Surf and Scenery Attract a World-Class Array of Sea Kayakers to Wawa

PRLog (Press Release) - Sep. 24, 2012 - Wawa, Ontario—When it came time to select a location on the Canadian shore of the Great Lakes for an annual October rough-water sea kayak festival, there was no question organizers Keith Wikle and Ryan Rushton would choose Wawa, Ont.’s Naturally Superior Adventures and Rock Island Lodge.

Slated for Oct. 5-8, 2012, the second-annual Gales Storm Gathering features an  international array of renowned sea kayak instructors from Great Britain, Canada and the United States.

Organizers Wikle and Rushton turned to Rock Island Lodge, an eco-resort and  seven-acre property on Lake Superior’s northeastern shore at the mouth of the Michipicoten River, to provide support. The long-weekend event includes instruction for intermediate to advanced paddlers, accommodations, meals and entertainment.
“We’ve always believed the waves at the mouth of the Michipicoten are some of the best on the Great Lakes,” says David Wells, Naturally Superior Adventures and Rock Island Lodge’s director.
“It’s great to be recognized for this by an international audience.” Wikle, an expert sea kayaker, instructor and paddlesports industry blogger from Kalamazoo, Mich., says the Wawa area offers a superlative blend of rugged, undeveloped coastline, great hospitality and the possibility for unique water conditions. “When the Michipicoten is flowing against a lake swell, it’s about as close as you can get to tidal conditions on freshwater,” he notes. “You can’t find waves like that without going to the ocean.”

Along with Rushton, the owner of Chicago, Ill.’s Geneva Kayak Center, Wikle is bringing in high-ranking British Canoe Union sea kayak coaches Andy Stamp and Nick Cunliffe from England, well-known Washington state-based instructors Leon Somme and Shawna Franklin, and Christopher Lockyer, an outfitter and instructor from Nova Scotia. While most participants are expected to arrive from the United States, Wells expects a contingent of paddlers from the Toronto area to be lured north by the event. “It’s rare to see such a world-class field of sea kayaking experts in one place,” says Wells. “We hope the lake lives up to its reputation and delivers some big waves.”

The inaugural Gales Storm Gathering was held in 2011 near Marquette, Mich., and attracted nearly 50 participants. This year, Wikle says the combination of scenery, surf and expert instruction is worth the drive north to Wawa. “There’s rugged wilderness coastline, the promise of great waves and excellent facilities,” says Wikle. “We are looking forward to having a great time.”

For more information visit www.galesstormgathering.com
Media inquiries contact:
Megan Gamble, 800-203-9092 or info@naturallysuperior.com
Keith Wikle, kjwikle@gmail.com

Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/11982324/1