PORT TOWNSEND — An Olympic gold medalist, expert advice and instruction, clinics, tours, paddling accessories and, of course, kayaks will be featured at the West Coast Sea Kayak Symposium in Fort Worden State Park starting today.
Billed as the largest and oldest event of its kind in the world, the symposium, now in its 26th year, will begin at 9 a.m. today, and continues through Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
Olympic gold medalist Greg Barton will present the keynote speech following the traditional salmon feed.
The Michigan-born Barton is a four-time Olympic medalist. He won double gold in the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, winning the K-1 1,000 meters and teaming up with Norm Bellingham of Atlanta to win the K-2 1,000 meters. Barton also won bronze in 1984 and 1992.
He is the president of Epic Paddles Inc.
Best event
“You would be hard-pressed to find a better event for sea kayakers in the United States,” said Paddler Magazine, which rated Port Townsend one of the best paddling towns in America in 2008.
“For sea kayakers on the West Coast, this will be the place to be . . . Dozens of kayak manufacturers will be displaying their new boats all weekend, which will give you a great chance to demo something new.”
Three-day passes are $165. Registration forms can be downloaded from the symposium Web site at www.wcsks.org.
One-day registration is available; the cost is not mentioned on the symposium Web site at www.wcsks.org. Organizers did not return phone calls.
Registration is in Building 204 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Saturday.
Sunday hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Paddling classes will offer instruction on advanced strokes and rescues, balance and bracing, beginning paddling, forward stroke, Greenland paddling and rolling, how to demo a kayak, on-water kayak repair, making a rescue stirrup, navigation, rescues and towing, rolling, strokes and maneuvers, surfski technique, wing-paddle technique and paddling a double.
Kayaking films and presentations by paddling experts also are scheduled.
Gear swaps are planned today and Saturday.
On Sunday, vendors will bring used demo boats to the beach for sale to the public.
Nearly 40 exhibitors will be showing their wares at the show, including such kayak manufacturers as Advanced Elements, Current Designs, Delta Kayaks, Feathercraft, Innova, Portland Kayak Co., Pygmy Boats, Sewaward Kayak, Seda, Valley and Tiderace, as well as accessory exhibitors such as Thule and Yakima.
Information booths also will be manned at the symposium.
