Coastal Spirit is a professional, friendly team,  who are highly qualified and have a huge passion for Sea Kayaking.

 

It will be clear from the start, who you're working with.  This will either be shown on the course calendar and at the bottom of the specific course information or when you're booking and looking for a programme or course. With Coastal Spirit you can be reassured that with this handpicked team, you will be safe and you will be given the best possible experience on the water, to progress and develop.

 

Roger

Roger Chandler is the Director of Coastal SpirIt and for him, it all began with a pure passion for wild places, particularly the coast and mountains of North Wales. With a sense of adventure and respect for the environment, Roger was inspired to share this part of the world with others.  

 

 The catalyst was two main events which happened within the same year.  Roger was told that a good friend had terminal cancer, who was 40 and he had only months to live.  Within the same year, Roger took a difficult fall off his mountain bike in the French Alps.  While laying in a ditch, he felt he had broken his back.  Life flashed past him and what was important became clearer.  Thoughts soon became plans and a move to North Wales, to also start a new company became a reality.  The rest, as they say, is history!    

.

Alongside being an active British Canoeing (BC) Level 5 Coach, Roger is a BC moderate and advanced tidal water sea kayak leader trainer and assessor. Roger holds a national diploma in youth work, a degree in development training, has over 30 years experience of working in the outdoors and as the owner of Coastal Spirit, since 2007!

 

Roger has paddled and led groups in the Southern Ocean and Chilean Patagonia, with three 28 day expeditions,  the Mediterranean Sea, such as Majorca, Menorca and an open water crossing of 60 km back to Majorca. North-West Sardinia, Turkey and a circumnavigation of Sicily (10/2010). Paddling throughout the UK with a 1000k paddle around Wales (using the canals inland) and three times with clients around the Roof of Britain a paddle of 800km and with significant headlands such as Cape Wrath and sections such as the Pentland Firth. One of the short films I made can be seen here.

 

Above the arctic circle, to Norway's Lofoten Islands and twice to Greenlands West coast - the first time as a personal adventure with Olly Sanders and the second time guiding two 12 day expeditions - a short film can be seen here.  He has paddled solo out and back to the Isles of Scilly, paddled with a group across the English Channel and crossed the Irish Sea.  In 2013 he achieved a long-time dream and paddled the 900 nm around Ireland which can also be seen on the P&H Blog in a summarised format here.  

 

Roger is a pro member with P&H sea kayaks, NRS paddle gear, Celtic Paddles and Patagonia clothing.  He has also achieved a Highly Commended, Professional Coach of the year award 2012, through 'Canoe & Kayak magazine'

 

Roger is passionate about protecting the ocean and promoting cleaner seas.  He is proud to be a member of the 250 Club and supports Suffers Against Sewage (SAS). 

 

If you would like to know more about Roger, he was privileged to be chosen to share his story on 'Paddling The Blue' Podcast, which can be found here.

 

 

   

 

 

Zoe

 

Zoe Robinson has migrated into the world of sea kayaking from a love of the outdoors and backpacking, realising that sea kayaking allows longer expeditions.  She has paddled and expedition-ed throughout the UK, as well as in Sweden, Norway and around Ireland in 2019, but spends most of her paddling time on Anglesey, North Wales.  She has a day job as a Professor of Sustainability Education and her passion for education extends into sea kayaking and coaching paddlers in the various environments of the salty world.  A good few years back now, Zoe started her sea kayking career with Coastal Spirit, so it's fantastic to welcome her to the coaching team!

 

Zoe is a BC Advanced sea kayak Leader, an Advanced Performance Coach and the fourth women to hold the full set!

 

Read about Zoe's journey to become a BC Advanced Performance Coach here

 

"I began working with Zoe as a novice sea paddler with very little experience of kayaking and even less confidence. She is focussed on individual learners, develops confidence and the skills to match the conditions and imparts and exudes a love of sea kayaking. Her inclusive approach and a great sense of humour making learning with her a pleasure." - Gill from Cheshire.

 

"I recently received some coaching from Zoe in advanced conditions. My fears of moving water and tide races needed challenging and she helped me through that with some brilliant tips. Zoe was extremely supportive and knew just how to get the best out of me. She even got me rolling after capsizing in the biggest part of the tide race. An outstanding couple of days. Thank you."  - Philip from Anglesey

 

 

 

Sue

 

 

SUE Couling has been paddling for over thirty years in most types of boats and has had lots of adventures exploring many parts of the world by boat - paddling the Grand Canyon is just one of those adventures.  In more recent years she has developed a passion for sea kayaking and she is a BC Advanced Water Sea Leader and Advanced Performance Coach - the 3rd woman in the UK to have the full set!.  Sue is also a Sea Kayak Leader Moderate water trainer and assessor as well as Coaching award trainer and assessor (core, sheltered and sea kayak coach). Sue is an inspirational coach, who delights in enabling paddlers to develop confidence on the sea. 

 

"Thanks for organizing great weekends kayaking, I had a great time. Sue is an excellent coach and provides a different perspective. She manages to provide challenging situations while keeping you feeling well supported. I came home with a few things to think about and work on" - Keith from Manchester.

 

"I had a great weekend with Sue, building up confidence in windier conditions and bigger waves, and doing stuff I hadn't done before! Sue was excellent at setting each of us on the course different tasks according to our level of expertise so ensuring everyone had a great time. I need more days like that to consolidate and keep telling myself I CAN do it!! " - Elaine from London

 

 

Lori         

 

 

Lori started kayaking in 2011 when he needed a replacement hip and looked for an alternative

hobby to mountaineering. He loved sea kayaking from the start, its demands and rewards in so

many ways, has lots in common with mountaineering and he decided to become competent. He

took training at every opportunity, paddled a lot and found that exploring Scotland’s

coastline and islands were an endless pleasure.

 

Lori is an Advanced Sea Kayak Leader Award as well as an Advanced Water

Coaching. He spends most of his paddling for pleasure with friends in Scottish 

waters, west coast, east coast, Inner Hebrides, Outer Hebrides and Northern Isles but

paddling has extended to Anglesey, Eire, Devon, Jersey, Venice and Alaska.

 

Lori retired from a career in construction, and he's keen to ensure sea kayaking doesn't become a job, it’s

much too enjoyable, but he does work with Roger for several weeks per year. We paddle in

stunning locations and enjoy allowing other kayakers to explore them. He hopes all participants

get as much pleasure out of our adventures as he does.  If you have the pleasure of meeting Lori it's likely to be on one of our Scottish trips.

 

 

Diane 

 

 

Diane Lee left industry and a desk job to retrain to work in the outdoors and moved to North Wales. As part of that journey Diane met Roger, became a long term development student, and paddled around Wales with Coastal Spirit in 2011.

When asked what she enjoys most, the answer is journeys and as well as sea kayaking enjoys canoeing, having completed expeditions in Canada and Sweden. She enjoys all outdoor adventures that involve coffee and cake. As a sports masseur Diane also enables other people to keep moving and enjoying their own outdoors activities. The rest of her time is spent with crazy dogs and motorbikes.  Diane is a key member of the team who covers the bookings and admistration when Roger is working away or on an expedition. 

 

 

 

We look forward to sharing the wonders of

sea kayaking,

with you at Coastal Spirit. 

 

 

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