ABOUT ISLE OF WIGHT SEA KAYAKING
  

Established four years ago by Owen & Mitch, the family run business has gained a reputation as one of the South’s leading kayaking organisations and is regarded as the South's Sea Kayak Specialist. With the addition of Coasteering to its range of kayaking courses, IWSK appeals to holiday-makers, sea kayakers and paddlesport coaches from all across Great Britain and Europe.

Situated in Freshwater Bay on the western tip of the Island, Isle of Wight Sea Kayaking benefits from being based within the Sandpipers complex of bar, hotel and café and a mere 100m from the beach. Freshwater Bay itself offers some spectacular paddling; around the stacks and in caves or further a field to remote coves and on to the Needles.

Owen leads a small team of well qualified and very experienced Coaches, who have paddled extensively all over the UK, and the world. With a large fleet of boats; both plastic and glass fibre Valley Sea Kayaks, Perception Sit-on-Top Kayaks, Mad River Canoes and general purpose kayaks and with a range of waterproof clothing and safety equipment from Palm, the highest standards of delivery and equipment can be expected.

Although permanently based at Freshwater Bay, with a fleet of vans and trailers, the team can operate Island wide, utilising available sheltered water, seeking out the calm or rough waters to accommodate individual requests for a variety of trips.

Isle of Wight Sea Kayaking is closely linked with the Isle of Wight Canoe Club, training and supporting club members and offering unique paddling opportunities to its flourishing young coaches.
       
 

We have been inspected and are approved by the Adventure Activities Licensing Service (L6477/R1574) and the British Canoe Union - This guarantees high standards of safety and delivery - Owen acts and is recognised by AALS and the BCU as technical advisor for other providers and he works with both small and multi-site national organisations advising on technical matters and training staff.

Owen has trained the staff in all the local centres; including, Liquid Logistics, Woodmill, Calshot, Weymouth Outdoor Centre and Christchurch Kayaking to name only a few. He regularly runs courses and expeditions for the Royal Navy, and advises them on paddlesport related matters. Christchurch kayaking christchurch kayaking

 
 
Permanent Staff
 
 

Mitch is an experienced and competent sea kayaker having paddled most of the south coast and parts of the west coast of Ireland. She has many years experience teaching in secondary schools, specialising in children with behavioral and learning difficulties, which she has implied on more than one occasion has helped her deal with the coaches.

Mitch oversees and manages every aspect of IWSK and will more than likely be the person who you will make contact with.

Mitch has an vast array of knowledge of the Island, not just of the coast, but pubs, B&Bs, hotels and importantly, getting here.
       
 
         
 

Owen Burson has over 17 years of experience working and playing in the outdoors. He is an Accredited Practitioner of the Institute of Outdoor Learning.

He is one of the few of the most experienced coaches in the UK who have been selected to be a course director for the new BCU/UKCC courses. He is one of very few able to run all the level 1, 2 and 3 courses including WW, Canoe and Sea level 3 specialist modules and moderate water endorsement courses in the new scheme.

So far this year he has been invited to run courses and coach in San Diego, Baja and Iceland, with a trip to Norway coming up over the summer with the Navy.

Owen is on the panel of assessors for those new trainers who wish to run the new four star leadership awards, is one of the BCU's Contracted Course Providers and is on the BCU Centre Approval Inspection Team.

He has achieved a very high personal skill level in Sea, WW and Canoe and has taken part in and led many expeditions worldwide. His next major trip will be to paddle round Ireland.
     
 
 
         
Part Time and Freelance Coaches
 

Tim has a vast knowledge of the sea - he is a Level 4 Sea Coach, Level 3 Surf & Canoe Coach as well as an RYA Senior Instructor, an RYA Advanced Coastal PowerBoat Instructor and RYA Ocean Yacht Master. Tim regularly spends weeks and months at sea delivering yachts. He has spent two summer seasons guiding on the Outer Hebrides.

Tim is a BCU/UKCC Level 1 Coach Tutor and a Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning Tutor.
 
 

Rhys works with us at the weekends and when ever else he can - he is either in the shop or out helping with our sea kayak, surf or coasteering sessions. He is a very skilled paddler and always keen to pass on top tips.

He is a BCU/UKCC L2 Coach and a Sea Kayak 4* Leader, he has completed the Sea Kayak Moderate Water Endorsement Coach Training.
           
 

Neil works with us at weekends. He is an expert coasteerer and surf kayaker, he helps us out on the water and keeps our boats in first class order. He has a great all round knowledge of paddlesport which is why he is good asset in the shop.

He is a BCU/UKCC L2 Coach and is trained as a Sea 4* Leader.
         
 

Kev is a Level 3 Sea Coach with 5* Sea and a Level 3 Surf Coach - his enthusiasm for the Sea is boundless.

As well as being a Powerboat Instructor, he is a volunteer with the RNLI Cowes Lifeboat. Kev has a mass of experience that he is always keen to share.

He is a VHF Operator Instructor and a BCU/UKCC Level 1 Coach Tutor.

             
We often have our friends in the paddlesport world come down to help us deliver courses and help with assessment courses. They include - Howard Jeffs, Phil Hadley, Nige Robinson, Dave White & Roger Wiltshire.
 
         
 
07769680174 | enquiries@iow-seakayaking.co.uk | 07769680174
HOME > ABOUT US