Beyond The Eddy Line podcast

How do you activate your body to generate power and what will be the best warmups Lee Richardson is the owner of Best Coast Outfitters shares his routine https://www.bestcoastoutfitters.com/

You asked for the little tricks and tips, here they are: Lee Richardson , a long time guide and the owner of Best Coast Outfitters is sharing in this episode: How to handle the boat, best tips to load and unload a bot for overnight ? How to build your community of paddlers. Simple tips, practical advice, and lessons learned from years on the water.

How do you tune up your surf? Amber Champion’s favorite playground are waves. She has trained at the highest levels of kayak surfing and loves teaching paddlers all the steps needed to get on a wave and make the most of it. In this episode, Amber shares what we can learn by simply watching a wave, drills we can practice on flat water, and, most importantly, her tips for catching a wave and staying on it. From reading the water to finding the right timing, this episode is all about building the skills to take your kayaking into the surf. https://www.championadventurecoaching.com/

Are we too dogmatic about how we teach and practice kayaking? My guest, Lee Richardson , teaches kayaking and watches paddlers develop their skills. He believes we can sometimes become too focused on rules, techniques, and “the right way” and forget to leave room for personal judgmental and experiment. In this episode we talk about teaching, decision making, adapting techniques to conditions, and giving paddlers the freedom to develop their own judgment on the water. Lee Richardson is the owner of Best Coast Outfitters https://www.bestcoastoutfitters.com/

Are you more of a technical paddler or a tactical paddler? What is the difference between the two? How do we learn to work on the skills we are lacking of. My guest Amber Champion has a decade of experience guiding, coaching, she empowers people to paddle with confidence as she mentor paddlers across a wide range of environments. https://www.championadventurecoaching.com/

In this episode, we explore what different kayak rolls teach your body, which muscles each roll emphasizes, and how practicing a variety of techniques can build a stronger, more adaptable roll. We also look at some classic rolling mistakes, and when it might actually be time to “fire” your instructor! Packed with practical tips, insights, and explanations from experienced instructors Chessy Knight and Annelisa Pedersen .

How understanding the traditional paddling skills used by Innuits, transferred to modern kayaking? Chessy Knight was one of the instructors at the South Sound Traditional Inuit Kayak Symposium (Sstiks). In this episode, she shares what valuable skills can you learn from throwing a harpoon and build a "skin" on frame boat that can be used in your daily paddling . https://masikrolling.com/

One of the oldest surviving Inuit kayaks has returned to Canada after spending centuries in the Vatican Museums. What can a hand-crafted kayak, built more than 100 years ago, teach us today? In this episode, I speak with Darrel Nasogaluak of Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, who was the person that identified the kayak. Drawing on the traditional knowledge passed down by his grandfather, Darrel recognized unique construction details that revealed the kayak's origins. He shares how this remarkable vessel was built, how it was used, and what it tells us about the craftsmanship, culture, and life on the water, in this rich area over a century ago. We wrap up the episode with a special performance recorded at the 2025 Beluga Summit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJSJ8Hr0RZ8&list=PLorCqAj2t42DwgJVKC4eWZ5QBeTRZ2Upt&index=3

The Columbia River, the largest river in the Pacific Northwest, stretches about 1,200 miles. From the Canadian Rockies in British Columbia Canada through Washington and Oregon to the Pacific Ocean. Neil Schulman is an ocean kayaker, lives in Portland, Oregon, returns to share his journey paddling sections of this remarkable river.

Warren Williamson is a self-taught designer who combined his woodworking skills and passion for paddling to building unique wooden kayaks. In this episode, we look into the type of boats he builds and how each is being used on the water. Here are some of his designs: https://www.coroflot.com/idezineit

One of my favorite parts of kayaking is witnessing the ever changing relationship between the land and the sea. At low tide, the shoreline transforms, exposing colorful rock walls, tide pools, and a hidden world that disappears beneath the waves just hours later. Roy Jantzen, author of Wildlife Weekends , joins us to reveal the fascinating lives of the creatures and the incredible and how much they have to adopt to survive.

