SA Sea Kayaking Skills Exchange (SASKSE) 2026

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Join us for a weekend of connection, learning, and adventure at the SA Sea Kayaking Skills Exchange 2026 in beautiful Victor Harbor.

A gathering designed to bring together the sea kayaking community of South Australia from Beginners to Advanced paddlers. Over two and a half days, participants will have the opportunity to:

  • Attend event dinners on Friday and Saturday night including inspiring Guest Speaker Sea Kayaker/International Adventurer, David Williamson, (Friday night).
  • Share experiences and knowledge with fellow kayakers
  • Develop and refine paddling and rescue skills. Learn new techniques on the water such as:
    • Rescues
    • Rolling
    • Re-Entries
    • Stroke technique
    • Take part in paddle trips according to skills level
    • Hear from inspiring guest speakers
    • Share experiences and knowledge with fellow kayakers
  • Sea Kayaking Equipment Exchange, bring your unwanted good quality sea kayaking kit and sell or exchange it with fellow participants.

Equipment for each participant :

Each paddler to have a;

  • Sea kayak
  • Paddle,
  • PFD
  • Spray deck
  • Paddle float (if you have one- otherwise borrow from other paddlers),
  • Appropriate on water clothing for immersion
    • Wetsuit
    • Thermals
    • Booties

Equipment Hire 

Boats and equipment can be hired from:

  • Canoe the Coorong canoethecoorong@gmail.com, Brenton 0424826008,
  • or contact event organisers Hugh Stewart, 0423283214 or Hugh MacMillan

Registrations for SA Sea Kayaking Skills Exchange 2026 are now open;

Fri March 27, from 6.30pm to 3pm Sunday March 29, 2026

Victor Harbor, South Australia 

Cost: (includes lunch on Saturday and SASKSE paddling hat )

For more info please TEXT 0415 117472.

If you’d like information on becoming an Adelaide Canoe Club – sea and river kayaking and canoe polo member please email info@adelaidecanoeclub.org.au

For any questions regarding registrations please contact Yolanda on 0415 117472.

Instructors 

Phil Doddridge Lead Instructor for SA Sea Kayaking Skills Exchange 2026, 2024 SA Paddle Life Membership Recipient,  Phil  has been involved in kayaking and the Adelaide Canoe Club since the 1980’s, making Phil part of the ‘Golden Era’ of Australian Sea Kayaking.

As an Outdoor Education teacher, he became qualified as a white water instructor and part of this process was to have a go at Canoe Polo. Phil loved the game and became a State, National and International coach and player over many years. Phil has been on the State and National Paddle Australia Education and Training technical committees and conducted training programs in several Australian states.

In recent years sea kayaking is Phil’s passion with several major expeditions. These include Coffin Bay to Port Lincoln, The Sir Joseph Banks Islands, The Neptune Islands, Pearson Island, Bass Strait, Streaky Bay to Elliston and Circumnavigation of KI to name a few. Kayaking will remain his passion until he can no longer pick up a paddle! We’s go as far as say, he’ll probably be buried with his trusty greenland paddle.

Hugh Stewart Paddle SA Instructor of the Year 2025. Hugh has been paddling for decades and still chases the same things that drew him into sea kayaking from the start: the challenge, the joy, and the friendships that come from dancing on bouncy water (aka the sea).  Known for his fluoro shirts, questionable hats, and genuinely good vibes, Hugh brings deep experience, calm leadership and a big heart to every paddle. An all-round nice guy. A seriously good instructor. And proof that you can take safety and skill seriously without taking yourself too seriously.

 

Anne Langsford    Current President of the Adelaide Canoe Club, Anne has been a member of ACC for over 20 years, enjoying river, sea and whitewater kayaking and also played canoe polo, representing South Australia in the Master’s team at several National Championships. Through encouragement and training by other club members she gained Instructor qualifications and is now an Assessor with Paddle Australia for kayaking and canoeing.

 

 

 

 

 

Simon Langsford  Simon has been paddling for many decades. He originally joined the club to play canoe polo but discovered the club did much more than that. It introduced him to white water kayaking,  extended river camping and eventually the skills needed for sea kayaking.

