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Richard Alexander
Richard is currently President of Paddle Canada (formerly the CRCA), the body governing the sport of recreational kayaking and kayak instruction in Canada. He is also a graduate of the College of the North Atlantic’s outdoor recreation program and founding Presidents of both the Provincial Kayaking/Canoeing Association (the NLPA) and the Provincial Kayaking Club (Kayak Newfoundland and Labrador). In 2002 he successfully completed a sea kayak expedition up the West Coast of Greenland finishing in the community of Aasiaat, 400 Miles above the Arctic Circle. The film documenting the expedition subsequently won its division in the Water Walker Film Festival. He holds instructor certifications in four different outdoor pursuits but in recent years has focused his love of teaching on sea kayaking. He holds a Sea Kayaking Level 4 skill, Level 4 instructor and Level 3 Instructor Trainer designations -- the highest sea kayaking certifications available. As the owner and director of the Newfoundland Kayak Company, he has been responsible for introducing hundreds of people to the joy of sea kayaking. 
Mark Dykeman
Mark is recognized as one of the people responsible for bringing kayaking to Newfoundland. He brings with him a strong background of moving water skills and many years of experience tripping in places such as northern Labrador. His paddling skill is matched only by his teaching ability and his love of being on the water. He holds Level 2 Instructor status from Paddle Canada in both Whitewater and Sea Kayaking and has been teaching both forms of paddling as long as anyone else in the province. He also has a kayak racing background from his days as a paddler in Nova Scotia. 
Justin French
Rumor has it that Justin was born with a paddle in his hand. He has been a sea kayak guide since the age of 15 and has paddle in locations around the world including Hawaii, Nepal, Australia, and New Zealand. He was also part of the Newfoundland Kayak Company’s Greenland Sea Kayak Expedition. A master of wind and waves he most happy applying efficient strokes in dynamic environments. He believes strongly that involving students in his instruction is key to their understanding. He holds a Level 4 skill certification and Level 2 Instructor status from Paddle Canada. 
Craig Burden
Spending most of his summer on the water, Craig leads sea kayak trips in various locations around the island. If he is not out on the water involved in a sea kayak trip chances are he is planning or packing one. He likes to think that he has mastered the art of sea kayak tripping. A graduate of Memorial University's Outdoor Pursuits degree program, Craig holds valid instructor certifications in the disciplines of canoeing, track skiing, telemark skiing, avalanche safety, and of course sea kayaking. Craig has a level 2 instructor's and a Level 4 skill designation from Paddle Canada. 
Dan Miller
Dan's paddling career began at age eight (circa 1867 - Ha! Ha!) when he passed the 200-yard swimming test at a Y camp and was able to participate in the camp's canoeing activities. Since then he has always had a close association with the water spending 32 years as a DFO fisheries biologist much of it on a research ship off the east coast of Newfoundland. He built his first wooden kayak in 1969 and has expeditioned in areas as far away as the Belize Cays. Dan has embraced the Paddle Canada kayaking program taking Flatwater, Sea Levels 1 and 2, River Level 1, and Level 1 Sea Instructor courses. In 2003 and 2004 he served as President of the provincial kayaking association. Paddling a kayak gives him a sense of pleasure and freedom unlike any other activity he has tried and imparting his knowledge of how to do this safely has become his priority. 
Ian
Ian Fong has been sea kayaking for more than 10 years and instructing since 2000. He holds the world record for the "Kayak Caber Toss" and has the largest collection of broken paddles east of Montreal. He is also one of the most active instructors in Newfoundland and is know for his approachable nature and caring attitude. A graduate of Memorial University in Recreation, Ian is now working on a Master’s in Physical Education and is conducting his thesis research on sea kayaking safety. He is a Level 1 Instructor Trainer with Paddle Canada, as well as a Level 3 sea kayak instructor with Level 4 skill certification. 
Doug Alderson
Our guest instructor for 2006 will be BC native Doug Alderson. Doug will be joining us on our Level 2, 3 and 4 courses. Doug has spent a lifetime exploring west coast waters from small boats that he has designed and built himself. Recent years have also seen him busy writing about kayaking with 3 books and many published articles. A leader at the national level, Doug has been a contributing member of the Canadian Recreational Canoe Association (CRCA) since the inception of the national sea kayaking program. He currently serves as Chairman of the Sea Kayak Program Development Committee. As a Senior Instructor Trainer Doug is responsible for training paddlers and certifying instructors at all levels from sea to sea to sea. A day on the water with Doug is sure to be fun, informative and maybe a little challenging. |
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