Ladies of the Lake Sea Kayak Symposium 2014

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan, usually just called the UP, is an incredibly beautiful place.

Credit B Martin 2014

From the first impression while crossing that enormous bridge on to the UP, until we drove off again there was a feast for the eyes in every direction. The weather was mild and pleasantly cool after the heat and humidity of WDC during the summer.

I heeded the advice of the Symposium website and brought my wet and dry suits. I wore the dry suit 3 out of 4 days I paddled there. We had class no matter the weather. We had breezy, cloudy, windy, and blue skies rotating through every day. The water maintained a 52 degree (F) temp. Cold enough I would say. I have got layering skills nailed down. I was warm even the two days I spent 2 or 3 hours in roll class, either practicing or standing in the water spotting.

Generally speaking the experience was certainly positive over all. The students were all enthusiastic and welcoming. All of us made friends that we took away with us.

Sydney's Shark Bay Bar served as headquarters, and also served as our main dinner spot. Our group of eight ladies met every night, along with new friends, to recap our day's classes. Then we would wander upstairs into the meeting hall to hear the evening's presentation. We were also well served by the advice given to us by Symposium staff: stay at the Days Inn, right next to Sydney's. Good advice.

The teachers were all great. But unfortunately I could barely remember their names! There were just so many instructors and students. Also, unlike the East Coast Festival (ECPOF), the line up of teachers changed before class, at the last minute, even. Therefore I had no way to look up the teachers and refer back to their names. I am a bit sad about that.

The gal who taught bracing I also had for boat control class. She was lovely and I am mad at myself that I do not know who she is. Of course, she had also drank the "Romany coolaid," so that might have helped me bond with her.

This was during the boat control class. We had wind and chop, making it a good environment to practice control.

Briefing before class started on the water

And this is my Greenland rolling teacher, Tammy.

Tammy is on the right

And this not great photo is Renee, the other Greenland Rolling Instructor

I think Tammy's last name is White, and she is really amazing! Here are some videos I found of her on the interwebs:

Tammy's butterfly roll

More Tammy Rolling

I am so grateful to her. I had two sessions with her and although I did not complete a roll I did begin to understand the mechanics involved. Up until that point I was sure I would never roll. Now I am sure that I will. Thank you Tammy! You are so awesome!

Tammy in the background working with a roll student. 

random boats

I have never seen that many nice boats in one place before. Not even the Masters Beach at the East Coast Festival had this many boats in it.

Both Greenland Roll Instructors Tammy and Renee

Karen in the foreground taking a break

Jaclin

You know I have to throw in mood shots

I am guessing this is Kelly Blade's boat based on the decorations. Kelly was one of the "token men," and was on hand representing Werner and Wilderness

More rolling

Us at lunch

So I took Bracing, Greenland Rolling, and Boat Control classes. My fourth class I played hooky. I admit it. Jeanne, Laura, Kris, and I went out for a paddle. We were all supposed to take a Rough Water class but when we all separately realized it was a basic class for beginners we artfully, one hopes, faded into the background, We grabbed our safety equipment and launched our boats. It was a lovely jaunt out into the lightly stormy, ruffled Lake. We were stopped on our way out by a "hall monitor," but she let us go. Whew!

From the left: Jeanne, Laura and Kris

War canoe!

And now for the critical analysis: The Symposium was flooded with beginners. I would say half or even 60% of the students were very novice. The teachers and staff admitted, when asked, that they had not planned for that many beginners. The teachers did the best they could and therefore shaped their classes to the lowest denominator. This meant that some of the classes I chose were not challenging. Some of the staff for the Symposium was not very helpful when I looked for solutions to my dilemma. For that reason, I played hooky for my fourth class, and switched my fifth class to rolling, by asking Tammy and Renee directly on the beach the morning of the class. I will be more careful in the future to chose classes that clearly say they are designed for "intermediate and above" students.

I had under-appraised myself after reading complaints on the web from different symposiums and classes about beginners placing themselves in more advanced classes and then holding the higher level students back. I did not want to be that kind of student, the over-confident kind. But next time, I will just think of stretching myself up in to a challenging class and not hold myself back.

All in all, great instructors, great location, great time. It was an experience to remember, that is sure. It may be one to repeat.