You’ve heard about it! Maybe you’ve been to it! It’s happening again! Save the dates for one of the premier paddling events on the east coast, the Kiptopeke Sea Kayaking Symposium! Join us at Kiptopeke State Park on the Virginia Eastern Shore, among the Virginia Barrier Islands. This is three days of fabulous classes, great comaraderie, and extraordinary fun!

Last year, about 65 people came to the symposium, about half of whom have been to every Kiptopeke symposium! These were folks who understand the value of learning new skills from highly qualified and certified instructors. The participants were a mix of people who had recently started paddling and those who had been paddling for years.

One of the new people commented: This was my first Kiptopeke Symposium and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience! All my classes were great. The group dinner was great. The food was excellent. How did you get the lasagna to come out so perfectly? Congrats to you for the organization and execution of a complicated symposium, with lots of moving parts, a diverse group of people, and many logistical details to sort out. Well done sir! I'll be back next year!

The Basics

Take classes during the day and relax in the evenings in one of the spacious 6 BR lodges that we rent at the state park! Enjoy the Saturday night group dinner and the door prize giveaway, including new PFDs, Greenland paddles, big discounts on trips and courses, paddling books and videos, and more!

People consistently say that one of the great things about the Kiptopeke Symposium is the interaction and friendships that develop from living together in the lodges. People are always talking about places to paddle, boats and gear, who they like to paddle with, what food they eat on trips, etc. Since participants come from about 10 different states you'll meet lots of new paddlers.

Classes

Choose from 12 different classes each day. There are classes for all skill levels including newer paddlers. Newer paddlers can go "Beyond the Basics", learn navigation, improve their edging and bracing, learn to roll, master your rescues, try Intro to Kayak Surfing or take an all-women's course. Almost all of these classes are held on the calmer waters of the Chesapeake Bay. The put-in is just two minutes from the lodges.

There also are great courses for more advanced paddlers too, including Surf Sisters, Life on the Edge, Wreckage in the Wave Train, BCU 3 Star assessment and training, Advanced Surfing and Rolling in Surf. All of these classes take place on the Atlantic Ocean, just a 10 minute drive away from the lodges!

Kiptopeke has some of the best instructors anywhere because not only are they highly skilled, but they also love teaching and are incredibly patient. They include nationally-recognized people like Jen Kleck and top-notch people from the mid-Atlantic area, including Tom Noffsinger, Ed Schiller and Brian Blankinship from Virginia, Chris Raab (NJ), Ashley Brown and Jeff Atkins (SC), James Kesterson, Dawn Stewart and Brian Stevens from NC; Ken Fandetti (RI), as well as Paula Hubbard, Greg Hollingsworth and Rick Wiebush (MD). 

Another participant commented that: “The entire event was wonderful from A-Z. .... professionally organized (including adjusting for conditions); expert instructors with “can do”, energetic, positive attitudes; camaraderie without equal; exceptional lodging; terrific food”.

Video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxXNrmVkByk

Cost

$450 for the whole weekend includes three days of classes, three nights lodging and Saturday dinner. Register by 15 June and save $25. You can also stay over Sunday night for just $45.

Registration

Registration will open about 15 May 2019. Registration is through the Cross Currents website:

https://www.crosscurrentsseakayaking.com/symposium