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Alex Lalonde moved to Washington State in 2018. With a university degree in Expeditionary Studies, years of mentorship under top-level coaches, and working as an instructor in Europe, he came looking for his opportunity to share his passion and expertise. Having found common ground with the best kayak coaches on the west coast, he was ready to take the torch and carry the legacy of Body Boat Blade forward. Every generation stands on the shoulders of those who came before and the next-generation of Body Boat Blade is committed to holding the quality standard to its highest level.
Running a small business is never easy. In order to maintain a learner-centered approach, Alex has teamed up with Megan and Erik Schorr, owners of a kayak tour company and a kayak rental outfit located on Fidalgo Island and longtime residents of the San Juan Islands. This co-ownership will allow Alex and his team of coaches to focus completely on the development of the courses and their students’ needs while Megan and Erik focus on the administration and logistics.
The new home of Body Boat Blade is in Anacortes Washington. This convenient location on beautiful Fidalgo Island allows class participants to access us easily from Seattle and the surrounding area. Fidalgo Island may be one of the best places in the Pacific Northwest to develop your paddling skills. In addition to protected lakes and bays we have the dynamic waters of Deception Pass right in our backyard. Several small offshore islands present opportunities for learning how to navigate complex tidal streams and more exposed conditions. Fidalgo Island is also the Home Port to the San Juan Islands that our expeditionary classes will explore. The nearby rugged Washington and British Columbia coasts offer excellent opportunities for our surf, white-water and expedition courses.
At Body Boat Blade, our coaching philosophy is based on a student-focused and learner-led approach. We are not here to teach the “one way” to do things, and we believe that our students have as much to teach us as we have to teach them. By committing ourselves to continual personal and professional development, we aim to bring the most up to date and modern techniques to our courses. We are here to provide learning in a safe and enjoyable environment that allows anyone to participate. Body Boat Blade is an inclusive kayak school that supports participation from everyone regardless of age, identity or ability. Everyone is welcome to kayak with Body Boat Blade.
Body Boat Blade specializes in high-quality instruction for paddlers at any skill level. Our certified instructors are committed to upholding the highest standards of coaching, leadership, and judgment in every program that we offer. We believe that kayaking is all about having fun. By increasing your skills, you greatly increase the fun, excitement, and opportunities you have as a paddler. Our year-round courses range in length from three hours to five-day kayak camps. Our progressive curriculum includes fundamental skills training, surfing, rough water and tidal race paddling, leadership and guide training, British Canoeing training and assessments, video stroke analysis, navigation, expeditioning, white-water, and private instruction. All coaches at Body Boat Blade International are British Canoeing certified, and work within the remit of their awards.
Body Boat Blade International was founded by two of the most qualified and dedicated kayak instructors in the Pacific Northwest. Over 18 years the name Body Boat Blade has become synonymous with high-quality sea kayak coaching. In 2019 Shawna and Leon decided that the time was right to focus on some of their other interests. They wanted to find someone who could carry on the Body Boat Blade tradition of excellence. The timing was perfect. Alex LaLonde and Ted Tetrault represent a new generation of coaches who benefit from the big advancements in coaching philosophy that has occurred in the last 15 years. We all stand on the shoulders of giants and they are ready to take on the mantle of the amazing school that Shawna and Leon created.
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