Paddling The Blue Podcast

#124 - Martin Rickard - Greenland Calling: Respecting and Paddling Through History and Ice

In this episode of Paddling the Blue, Martin Rickard shares his deep connection to Greenland and his love for the county and its people while following the legendary paths of explorers Gino Watkins and Freddie Spencer Chapman.
Discover how a chance encounter with a book ignited Martin's lifelong love for Greenland and hear fascinating stories about his two-decade-long experience guiding expeditions through its stunning landscapes. Martin also discusses the impact of climate change on Greenland's environment and the evolving role of tourism in the lives of its indigenous communities.
Join us as Martin reflects on the challenges and rewards of guiding in such a remote and breathtaking region, the importance of connecting with local people, and the unique experiences of paddling among majestic icebergs and humpback whales.
GreenlandKayakExpeditions.com
Gino Watkins
Freddie Spencer Chapman
Discovery of Shackleton's 'Quest'
 

#123 - Finding your Coastal Spirit paddling Mediterranean & UK Waters with Roger Chandler

Join us on this exciting episode of Paddling the Blue as we dive into the fascinating world of sea kayaking with Roger Chandler, a seasoned coach and guide from Anglesey. Roger shares his adventures paddling through stunning locations in the Mediterranean and the UK, revealing his journey from childhood explorations to becoming a skilled kayaker and coach.
Discover the warm water beauty of Sicily and the breathtaking circumnavigation of Mallorca and Menorca with fellow paddler Barry Shaw
As we transition to the cooler waters of the UK, Roger talks about the awe-inspiring landscapes of Duncansby Head and the unforgettable tall ship expedition to St. Kilda. Learn how these experiences have shaped his love for kayaking and influenced his coaching philosophy.
Connect with Roger and explore the wealth of resources available for sea kayaking enthusiasts. Don't miss this chance to paddle the blue with Roger Chandler!
CoastalSpirit.com
Coastal Spirit on You Tube
Mallorca and Menorca (from Limitlesspursuits.com)
Coastal Spirit (Facebook)
Roger Chandler (Facebook)

A Journey Down the Ganges (Ganga) River with Rency Thomas: 2,750 Kilometers of Adventure on India's most sacred river

Rency Thomas joins us to recount his incredible 2,750-kilometer solo journey from the source to the sea of India's Ganga (Ganges) River. Starting at the foot of a glacier and ending at the ocean, this expedition was the culmination of eight years of preparation. Hear firsthand from Rency about his experiences, challenges, and the cultural significance of this holy river.
Enjoy today's episode with Rency Thomas as he shares his inspiring story of humbleness, patience, adventure, and the deep connection to India's most sacred river.
Rency Thomas (Instagram)
Live360 Adventures
Ganges River (Wikipedia)
 
 
 

#121 - Coaching Insights and Tierra del Fuego with the Kayak Waveologist Greg Paquin

In this episode of Paddling the Blue, host John Chase speaks with Greg Paquin about his extensive involvement in British canoeing and his passion for paddle sports coaching. Greg shares his inspiring journey from civil engineering to becoming a full-time sea kayaking coach.
Greg also recounts his thrilling expedition to the remote and stunning landscapes of Tierra del Fuego, describing the breathtaking scenery and unique challenges faced along the way. Additionally, he discusses the inception and growth of the Autumn Gales event, which provides a platform for paddlers to experience advanced tidal race environments under expert guidance.
Listeners will gain valuable insights into the world of performance coaching in sea kayaking and learn how Greg's diverse experiences have shaped his coaching philosophy. Discover more about Greg's adventures and his contributions to the paddling community in this engaging episode.
Kayak Waveology
Autumn Gales
Contact Greg

#120 - Riding the Waves: Finding flow surf kayaking the Great Lakes with Keith Wikle

Welcome to today's episode of Paddling the Blue. Our guest, Keith Wikle, is a prolific surf kayaker and coach from the Great Lakes region. In this episode, Keith shares his journey into the world of surf kayaking, his mentors, and his experience organizing paddling events. He also offers valuable tips to enhance your surfing skills and enjoyment when the waves kick up.
Join us as Keith discusses his background, the transition from sea kayaking to surf kayaking, and the unique challenges and rewards of surfing the Great Lakes. He also reflects on his contributions to the paddling community through events like the West Michigan Coastal Kayakers Association symposium and his own event, the Gales.
Whether you're a seasoned paddler or just starting out, Keith's insights and stories are sure to inspire. Enjoy the episode!
Connect:
Go Kayak Now
West Michigan Coastal Kayakers Association
The Gales Storm Gathering
 
Want to level up your paddling skill?
James and Simon at onlineseakayaking.com continue to produce great content to help you evolve as a paddler, and as a coach.   Everything from basic strokes and safety to paddling in tides, surfing, coaching, documentaries, and their latest addition, expedition skills and incident management. it’s all in one place. If you’re not already a subscriber to Onlineseakayaking.com, here’s your opportunity to get started. Visit onlineseakayaking.com and use the coupon code PTBPODCAST at checkout and you’ll get 10% just for being a member of the Paddling the Blue community.

