Scottish Sea Kayak Symposium - 25th - 28th May 2007

19th May 2007

The weekend of 25 – 28 May 2007 will see around 250 sea kayakers from around the UK, America; Holland; Jersey; Ireland and France heading to the Isle of Skye to attend the 8th Scottish Sea Kayak Symposium. The Symposium will be based at Sabhal Mor Ostaig, the Gaelic College on the Sleat peninsula. The 2007 Scottish Sea Kayak Symposium has been supported by the Highland 2007 Regional Events Programme which is funded by EventScotland as part of Scotland’s Year of Highland Culture.

Caithness will be represented by 7 members of the Thurso based Pentland Canoe Club who will be attending the event. Ken Nicol, from the Pentland Canoe Club, is a member and Treasurer of the organising Committee for the event.

Sea kayaking is one of the fastest growing outdoor pursuits in the UK with participants discovering how to visit the hidden treasures of the coastline or accessing areas normally not readily accessible. The Scottish Sea Kayak Symposium was established with the aim of promoting the dissemination of knowledge, safe practice and enjoyment of sea kayaking. Now firmly based in Skye, the event can further promote the beauty of the West Highlands and the Island of Skye to sea paddlers.

The Scottish Sea Kayak Symposium is one of, if not the, biggest sea kayaking festival in the UK and is aimed at individuals, families and those interested in the sport. The 2007 event will build on previous events to be the best ever festival by offering fantastic paddling opportunities around the Skye coastline with top kayaking tips from leading sea paddlers and coaches in the UK. These individuals are accomplished speakers, top coaches, respected authors on kayaking, and expedition paddlers. They will join with experts on the wildlife and culture of Skye to make this the sea kayaking festival of the year. During the weekend the leading suppliers and manufacturers of sea kayaks will be present for participants to try out and buy the latest equipment.

Duncan Winning OBE, the Chairman of the Scottish Sea Kayak Symposium organising committee commented “First held in 1992, the event is one of the longest running of its type in the British Isles and is now established in one of the world’s prime sea paddling locations. It has grown with the upsurge in popularity of sea kayaking and enjoys a high reputation amongst the international sea paddling community. We look forward to welcoming everyone to this years event.”

Alison Magee, chair of Highland 2007, said: “Highland 2007 is delighted to support this popular event and cannot think of a better location for participants from around the world to come and enjoy sea kayaking. Kayakers are in for a treat in terms of both content and location and we are sure the event will be a huge success due to the combination and quality of both.”

Further details on the Scottish Sea Kayak Symposium can be found at
www.seasymposium.org

For Pentland Canoe Club see
www.pentlandcanoeclub.org.uk/

For Caithness Kayak Club see
www.caithnesskayakclub.co.uk/

For Highland Year Of Culture see
www.highland2007.com/