Finding the Ice Boom
I started the year on the Niagara River with paddlers who had been exploring off-season conditions for years. Long, cold sessions on moving water were a chance to focus on judgment, precision, and reading current at a deeper level. Those days shaped how I approach conditions now, and they introduced me to a community that shared the same commitment to growth.
The river demanded patience and skill, and every session added something new to the toolkit.
Long Island Sound and Saltwater Miles
Later in the year I travelled to Connecticut to pick up a new expedition kayak after weeks of planning and discussion with Greg Paquin at Kayak Waveology. From there I headed to Long Island to join a group whose experience on tidal water pushed me to paddle cleanly and stay sharp.
It was a chance to see a wider paddling world; different coastlines, different conditions, and athletes with a deep understanding of the sea.
Training, Rolling, Surfing
Back home, I put in hours preparing for an upcoming Bay of Fundy trip. Cold-water rolling sessions paid off as laybacks and transitions became consistent, and I started to feel the boat working with me instead of against me.
Surfing on the Great Lakes was a huge part of my paddling. The Explorer’s speed and hull shape forced me to refine technique, accept the occasional beating, and stay focused on continuous improvement.
Fundy, Nova Scotia, and the East Coast
Fundy was a turning point. Strong tides, dramatic features, and technical decision-making on every crossing reinforced how much there was to learn. From there I travelled to Nova Scotia, spending time in the 100 Wild Islands and running the Shubenacadie River—locations that challenged everything I thought I understood about timing and conditions.
Georgian Bay, Lake Erie, and the Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium
As the season unfolded, I focused on Ontario. Rock Point, Mohawk Island, the Bluffs, and an expedition through the Franklin, Mink, and McCoy Islands reinforced how demanding and beautiful our home waters are. That stretch of training made it clear why so many paddlers become devoted to this coastline.
In Michigan, the Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium brought together paddlers from across North America. Seeing that community share skills and experience broadened my understanding of what a training culture could look like.
Vague a Guy and the Close of a Season
The season wrapped in Montreal with a custom surf weekend at Vague a Guy. The feature demanded clean technique and fast reactions, and it pushed me to refine every movement in dynamic water.
What I Learned
2018 wasn’t a year of checking boxes. It was a year of earning access, putting in time, training hard, and surrounding myself with paddlers who raised the bar. The lessons that mattered most came from the people, the coastlines, and the hours spent working toward the skills needed to paddle them well.
There’s meaning in powerful conditions, but there’s just as much in quiet time on warm, gentle water with the people you care about. Balance matters. So does choosing the people who lift you up.
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