It’s been 2 months since students departed from our last courses of 2014 (in the midst of an epic early-November snowstorm!), and now that we’ve officially begun a new calendar year, it seems a good time to reflect on my first season running Pinniped Kayak. I started this company to provide more opportunities for sea kayak training in the excellent paddling locations of Downeast Maine, emphasizing a safe, rewarding, exciting training experience. I suspected that more people would come to the area if the right sort of company offered the right kind of courses, and it seems that I may have been right! Over the past 6 months, Michael, Rebecca and I had the pleasure of working with nearly 100 individuals, from 15 states, 4 Canadian provinces, and 6 countries. A few students were sitting in a sea kayak for the very first time, while many came to test the mettle of their fundamental skills in environments and paddling locales that they can’t find in their home waters. Courses ranged in length from 2 hours to 10 days, in venues as disparate as a lily-strewn pond and an exposed tidal stream with 8-foot breaking waves. Variety was the name of the game, and I was incredibly pleased to spend time on the water with so many great people.
I am finishing 2014 feeling very grateful to all of you who paddled with us, told your friends about us, and offered your advice, experience and support.
For 2015, I’m making my list of kayaking New Year’s resolutions, and though I may only accomplish half of those goals in these 12 fleeing months, I’m excited to continue evolving as a paddler. Furthermore, I’m looking forward to seeing other paddlers gaining confidence, meeting new challenges, and finding joy in the awesome power of salty water!
Pinniped Kayak has all kinds of plans for 2015 that I look forward to sharing with you very soon. In the meantime, I’m eager to hear from all of you - If you have ideas for classes or adventures you’d like to see on our schedule in 2015, please send those along. I can be reached at pinnipedkayak@gmail.com, or you can drop us a line on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/pinnipedkayak).
Happy 2015!
Nate