Greetings Paddlers!
We hope that you're doing well and getting out on the water a lot… and if you aren't, here's your chance. Storm Gathering USA is coming up in just five short weeks, and we wanted to give you an update.
Things are coming together quickly, and registered participants have been sent their itineraries.
Classes are filling fast, one is totally full and several others only have one or two available places. This means that if you haven't registered yet, you better get on it for the best class selection. Click HERE to link to the class descriptions.
Our event's speakers are Justine Curgenven on Friday night and Ben Lawry on Saturday night. Below are the programs for each evening.
Friday Evening Presentation: The Aleutian islands stretch like a broken bridge from Russia to Alaska, renowned for strong winds, dangerous tidal rips and sheer remoteness. In 2014, two women took on one of the last great sea kayaking journeys, attempting a world first 2,500 km paddle along the Aleutian island chain and Alaskan peninsula. Experienced expedition paddler Justine Curgenven described it as her most challenging journey, made more so because she was with an inexperienced paddler who had only just learnt to roll. In a nail biting adventure, Sarah Outen and Justine are taken away from land by unknown currents, approached by bears, grounded by headwinds, scared by sea lions in the night and given an insight into the lives of the few people who live in this harsh and beautiful landscape. The film of this incredible 101 day adventure has only just been released. Justine will show extracts from the film and tell behind-the-scene stories.
Saturday Evening Presentation: Ben Lawry will host a social evening of entertainment which will include a lively slideshow, a raffle, beer provided by Thule and a social gathering.
Event supporters are: Greenland or Bust, Adventure's Edge, Explore North Coast, Mind's Eye Manufactory, Thule, Lendal North America, Kokatat Watersports Wear, P & H Custom Sea Kayaks, Confluence Outdoors and Qajaq USA.
We've been updating the Storm Gathering USA website as exciting things happen, so visit soon, and visit often :-)
One final note… Trinidad is GORGEOUS. Wherever you're coming from, it's worth the trek. But just to make it a little simpler, we're about a five-hour drive north from San Francisco, an eight-hour drive south from Portland, or a hop, skip and eight-mile jump from the Eureka/Arcata airport (airport code ACV), and there's even an airport shuttle - Door To Door Airporter - that can help you out with that jump.
Please let us know if you have any questions, and we hope to see you in March!
Helen Wilson and Mark Tozer
