We are 9 years old!
Last Tuesday we celebrated NLK's 9th birthday. From one coach working part-time to a full-time business with up to 5 coaches operating throughout the year across Tasmania, mainland Australia and beyond...its been an incredible journey.
Local videographer Jeremy Button has put together the clip below to help us tell our story and thank everyone for their support along the way. Filmed entirely in winter, this video shows you our home town of Hobart and how lucky we are to paddle all year round, exploring its beautiful rivers, bays, beaches and cliffs.
The drive behind NLK comes from a lifetime of paddling...travelling, exploring and competing in some of the world's wildest places. On the eve of the 2019 Ocean Paddling World Championships in Quiberon, France we are stoked to have one of our coaches and one of our paddlers representing Australia. Sam Norton will line up in the mens open event tonight (AEST time), while Sandra Gadsby will take on the womens masters race tomorrow night. Last week another of our coaches, Roz Barber, ticked off her first major channel crossing at the Poor Knights Crossing in Tutukaka, New Zealand, placing 2nd female overall.
Of course there's far more to paddling than competition, and over the years we've realised that paddling can be a constant source of inspiration and fulfilment for people at all stages of life. Into our 10th year of coaching and helping other people access all sorts of awesome experiences, we hope you all know what it means to us that you've found paddling as part of your life!
Please scroll down for all the latest NLK news and we look forward to seeing you on the water soon.
Thankyou for everything and here's to the future!
Ben, Roz, Tory, Sam & Simon
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Next Level Kayaking - celebrating 9 years of coaching across Tasmania, mainland Australia and beyond
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Free shipping this September
Celebrate with us! Take advantage of free shipping on all NLK webstore orders this September by using the discount code "NINEYEARS" during checkout. There's no minimum spend, and you can place as many orders as you like!
*Australia only, Parcel Post or equivalent service. excludes skis & kayaks, while stocks last, offer expires 11.59pm AEST on Sep 30th
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Group paddling sessions
Registrations are open for our fourth round of 2019 group paddling sessions! This is a 12-week round starting Monday 16th September and going through until Sunday 8th December. The start of a round is a great opportunity for both new and existing paddlers to sign up as regulars, and take advantage of the better session rate. Round 4 will see us enjoying the best of the Tassie spring and have you feeling fit, strong, and well prepared for summer! Gear hire is available for all sessions. Check out the following links for more information:
Paddling Foundations (beginner group) - casual, 1 or 2 sessions per week
Women on Water (beginner/intermediate group) - casual, 1 session per week
Paddle Progress (beginner/intermediate group) - casual & regular options, 3 sessions per week
Moving Targets (intermediate/advanced group) - casual & regular options, 3 sessions per week
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Poor Knights Crossing report - Roz Barber
24 hours on and what I achieved yesterday is starting to sink in.
Friday nights sleep was restless, as the nerves kicked in when walking back to my bed after dinner and the briefing. These days I know this is normal for me, and as much as everything in my mind is telling me to do the short course, I am aware that I will feel better the moment I get in my ski - I am here for the Crossing. Breakfast, boat and gear scrutineering, and check in all went smoothly, and catching up with fellow paddlers from the night before had me relaxing. The sun was shining and the wind was blowing in the forecast direction, and while I did some land based warming up I thought about the opening of our briefing the night before, and felt calm. This was going to be amazing!
Starting inside the mariner was good for me, having paddled there already I was aware of the hazards and knew how close I could get to the rocks an the way out. I started right on the front, surrounded by Waka paddlers (for this event ski paddlers are a minority) and got a great start. Coaches orders....’go out hard and keep them in sight for as long as possible!’ I was super happy with my start, it was as good as I could have had it, and as we went out through the heads and I saw the islands so clearly I relaxed and backed off a fraction....there was a long way to go!
This race turns out to be three different events in one. It takes around 5km to be out of the wind shadow and into the real conditions. Small runs and light winds, maybe 10knots allowing me plenty of time to get into a groove and also have a chance to look around and work out my line. I was surprised at how good I felt, aware of how everyone separated and chose different lines, as well as being aware it would get very real out there!!
It was about 1hr in, after having some super fun catching runs, and playing with the wind and water, that my first taste of this open water got real. A converging of wind waves, and two different currents all meeting made the water very hard to read, unpredictable and very technical paddling! This was also the first point where I had an awareness of how it feels to be around 10km off land....in any direction! When you are this far from land all you can see are silhouettes on the horizon, no definition in the land mass. I was pleased that it didn’t freak me out, it just made me paddle in a more determined way, having serious words with myself when I made a couple of bad judgements that filled my bucket with water. Lucky the water is warm here!
