The Coaches

LEON SOMMÉ
BCU 5 Star Sea, 4 Star Surf, 4 Star Inland, Coach 4 Sea

Leon has been paddling and teaching in sea kayaks for 12 years. He has logged thousands of coastal miles on Lake Superior, the Sea of Cortez, the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and the Irish Sea. Most notably, in 1998, Leon successfully circumnavigated Vancouver Island, B.C., a trip of over 700 nautical miles in 28 days. In 2003, he will circumnavigate Iceland with Chris Duff and Shawna Franklin. His passion is to teach other paddlers the skills that they need to safely kayak in the beauty of a stormy sea.

SHAWNA FRANKLIN
BCU 5 Star Sea, 4 Star Surf, 4 Star Inland, Coach 4 Sea

Shawna is the first woman in the United States to gain the BCU 5 Star Sea Award, a test of skills and leadership in advanced sea conditions. Shawna has been paddling and teaching for over 10 years. In 1998, and in 2000, Shawna competed in the San Juan Challenge Sea Kayak Race, placing first in her division both years. In 2003, she will circumnavigate Iceland with Chris Duff and Leon Somme'. Shawna wants to share her enthusiasm for teaching and paddling, and sense of adventure with you!

MATT NELSON
BCU 5 Star Sea, Coach 3 Sea

Growing up in South Central Alaska has given Matt an appreciation and respect for the power of the natural world. Four years ago, Matt and his wife Djuna sailed a small engineless sailboat from Bellingham, Washington to Mexico, out to Hawaii, and back to the San Juan Islands. During that trip they both discovered their love of kayaking- the ability to exist and be mobile in the zone where the sea meets land. Since then, Matt has been progressing as a paddler and BCU coach, enjoying tidal races, surf and a recent trip down the outside of Vancouver Island. While future expeditions are on his mind, he feels that…”My personal quest with paddling is to move ever closer to becoming a water creature. My ultimate task as a coach is to help students realize their paddling goals- making it fun, challenging and safe along the way. Matt’s favorite food is fruit pie with whipped cream.

DJUNA MASCALL
BCU 4 Star Sea and has surfed Skookumchuck!

Djuna and Matt landed on Orcas Island in 2003 aboard their sail boat, on the final leg of a journey from the Northwest to Mexico, to Hawaii and back. Ready for smaller boats, she and Matt discovered paddling in Alaska. She became a “paddler”- learning the skills to enjoy a variety of sea conditions- with Shawna and Leon at Body Boat Blade. Today, teaching yoga at Orcas Mandala Yoga Studio gives her the strength and serenity to attempt managing the shop at Body Boat Blade, and has sparked an interest in coaching kayaking.

Shawna and Leon have been guest instructors at some of the most well recognized kayak skills symposiums across the country. The list includes: the Sweetwater Gulf Coast Symposium (1998-2002), the East Coast Kayak Skills Symposium in NY (2000-2002), and the Port Angeles Symposium (2002). Body Boat Blade's staff co-organized and co-hosted the highly successful West Coast Kayak Skills Symposium held on Orcas Island, WA (2001).

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