11th Annual Kiptopeke Sea Kayaking Symposium

September  20 - 22, 2024
Kiptopeke State Park, Cape Charles, VA
 

After getting shut out by a tropical storm in 2023, Kiptopeke will return in full force, 

September 20 - 22, 2024!!!!!!!!!!

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Cost: $535 (includes all classes, 1 dinner and housing in the lodges); $375 if you are arranging your own housing. 
 

The symposium is back bigger and better than ever in 2024.  We expect about 75 people and 15  coaches from 10-12 different

states to attend. It will be three great days of sea kayak training, events and comaradarie. Everywhere you go, all you'll see will be

smiling people!

 

There will be about 10 rough water and calm water classes to choose from each day, with courses for all skill levels. We'll have the

old favorites (e.g.  Intro to Surf, Intro to Rough(er) Water, Surf classes), along with several new courses. Brand new this year

is a "Reading the Water" class with Dale Williams; two new fun classes with Ashley Brown; a circumnavigation of Fisherman's

Island and new Teach and Trek classes

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SURF CAMPS: The wildly popular two-day pre-symposium Intermediate and Advanced Surf camps will be back as well!  They will

be run by Dale Williams and James Kesterson (Advanced camp) and Jeff Atkins and Ashley Brown (Intermediate camp).

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Course descriptions:  Click here  to see the full listing and descriptions of the 2024 courses.  Registration will kopen in May 2024.

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Coaches:   Dale Wiliams, Jeff Atkins, Ashley Brown, James Kesterson,  Bev Coslett, Kathryn Lapolla, Chris Raab, Drew Trousdell,

Brian Blankinship, Tom Suppan, Paula Hubbard,   Rick Wiebush, Mike Cavanaugh, Laurie Collins.

Housing.  Symposium housing is for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Most people will be staying in one of the fantastic lodges

at Kiptopeke State park. Each lodge has six bedrooms, three baths, a full kitchen and a really nice living area (vaulted ceiling, big

windows, etc).  So we will be continuing the tradition of staying together during the symposium.This is one of the things that makes

the  symposium so special. Instead of everyone going  their individual ways after classes, they come back to the houses where they 

can socialize, share meals and make new friends with paddlers from all over the East Coast.

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There are several options for housing including camping at the state park, airbnb rentals, local motels, etc. You don't have to stay

in the lodges.

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Registration 

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You will be able to register for the symposium in May 2024. Rick will send out an announcement via email and on social media.

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Questions?

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If you have questions, please contact Rick Wiebush: crosscurrentsseakayaking@gmail.com

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Video (click here)

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Feedback from Symposium Participants

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• Great weekend.. my skill set and confidence has been exponentially expanded.. thank you.

• Never had so much fun feeling like I was just mugged. What an event everything was perfect, weather, lodging, company. I rate

• it 10's across the board.

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• (What I liked best was) the quality of the instruction and making a few seakayaking friends to go paddling with in the future.  I

• really enjoyed the camaraderie encouraged by staying in the lodges together and by meeting challenges together, etc.  I was

• so glad there were paddlers of all levels.  EVERYONE WAS SO FRIENDLY!  

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• I really liked the way the various activities built on each other.  Each instructor approached the same topics  differently, with

• different emphasis and different practice activities. We learned how to turn and maneuver in the wind, which has always been

• tough for me.  

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• Your symposium was perfect the way it was.  Count me in for next year.  My only regret is that I didn’t discover this a couple

• years ago.

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• My wife and I truly enjoyed all of our classes, the wonderful new group of people we met, and of course the location.  We are

• already planning on next year so at this point you can count us in.

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• Where do I start?  Everything was great, but if forced to pick my favorites, a) the 3* Training with Jen Kleck, and b) the

• camaraderie of the participants – this is unique to Kiptopeke.  There were so many courses I wanted to take (and need to take)

• but time was limited.  I don’t know if there is a demand for novice level courses – but some spouses/SOs may want to come,

• but might feel intimidated by the level of instruction.

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