#119 - Jim Tibensky - Racing kayak slalom, chasing birds, and a lifelong love for volunteering

Jim Tibensky joins today’s episode of the Paddling the Blue podcast.  Jim is a legend in the US slalom racing community and a selfless volunteer for many organizations. Today we talk about Jim’s ongoing racing career, how water makes a positive difference in his life, and how he regularly gives back to improve the lives of others through paddling.
Connect:
Facebook
Learn:
Chicago Adventure Therapy
Chicago Voyagers
Chicago Bird Collision Monitors
Apostle Islands
Lincoln Park Boat Club

#118 - Donal Dowd - Experiencing Irish Islands, Lighthouses, and Wallabies

Today I have the pleasure of talking with Donal Dowd. We cover quite a few topics, including his love for Irish islands and lighthouses, 40+ years pioneering outdoor education, and the home of Ireland’s wallabies. Thank you to Jon Hynes (episode #88) for making the connection with Donal. 
At the Water's Edge Two Boats, B. Ferrell
Dingle Publishing Services (info only)
Tertulia Book Shop, Westport
Abebooks.com
The wallabies of Lambay Island (BBC)
Blasket Islands
Commissioners of Irish Lights
Great Lighthouses of Ireland
Donal Dowd (Facebook)

Jon Dawkins - Searching for Kayak Bill and exploring the Outer Coast of British Columbia

Jon Dawkins received some advice from a friend that may surprise you that has led him to some of the best places on the outer coast of British Columbia as he explores the region one segment at a time. Along the way, he is also searching for a local legend affectionately named Kayak Bill. We’ll talk about all that in today’s episode.
Connect:
3MeterSwell
Facebook
Instagram
Resources:
Looking for Kayak Bill, by Neil Frazer (3MeterSwell)
Kayak Bill-A Requiem (3MeterSwell, originally appeared in Sea Kayaker Magazine, October 2005)
Blue Highways of the Inside Passage (3MeterSwell)
Randel Washburne's articles about his cabin building activities and the Burnett Bay cabin journals from 1985 – 2009
Triquet Island and Burnett Bay
Burnett Bay and Deserters
Burnet Bay Cabin Journals
To Be A Warrior: The Adventurous Life and Mysterious Death of Billy Davidson, by Brandon Pullan
John Kimantas books (Wild Coast series, Wild Places, BC Coast Explorer, BC Atlas, Vancouver Island Recreation Guide)
BC Marine Trails Association
Port Hardy to Klemtu (YouTube)

Cristi Manea AKA Lownlee Kayak - Building and learning from an online kayak community

Cristi Manea is someone you probably know, but whose name you probably haven’t heard.  Cristi started his paddling journey four years ago and in that time he has learned a lot from the online community and stepped up to build one of the largest online paddling communities in Facebook. We’ll talk today about how that process has made a Lownlee kayaker a happy kayaker.
Connect:
Solo Kayaking (Facebook)
Sea Kayak Surfing (Facebook)
Kayak Camping and Expeditioning (Facebook)
Learn:
Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park
Bay of Fundy
Georgian Bay
Bruce Peninsula
Lonely island 
Tobermory
And, speaking of online communities,
James and Simon at onlineseakayaking.com continue to produce great content to help you evolve as a paddler, and as a coach.   Everything from basic strokes and safety to paddling in tides, surfing, coaching, documentaries, and their latest addition, expedition skills and incident management. It’s all in one place. And, they've just announced their new partnership with P&H Sea Kayaks, another great supporter of Paddling the Blue and for whom I am also a Team Paddler. If you’re not already a subscriber to Onlineseakayaking.com, here’s your opportunity to get started. Visit onlineseakayaking.com and use the coupon code PTBPODCAST at checkout and you’ll get 10% just for being a member of the Paddling the Blue community.
Enjoy today’s episode with Cristi Manea, AKA Loenlee Kayak!

#115 - Eileen Murphy - Leading the way through slalom, marathon racing, and sea kayaking

Today I have the pleasure of talking with Eileen Murphy for a fascinating conversation. Eileen has led an incredible paddling career through many phases, from hitchhiking across Europe for slalom races, to marathon racing in Australia, to sea kayaking Ireland and beyond. So many great stories to share!
Contact Eileen
Shearwater Sea Kayaking
Liffey Descent
 
Thanks again to our partners at Online Sea Kayaking for extending a special offer to you. 
Visit Onlineseakayaking.com. Enter the code PTBPODCAST at checkout and get 10% off, just for being a member of the Paddling the Blue community.