It is also amazing how comforting it is knowing there are no less than 5 safety boats on the water, plus jet skis. And these safety boats are not small, a lot of them are substantial tourist and dive boats, and they have all attended a briefing the night before due to the expectations that are on them, from the race director, Tim Eves. I was happy with how I was paddling, and with how good I felt fitness wise, until around 2km off the Islands. At this point the swell increased, as did the wind, and the rebound kicked in. Then 1km off I had started to wonder where I needed to go, which pass should I go through? It was here that I swam. It was like someone simply tipped me out of my boat. I was annoyed that a lack of concentration on the water slowed me up that much, but it also gave me a chance to take in where I was, be aware of the sheer scale of this rebound and messy water, and find a boat to show me the way!
The Maori believe that I was stopped while the spirits worked out who I was and then welcomed me. When welcomed by the spirits a path through will become obvious. The way I felt like I was tipped from my boat, then how good I felt through the rebound once I had a way shown, next year I will be asking the spirits for permission well before the islands. I am blown away at the level of respect paid to where we were. Once through the pass I saw the finish boat and then the line of paddlers in front of me who were waiting to get their craft loaded onto the boats for the return trip.
This Crossing and this week has changed me. I will return home a stronger, more confident paddler. I will be back next year, so keen to be helping the paddlers who join us for our first international Paddling Getaway complete either the long course, or the newly added short course of 12 km. Next year I’m returning with a new goal....that goal will stay unspoken, but is important to me.
The prize giving was a fun evening with everyone agreeing it was not an easy day on the water. We had a great meal and plenty of high quality banter! A lovely surprise for me was being second female in 2hr 35 min 46 sec. Until next year....massive thank you to Tim Eves, my fellow paddlers, the incredible community I met in Tutukaka, over a few days. A truly memorable race and event - Roz
More articles from Roz during her trip to New Zealand
Poor Knights Crossing - Day 2
Poor Knights Crossing - Day 3
Poor Knights Crossing - post race on Day 4
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Poor Knights Crossing Paddling Getaway
Tutukaka Coast - New Zealand - September 2020
with Next Level Kayaking and Rachel Clarke
*expressions of interest*
We’re stoked to let you know about our first international Paddling Getaway! After months of planning, collaboration with local experts, and Roz's recce trip to the area last week, we’re ready to broaden our horizons...and yours.
This Paddling Getaway will introduce you to New Zealand’s Tutukaka Coast, rated in the top 3 coastal destinations on the planet by National Geographic Traveller, and renowned for offering the best sub-tropical diving in the world. The Getaway will run in the lead up to the 2020 Poor Knights Crossing, a 30km downwind event starting or finishing in Rikoriko Cave on the Poor Knights Islands. Participants will also have the option of undertaking the shorter Matapouri Reef Run (12km) on race day if they decide the full crossing is not for them. You can read more about this stunning area here and check out footage from the 2018 Poor Knights Crossing here.
At a longtitude of 35.5 degrees south and a latitude of 174.7 degrees east, the Poor Knights Islands are warmed by waters from the Coral Sea and the tropical current stream from Lord Howe Island off the Australian east coast. The entire region is a marine and nature reserve. Isolated from the mainland for thousands of years, the Poor Knights Islands are a unique biodiversity zone where temperate meets tropical, with the abundant and highly evolved fish, seabird, plant and coral life a window in time to New Zealand’s early days.
Tutukaka is the Maori word for “parrot snaring tree”. The Tutukaka area was renowned for Puriri trees, whose succulent red berries attract parrots and wood pigeons, a favourite food of the indigenous Maori. Kaitiaki, or kaitiakitanga, is another Maori word you will hear during our Getaway. It means guardianship, protection and preservation of cultural and ecological heritage. The Maori people believe that there is a deep kinship between humans and the environment, and working together to preserve it for future generations is crucial. The local community who live along the Tutukaka coast are particularly aware of this, and passionate about passing on their knowledge and respect for their area.