  • Scott Polly
  • Jim Townsend

Demonstrators 

 

Hugh McMillan  is an avid sea kayaker who has paddled and occasionally blown his roll in waters all around the world. Having both needed rescue and carried out rescues himself in some pretty tough conditions, he’s a big believer in the value of strong rescue skills for safe, enjoyable paddling. Hugh focuses on practical, no-nonsense techniques that are easy to learn and help build real confidence on the water. If Hugh’s demonstrating, you can count on getting wet.

 

 

 

Karl Meyer  A South Coast paddler with 5 years of sea kayaking experience, he has undertaken expeditions to Kangaroo Island, Thistle and Wedge Island and is currently training for Bass Strait. Holding Sea Guide qualifications, he is drawn to remote, multiday journeys and the spirit of adventure found in wild coastal environments. While relatively new to sea kayaking, he brings a long history of outdoor exploration and a strong connection to landscape and community. He leads with a calm, steady presence and values thoughtful risk management, shared experience, and time spent in remote places.

Greg Adams Sea kayaking fuels Greg’s sense of adventure. Greg loves practicing skills for future expeditions and it gives him the ability to continue his  lifelong connection with the sea.

 

 

 

 

 

Bernard Goble began kayaking with a homemade slalom kayak and canoe during the 1970’s in the UK. Messing around in boats became the family’s main recreational activity with many trips with both the ACC and independently.

UK rivers, Scottish lochs, canals, Irish ,French and Australian rivers have been explored, coastal sea expeditions including many KI crossings and Bass Strait explorations.

I believe you can never stop learning and improving one’s skills and am personally very happy to share the knowledge & skills gained over many years.

 

Charlie Walker 

I joined the Adelaide Canoe Club about 15 years ago to learn how to paddle a kayak that I had built, and have been learning ever since. I have paddled in Fiji, Indonesia, Iceland and Tasmania, but am happiest when just exploring a rock garden or messing about in the surf, where more technical skills are required. I hope to keep on paddling and learning for as long as I can.

 

Program for SASKSE 26 

Venue:  Event Dinners 

  • Friday 27th March -Hotel Grosvenor, Victor Harbor
    • Registration from 6.30pm
    • Welcome & David Williamson Presentation  from 7.30pm
  • Saturday 28th March – Hotel Crown, Victor Harbour, from 6.30pm

Suggested Accommodation:

NRMA Victor Harbor Beachfront Holiday Park

114 Victoria St, Victor Harbor, SA, 5211  |   Phone: 08 85521111
Email: victorharbor@nrmaparksandresorts.com.au  https://www.nrmaparksandresorts.com.au/victor-harbor/–

Arrival information:

  • NRMA Victor Harbor Beachfront Holiday Park is located at 114 Victoria St, Victor Harbor
  • Check-in time is after 14:00 (depending on availability). Check-out time is 10:00.
  • Accommodation bookings will be required to provide a credit card as security against incidentals during your stay. If there is no credit card on the booking, a $200 cash bond will be required. This bond will be refunded on departure.
  • If you are an NRMA member, you are required show your proof of membership on arrival.
  • One car space is available per site/cabin. A visitors carpark is available to guests at the front of the park.
  • Photo Identification is required upon check in by the guest who booked in.

SASKSE Camp Ground Hub

If you wish to book next to the SASKSE Camp Ground Hub, request to be placed near Hugh Stewart’s site. This will be the camp ground’s meeting site.

Paddling Venues: – Victor Harbor

  • CM Thorpe and John Compton Reserves,
  • Encounter Lakes
  • Kent Reserve

Goolwa is a possible alternative venue if weather is bad.

Friday Night 27th March:

Hotel Grosvenor Conference Room, Victor Harbor

Registration and Welcome Dinner.

6.30 pm   Registration Opens.

7.30 pm   Welcome by ACC President Anne Langsford

8.00 pm   Invited Speaker: David Williamson: Intercontinental Paddling Adventures.

9.00 pm   Final Questions:

Saturday 28th March:

7.00am :

Breakfast available at your own cost:

Boulevard Cafe on the Lake, 41 Bartel Blvd, Victor Harbor SA 5211.

