 Chris Mitchell has been teaching kayaking formally since taking a Sea Kayak Instructor training course through the Sea Kayak Association of British Columbia in 1995. He was the director of Sea Kayak Instruction at Eddyline Water Sports Center in Anacortes in 1996-1997. In 1997 he was certified as a Coastal Kayak Instructor with the American Canoe Association and more recently an Advanced Coastal Kayak Instructor and Instructor Trainer Educator. He was the trips co-coordinator for the Whatcom Association of Kayak Enthusiasts(WAKE) in 1999-2000. Since 1996 he has been an on-water instructor and lecturer at the Coast Kayak Symposium on Thetis Island in British Columbia. From 2000 though 2004 he was the Executive Director of the Trade Association of Paddlesports and producer of the West Coast Sea Kayak Symposium in Port Townsend, WA. He currently owns and operates Secondwind Sports, a kayaking school in Bellingham and Long Beach, WA.
Awards and Qualifications: - American Canoe Association Advanced Open Water Instructor
- American Canoe Association Coastal Kayak Instructor Trainer Educator
- British Canoe Union 5* award
- British Canoe Union Coach 4 Sea
- Current or former Member of:
- Whatcom Association of Kayak Enthusiasts (WAKE)
- Washington Kayak Club
- Olympia Mountaineers
- ACA Coastal Kayak Committee
- ACA Board of Directors
- Shellbacks Commander
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Steve Scherrer (Guest Instructor) |
 Steve Scherrer is a multi-discipline Kayak Instructor, kayak designer, guitar picker and former paddlesports retailer. He started paddling boats as a boy scout and never got over it. He is the co-designer of the Wilderness Systems Tempest family of sea kayak and works as a product developer/ designer and educator for Confluence Watersports. He was the co-founder and co-owner of Alder Creek Canoe and Kayak. He is invited to paddlesports events all over the country to speak on kayak design, Instructional theory and paddling destinations. Steve was instrumental in the founding and development of the Shellbacks paddling team, in which he serves as Commander.
Awards and Certifications - American Canoe Association-Advanced Coastal Kayak Instructor Trainer Educator
- American Canoe Association-Advanced Whitewater Kayak Instructor Trainer Educator
- British Canoe Union-4* award
- British Canoe Union-Coach 2 award
- Member of American Canoe Association-Coastal Kayak Curriculum Committee
- Shellback Commander
- PDX Sea Kayakers
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Cindy Scherrer (Guest Instructor) |
 Cindy has been paddling for 20+ years in all kinds of boats including, whitewater kayaks, squirt boats, surf kayaks, sea kayaks and canoes. She’s paddled competitively for 14 years in outrigger and dragonboat. She was Co-founder and owner of Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe for 19 years. As a member of the Shellbacks paddling team she has a tremendous amount experience in Pacific Coastal and Columbia River paddling. She enjoys helping women develop the mental and physical strength necessary to paddle well in challenging conditions.
Awards and Certifications - American Canoe Association- Coastal Kayak Open Water Instructor
- British Canoe Union- 3* award
- British Canoe Union- 4* trained
- Shellback
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