August 2-3, 2025, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. each day.
In conjunction with SMSKN, Nate Hanson of Pinniped Kayak will host international coach, Simon of Online Line Sea Kayaking (OSK), from Cornwall, UK. (Yes, it is THAT Simon.)
Nate and Simon will work with paddlers to expand their skills, understanding, and safety in challenging environments. This course is appropriate for sea kayakers who are comfortable with self- and assisted-rescues, and have some experience paddling in bumpy water.
Limit of 10 folks per 2 day session. SMSKN members only (no guests until July 1st). One day signups are not allowed; this is a two day course. You may only sign up for one of the two weekend classes. If possible, please choose the class that most closely matches your skill level.
Location: To be determined. The location will be in Midcoast Maine, between South Portland and Georgetown. If possible, there will be a different location each day.
Sign-ups are by email only to Ellen Gluckman at lng@madriver.com. Your registration will only be completed once payment has been received. Ellen will give you instructions on how to pay and complete signing up. SMSKN members take priority. We will create a waiting list to accommodate last-minute cancellations.
Cost for SMSKN members is $270 per person for the two-day event, a 30 percent discount of the usual $385 cost. Nate is discounting his rate by 10 percent and SMSKN is subsidizing 20 percent.
Nate’s bio: Nate’s enthusiasm for kayaking is hard to hide. With an encouraging teaching style, he enjoys helping students discover new possibilities in a sea kayak, working with each individual to attain his or her own personal paddling goals – whether that’s surfing a tide race, or simply getting into a boat without tipping over. The owner of Pinniped Kayak, Nate spends most of his time teaching and paddling on the waters surrounding Acadia National Park in Downeast Maine, though the sport of sea kayaking has also brought him around the globe to the coasts of Chile, Croatia, Scotland and more.
Nate’s credentials include: British Canoeing Sea Kayak Coach, ACA L5 Advanced Open Water Coastal Kayak Instructor, ACA L4 Open Water Coastal Kayak Instructor Trainer, ACA L4 Whitewater Kayak Instructor, BCU 4-Star Sea Leader. He is also certified as a Wilderness First Responder (WMA). He has served as an instructor at the East Coast Paddlesports Symposium, Symposio de Kayak del Pacifico Sur, the Bay of Fundy Sea Kayak Symposium, and the Downeast Sea Kayak Symposium. Nate is proud to be a Team Paddler for P&H Custom Sea Kayaks.
Simon’s bio: Simon started kayaking when he was 7 years old. He is a BC Level 5 coach and advanced sea kayak leader assessor. His introduction to the world of kayaking was through Whitewater but after circumnavigating Great Britain in 2002 his passion turned to the sea. He began a career of teaching sea kayaking and guiding expeditions, while planning personal expeditions in his free time.
In 2002 Simon became the youngest person to circumnavigate Great Britain which took 112 days of kayaking. In 2004 he completed a solo circumnavigation of Ireland in 6 weeks. In 2009 Simon attempted to become the first person to circumnavigate Madagascar. In 2011, Simon and Marin Medak became the first people to paddle the coastline of South Korea. His most recent expedition was to row across the Atlantic as part of a four-man crew which took 45 days to complete.
From kayaking with alligators in Florida to rock hopping through Icelandic lava fields to surfing clean barreling waves in Cornwall, it’s the variety the sport offers that keeps Simon interested and coming back for more. His skill and ability to share it with others drives his dedication to instructing kayakers all over the world through Online Sea Kayaking. This program provides access to structured online skills courses, as well as opportunity for individualized interactions and feedback through its unique format.
We are proud and excited to have this accomplished duo provide this level of programming for our membership.
