff like Dragonette to laid back stuff like Death Cab for Cutie, other stuff includes The Cardigans, The yeah yeah yeah’s, Cat Power, MGMT, this list also goes on seemingly forever! Favourite Products at ORS: boats are cool, the clothing is great too, but I think the courses and tours are our best product by far!