8.00am.

Move across the road to the CM Thorpe reserve and unload boats.

Introduction to Leaders  Final organising into groups.

8.30am  Group paddle to the end of Encounter Lake and back as warm up (5-6km)

Check boats and equipment as people get on the water.

Note: Novices to adjust the distance to suit their paddle speed.

9.30am

Final Group allocation and following group program starts;

  • Novice Group
  • Skills Exchange Group 1
  • Skills Exchange Group 2

Hugh Stewart: Ground support for late comers

Novice Group:

Instructors: Anne and Simon Langsford

Location: Encounter Lakes.

Recapitulation of the Basic Skills of Kayaking:

  • Basic equipment
  • Basic strokes
  • Boat control
  • Wet exit
  • Assisted T rescue (heel hook)

Skills Exchange Group 1

Instructors: Scott Polley, Jim Townsend, Hugh Stewart, Charlie Walker

Demonstrators: Bernard Goble, Hugh Macmillan

Location:

  • Hugh Macmillan to introduce and brief
  • Demonstration and practice of self rescue techniques
  • 4 on the water stations
    • Cowboy Scramble
    • Paddle Float Heel Hook
    • Paddle Float Outrigger
    • Assisted T Rescue Heel Hook (rescuer and rescuee)
    • Up to 4 people per station (30-40 mins per station)
    • Variants on each skill, paddle float re enter and roll.

Skill Exchange group 2:  Max of 10 people,   

Instructor: Phil Doddridge 

Location: John Compton Reserve, Encounter Lakes.

Rolling and Re-enter and roll

12.30 Lunch: Lunch provided and delivered to CM Thorpe reserve.

2.00pm Re-Group

Novice Group

Encounter Lakes

  • ( Rescues) recapitulation and further practice.
  • On water games to develop paddle skills eg ball toss,

Skills Exchange Groups 1 and 2 :

  • Sea Kayaking Games and Play.
    • Fastest rescues
    • Most novel rescues
    • Mass rescues,
    • Try another kayak.
    • Try another paddle.

5.00pm Finish paddling

7.00pm Dinner at Hotel Crown Bistro (Individual Cost).

Sunday 29th March:

8.00am  Breakfast at the Caravan Park (BYO)  or Cafe to be organised (Buy your own)

9.00am  Equipment Exchange – Kent Reserve

  • This is an opportunity to sell your unwanted or surplus sea kayak gear.
  • Boot sale in the carpark,  (open to public )

10.00am Organise into Paddle Groups – Kent Reserve

Novices – (bring lunch)

Instructor/Leaders: Anne and Simon Langsford

  • Paddle to Granite Island and back.
  • Lunch on a destination Beach

Skills Exchange Groups– (bring lunch)

Instructor/Leaders: Jim Townsend, Scott Polly, and Hugh Stewart

  • Paddle to West Island from Kent Reserve
  • Lunch on Kings Beach or Victor Harbour foreshore
  • Paddle around Granite Island (if time).
  • Practice rescues when closer to shore.

3.00pm:

Close on beach at Kent Reserve:

  • Group Photo
  • Awards and Thank you’s

To register for this event go to:

For Adelaide Canoe Club Members go to:  https://paddleaustralia.justgo.com/…/D832E53E3F2260E41…/

For Paddle Australia Members go to: https://paddleaustralia.justgo.com/workbench/public/events?ref=13D8E4B5A77B4DEE423B74A1D179AA966C8392B9

For Non Paddle Australia Members go to https://paddleaustralia.justgo.com/workbench/public/events?ref=13D8E4B5A77B4DEE423B74A1D179AA966C8392B9

South Australian Sea Kayak Skills Exchange (SASKSE26)

Places are Limited 

Please follow us on to be kept up to date SASKSE 2026

If you have any questions about the trip get in touch with the organisers. You must register via JustGo online prior to the closing date – see booking link below. Ticking the ‘I am going’ box on the Facebook Event page does not constitute a booking.

Be COVID Safe – Do not book if you’re sick. Get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms. Follow the SA Health advice if you test positive to COVID-19 or are a close contact.