Trip schedule
Flying into Auckland, we’ll start our 2020 Poor Knights Crossing Getaway by collecting a trailer and skis (both Epic and Fenn craft will be available). We’ll then drive 3 hours north to the Tutukaka Coast. Upon checking into our self-contained accommodation and spending our first evening, we’ll meet Poor Knights Crossing event director Tim Eves and launch into our paddling program for the trip! A selection of “must do” paddles, including a mix of out-and-back and downwind, will be introduced and supported by Tim and the NLK team until the Friday before the race, where we’ll be joined by champion surfski paddler, coach and Auckland local Rachel Clarke. Rachel will be taking us through a clinic and course Q&A session, and helping Getaway participants with preparation notes and paddling-specific information about the local area and the demands of the crossing before the event. Our Getaway paddling program will include a day trip out to the Poor Knights Islands marine reserve aboard the ski transport vessel “Hookie”, allowing participants to experience the crossing prior to the event, with the safety net of a support boat and without the pressure of a race. Post-event we’ll be taking a few extra days to explore the area, with paddling and other water-based activities, as well as land-based activities on offer...before heading back to Auckland to fly home.
Final trip details
Following Roz's recent trip to the Tutukaka Coast, we'll have final trip details for next year's Getaway available very soon. The 2020 Poor Knights Crossing will run on either 12/13 or 19/20 September, with our Getaway starting 5 days prior and extending for 2 days afterwards. Stay tuned!
Expressions of interest
We are currently seeking expressions of interest for our 2020 Poor Knights Crossing Paddling Getaway, which will also give you priority registration for the trip. Please email expressions of interest to ben@nextlevelkayaking.com.au and we will reply with more information.
We hope you can join us on the Tutukaka Coast in New Zealand next year!
Ben, Roz, Rachel & Tim
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2019 Paddler Survey
Our 2019 Paddler Survey has perhaps been the most uplifting thing we've ever done. Receiving responses from all across Australia, we feel much better informed and more confident about the path ahead. In one part of the survey we asked "In your own words, describe how you feel about Next Level Kayaking and why". The image above includes the word cloud our survey software made from everyone's answers. In another part we asked "Why have you chosen paddling over other sports? Tell us what you love most about paddling" You can see the most significant responses to that question in the image below.
Some other feedback from paddlers far and wide:
"I think NLK has changed the face of paddling in Tasmania and made it more accessable for people to learn to paddle and easily access equipment during that process without having to purchase. This ease of accesability has increased paddling numbers."
"Professional; engaging and probably the best squad in the Southern States."
"I love being in or near the ocean. There is something that happens for me at a cellular level when I’m with the ocean. That’s pretty woo woo hey!!?? But that’s how it is!!"
We also got encouraging feedback about our safety culture, with everyone who currently paddles with us answering "yes" to the question "Do you feel safe and supported on the water with our current procedures?"
The purpose of the survey was to tease out parts of our business we can improve, particularly as we take our adventurous paddling activities outside of Tasmania and Australia. We've now got some key areas to focus on for the 2019/20 season and beyond, and these will help us take our coaching to a whole new level.
A big thankyou to everyone who participated in our 2019 Paddler Survey! Your feedback really means a lot to us. There are still a few survey activities going on so we'll have more news soon, including the much anticipated prize draws!
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Upcoming events
Sep 11 - Ocean Paddling World Championships open (Go Sam!)
Sep 12 - Ocean Paddling World Championships masters (Go Sandra!)
Live tracking from the Worlds is available here
See updates on the event Facebook page here
Sep 13 - NLK Spring Skills & Safety Course, Ulverstone
Sep 16 - NLK Round 4 begins
Sep 22 - FitEx Tasmanian Health & Fitness Expo, PW1 Hobart
Sep 28 - NLK Spring Skills & Safety Course, Hobart
Sep 5 and 6 - Freycinet Challenge, Coles Bay
Sep 12 - NLK Adventure Paddle #1 (season opener)
Sep 19 - NLK Adventure Paddle #2
Sep 26 - NLK Adventure Paddle #3
Nov 2 - Surf Safari, Hobart
Nov 8 to 11 - NLK East Coast Tasmania Paddling Getaway
Nov 16 - NLK Adventure Paddle #4
Nov 17 - NLK Beginner Course part 1, Kingston
Nov 23 - NLK Adventure Paddle #5
Nov 24 - NLK Beginner Course part 2, Kingston
Nov 30 - NLK Adventure Paddle #6
Dec 4 to 9 - NLK 20 Beaches Paddling Getaway, Sydney
Dec 7 - NLK Adventure Paddle #7
Dec8 - NLK Round 4 ends
Dec 14 - NLK Social Paddle & End of Year Celebrations
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Next Level Kayaking - group training sessions
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Next Level Kayaking - world class coaching
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