[Kapila Jayaweera]

Anyone have experience with Gul brand dry suits?  I am looking for Gul Juniper series dry suit from local store in Vancouver. It is a two piece dry suit that can wear separately if needed.

Design and price point is appealing but I am not familiar with this brand.

https://victory-products.com/products/juniper-drysuit-gk0169-b3?variant=19615986614360

This site has bit more pictures.

https://www.coastwatersports.com/gul-juniper-kayak-drysuit-2021-tangerine-canoeing-kayaking-p-14547.html

These days no one have anything in stock makes it harder to buy anything serious.

Appreciate any comments or recommendations.

[Nick Heath]

Thanks to the fine efforts of Kapila and Cam and to good weather, we completed the gathering up and burning of the numerous brush clippings left after cutting out the trail. This also took care of any unspent funds in the Park Enhancement Fund (licence plate) grant we received for it.  Nothing further is planned for now. I want BC Parks to take a look themselves and then I’ll try again to persuade them that we/they should continue to develop the paddle-in campsite as they originally planned back in 1984.

Not to worry, they’ve only managed this park for 63 years so far after it was generously donated to the Province in 1953, so I guess folks should be more patient!

(Let this be a salutary message to those of us who donate money for parks acquisition and then expect to be able to use that Park within our own lifetimes!)

[John McIntyre]

Mike

I would be interested as well.  Available in evenings depending on location.

John

[Bob Maher]

Hi Mike,

A pool session for rolling is much better in the shallow part of the pool, where some one can help the student learn or practice their roll. Where is the Pool you are using and can we use the shallow end?

Bob Maher

[Former Member]

Sold. Thank you.

[Former Member]

Hi, Mike.  I’m way overdue for wet exit and re-entry practice, so I’d like to attend.  My availability varies, and so I’ll need to wait and where the venue is and what date.  Thanks.

Jonathan Stewart

[Maureen Benzon]

Hi Mike,

You have not given a venue. For an evening, this might make a very big difference.

Thanks,

Maureen

[Johan Worst]

Hi Mike

I’m interested in a pool session as well. Available any day and time but Wednesdays.

Thanks

Johan Worst

[Kurt Pregler]

Hi Mike

I’m Jim G’s friend who is also interested but limited to the weekends – Saturday or Sunday.

Kurt Pregler

[Theresa Davies]

I’d like to join the pool session- anytime is fine with me. Thanks so much.

[Jim Govett]

Hi Mike,

I am interested, but availability is limited to Friday, Saturday or Sunday.  I have a friend who may be interested as well.

Jim Govett

[Lorraine Sharpsteen]

Jayne and I are interested if it’s an evening M-F or weekend.

Lorraine Sharpsteen

[Mike Gilbert]

Who would be interested in a pool session?  You are invited to participate!

The sessions would be available for Rescues / re-Entries or Rolling Practice.

Deep end only.  Month of March only…I then get too busy to do the pool thing.

Let me know if you are interested.  Cost is not yet known.  Next week.  And it would depend on the number of people signing up for a session.

Let me know if you are available any time or just on weekends / mid-week / days / evenings.  These are not being offered as a SKABC Training sessions.

Mike Gilbert:  mgilbert1600@gmail.com

 

[Mike Gilbert]

For anyone interested in having Paddle Canada Basic Instructor certification and being able to help provide solid instruction to other members of the club on beginner paddle skills, rescues and re-entries and knowledge topics, this course is for you.

It will take place March 25th – 28th.  March 25th is only the evening for 3 hours for going over some knowledge topics, teaching and learning techniques and what the remaining three days will include.  The 26th – 28th are full days on or near the water 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM.  There will be pre-course work to be done.

Pre-requisites:

– 16 years old

– Sea Kayak Level 1 Skills certification

– current certification in first aid (14 hours) with CPR

– significant paddling experience in a wide variety of conditions and locations.

Location will be at Vanier Park, Vancouver.  You will need all your own gear and equipment.

Cost:  This is normally a $350.00 course.  I am offering members of SKABC a special price of $200.00 to take the course.  There are 3 people ready to go on this (not SKABC members) so this course is expected to go ahead.  Maximum number of students is 6.

If you are interested please get in contact with me – Mike Gilbert.

Mike is one of the top Paddle Canada instructors on the West Coast.  He is currently a Level 2 Instructor Trainer, Level 3 Instructor, and has his Level 4 Skills certifications.

[Mike Gilbert]

Weather and climate affect us as paddlers in so many ways…from making life on the water and in camp so beautiful and exciting to forcing us to stay on land because sea state is just too mean for paddlers to be on the water.  Let’s have a little refresher and maybe gain some new knowledge about this huge influence on our fun paddle times…

Questions:

1. Of all the different elements that make up weather, which has the greatest influence on our decision as to whether (excuse the pun) we paddle or not?

2. When analyzing weather and trying to come up with trends that might influence our time on the water, how many different levels or scales of weather are there and which would most accurately address any concerns?

3. Name at least 5 sources you could reach out to for current, accurate weather information (assume your are out in the field camped on some island).

4. What four things should we pay attention to in order to make short term weather predictions for potential changes to the weather in the area we are currently paddling?  And how often should our attention be drawn to these four things when out on the water?

5.  What is the neutral barometric pressure in millibars (mb)?

6. Name two factors that determine wind speed.

7. Where in Canada has the highest barometric pressure ever been recorded and what was it?  What would that mean for paddling (what would you see happening around you?)

8. Where in Canada has the lowest barometric pressure ever been recorded and what was it?  What would that mean for paddling (what would you see happening around you?)

9. What is a “Hadley” cell?

10. Name 10 different cloud formations and what would each mean to you as a sea kayaker when on a multi-day expedition?

11.  What is the maximum wind speed recognized by Paddle Canada for a) Basic Paddlers, b) Level 1 Paddlers and c) Level 2 Paddlers?

12.  For a low pressure cell, which way does the wind rotate (clockwise or counter clockwise) and where does it move the fastest (centre or edge of the cell)?

13.  What are the main differences in weather that can be expected between a warm front and a cold front?  What would these mean for us as kayakers?

14.  How much does wind affect our paddling speed when paddling into it vs having it push us from behind?  Wind speed: 5 kt, 10 kt, 15 kt, 20kt and 25 kt.

15.  Is there a maximum wind speed sea kayakers should not be out on the water in?  If so what speed would that be?

16.  Who has heard of “Buys Ballot Law” and what does it mean?  How would knowing this help us when out in the field?

17.  List 3 signs of deteriorating weather.

18.  List 3 signs of improving weather.

19. When looking at weather and any trip (short or long), when should you be deciding if the trip is a “Go”  or a  “No Go”?  Where might one of the last places be to make that decision?

20. Although we do not get too many thunderstorms out here on the west coast, what would you do if you heard thunder or saw lightning while out on the water?

21.  If you are off the water during the passing of a flash cold front thunder and lightning storm, when would you consider it safe to get back on the water and is there a way of measuring that?

Have fun with the quiz.  I hope you enjoy it, refresh from it and learn from it.

Cheers,

Mike Gilbert

[Author]

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