Canoe Polo, also known as Kayak Polo, originated in Great Britain in the late 19th century. It is a fast-paced contact sport that demands advanced paddling skills, including rolling, edging, boat control, and constant situational awareness. My guest, Neil Schulman from Oregon, is both an experienced ocean kayaker and a competitive kayak polo player. In this episode, he explains how the skills developed on the polo court can transfer directly to ocean kayaking and help paddlers handle real-world conditions with greater confidence and control.

The Race to Alaska (R2AK) kicks off this Sunday, June 14. About 70 teams will take on the 1,200 km (750-mile) journey from Washington State to Alaska, a race that can take up to three weeks to complete. While most competitors sail, a handful of determined sea kayakers choose to paddle the entire distance. Scott McDonald from Victoria, did it a few years ago . He shares the skills, preparation, and mindset needed to paddle for three weeks through some of the Pacific Northwest's most challenging conditions. Find out about the race and the teams here: https://r2ak.com/

Personal goals are what drive us to improve, grow, and get better. Caroline Ross of Crosscurrents Kayak , lives in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island and has set a personal goal to circumnavigate 40 small islands. So far, she has paddled 186.27 nautical miles (344.97 km). In this episode, she shares the challenges and highlights of this ongoing journey. https://crosscurrentskayak.ca/

Known for his skill and experience in dynamic coastal environments, Rowan Jones Pardy believes: " Rock gardening is the intersection where skills, technique, and energy meet." Growing up on the west coast of Vancouver Island, Rowan is a sea kayak guide and instructor who learned to paddle before he learned to walk. In this episode, we explore what it takes to paddle confidently in and around rocks.

Real learning happens outside the comfort zone. In this episode, I speak with Caroline Ross , owner of Crosscurrents Kayak on Central Vancouver Island. Caroline specializes in sea kayak training, including dynamic and moving water courses, and teaches a unique program called underwater, composure helping paddlers build confidence and control in challenging conditions. https://crosscurrentskayak.ca/

Large herring bait balls can still be seen along parts of the west coast of Canada and the United States. While salmon often gets most of the attention, this time of the year, herring are what truly bring the coast to life: attracting whales, sea lions, seabirds, and countless other marine species. Roy Jantzen, author of Wildlife Weekends is back to share insights about the herring spawn, the wildlife it attracts, and some fascinating hydrophone surprises recorded beneath the surface. Listen live to whale's sounds, BC Hydrophone Network: https://whalesound.ca/whales-and-sound/ Orca Lab: https://www.youtube.com/live/_M2WVpSzgCI

The west side of Haida Gwaii, BC , is one of the most exposed stretches of coastline in Canada. More complex than the east coast and offering a mix of reefs, current channels, exposed headlands and tidal currents with far fewer landing options. This 155 nautical-mile journey from Sandspit to Rose Harbour demands strong skills, careful planning. My returning guest, Finn Steiner , co-owner of SKILS , shares how he is preparing for his 16 days solo expedition to Haida Gwaii this summer beside taking a 3 pieces kayak and a camera. https://skils.ca

“My days on the river are not done yet,” says Patricia (Pat) Jones, 72. Pat has taken on the Yukon River Quest 3 times, completing it twice, finishing second in the women’s category both times, and becoming the oldest woman to finish the race . one if them was a flood year. Waves reached up to 2 meters, and many boats capsized along the 715 km (444-mile) course of the longest paddling race in the world. In the last episode, she shared the story of the race she never finished. In this episode she Shares the lessons learned, saved a few people on the way and did it all over again. Registration for the race closes May 13, 2026. https://www.yukonriverquest.com/

The Yukon River Quest is the longest paddling race in the world. Its 715 km (444-mile) journey from Whitehorse to Dawson City, tracing routes shaped by the Klondike Gold Rush. Racers come from around the globe, competing in categories ranging from solo paddlers to eight-person canoe teams. My guest, Patricia (Pat) Jones , has taken on this challenge 3 times, completing the race twice and finishing second in the women’s category both times. In this episode, she shares the story of the race she didn’t finish and what it truly takes, physically, mentally, and emotionally, to face one of the most demanding river races on Earth. Registration to the race close on May 13 2026 https://www.yukonriverquest.com/