Beginner to Advanced Paddlers Welcome / High Focus on Skills Training / Optional TRAK Kayak Add-On (for friends or family to join)

• Region: Gulf Islands, West Coast of Canada
• Duration: 4 Days, 3 Nights
  • (Optional 3 Day, 2 Night Extension to DeCourcy Island Group)
• Dates: September 18 - 21, 2026 
• Skill Level: All ages and abilities are welcome!
• 2026 Full Program Package (link)

Led by TRAK Pilots, professional sea kayak instructors, and the HQ team, we invite you to join us for this symposium-style event. We will make use of the beautiful group camping and group cooking facilities on Saysutshun (Newcastle) Island, easily accessible from the Nanaimo harbour. There are bathroom and shower facilities present, as well as several other amenities nearby. With all meals provided, this will be a very comfortable camping experience. 

Skills training topics include beginner to advanced paddling techniques, rescues, rolling, tides & currents, on-water navigation, and mastery of the TRAK 2.0 itself. TRAK Pilots and guest presenters always bring a wide spectrum of expertise, with programming planned for both novice and experienced paddlers.

We look forward to strengthening our communal ties and forging friendships that inspire future expeditions and simple trips! In addition to fresh meals, there will be opportunities to learn about local Indigenous history and culture, plus some festive entertainment to enjoy in the evenings after dinner.

There is an optional multi-day tour to DeCourcy Island at the end of the Gathering, which will take place from September 21st-23rd. The conclusion of this Gathering is also a perfect launchpad to other adventures on Vancouver Island.

View the Full Program here.

Meet Your Instructors

Hans Trupp - Program Director, Seamanship Lead

Hans brings decades of maritime experience with both large and small craft - from sea kayaks to ocean going cruisers. As TRAK's Director of Development, Hans is a firm believer in teaching and practicing proven methods for navigation, route planning, and overall seamanship. From map & compass work, to predicting tides, currents, and weather, to risk management on the water, Hans bring the expertise - and the humour - to break down complex concepts into achievable and empowering workshops that boost your confidence and excitement for exploration by water.

Robert Nissenbaum -  ACA Sea Kayak Instructor

Robert is an avid paddler and international sea kayak instructor who serves as the ACA Director for Washington State. Robert is passionate about imparting the concept of connection: Connection to the water, to the kayak. In his words:

"It's immersive. We aren't trying to move through the water. We are trying to move within it. The goal being to work with the wind, current, waves through the feedback we receive from the kayak and what we get from our senses (sound, sight, feel) to not fight conditions and force our way. It's about taking that feedback and using our bodies to control the kayak to be in sync with the sea. The paddle, whether euro, wing, or Greenland, is secondary."  

Expect to enhance your connection to your kayak through Robert's straightforward paddling and cockpit outfitting pro-tips.

Lori McCarthy - Flavours & Flexibility

Lori is a proud urban paddler who helps others find freedom on the water through local day trips and remote overnight expeditions. From closet to hatchback to launch point, Lori demonstrates the epitome of compact travel - without leaving her essential comforts or favourite flavours behind.

We all know that meal planning can be a daunting part of trip planning. This is why Lori is excited to share some of her user-friendly and low-cost systems for meal planning, preparation, and packing. Lori’s goal is to make it easier for you to plan and execute multi-day expeditions, both solo and with friends. 

Rodolfo Vivanco - TRAK Mastery & Rolling

Rodolfo is a sound engineer by trade but is a true explorer at his core. When not paddling his TRAK in the Pacific Northwest, Rodolfo resides in the Patagonia region, guiding and instructing sea kayaking in this glacier-filled paddling region. 

Rodolfo brings a calm, steady, and humorous attitude to instruction that resonates with new and veteran TRAK paddlers alike. Rodolfo is passionate about helping other paddlers 'find their roll' and looks forward to providing individualized support to participants at this year's symposium. 

Patrick Do - ACA Sea Kayak Instructor

Patrick is all about empowerment, enabling others to feel what he feels out there: flow, confidence, fun. While Patrick brings a strong background in whitewater paddling, he also brings a deep appreciation for expedition paddling in far flung regions of the globe. Expect to receive pro-tips on intermediate to advanced paddling techniques that keep you upright and in control amidst rough waters: tuning strokes, braces, and edging to tackle more aggressive conditions with confidence and style. 

Eliet Aguilar Valderrama - Camp Boss & Expedition Guide

Eliet hails from the edge of the Atacama, but now calls Patagonia her home. Based out of Puerto Natales, Eliet spends half of her year guiding clients from all over the world in Chile before spending the (Northern!) summer on Vancouver Island. Eliet serves as our "camp boss" and lead chef for the Symposium. She is also a lead guide for the optional DeCourcey Group Expedition extension.

On the water, Eliet maintains a calm demeanour that is contagious and reassuring. A fan of big water and large swells, she likes that her TRAK 2.0 can take her into and out of whatever conditions she wants! Traveling between hemispheres is no joke, either, and so the portability of the TRAK enables her to live her lifestyle.

'Necky Dave' Vanderveen - TRAK Mastery & Expedition Outfitting

Dave has an extensive history in the kayak industry ranging over 35 years going back to his early days at the Necky Kayaks factory where he found his passion for kayaking which has included touring, whitewater, surf and racing. Fast forward to the present and he is a well respected paddlesports sales rep in Western Canada for an array of reputable brands, including TRAK Kayaks. 

Dave keeps his life lean and mobile, based largely out of his Overlanding rig. Dave had developed brilliant systems for multi-day expedition packing for the TRAK kayak and looks forward to sharing these best practices with participants who want to go further.

Caleb McIntyre - TRAK's Chief Paddling Officer

Caleb is a seasoned outdoor educator and international guide who lives for outdoor exploration. As a core member of the TRAK HQ team, Caleb has the privilege of meeting and learning from TRAK owners and partners while supporting international TRAK expeditions in all seven continents. Caleb recently had the chance to put a fleet of TRAK 2.0s to the test during a 16 day human powered coast-to-coast expedition across Nicaragua. He will be joining us this year to share some stories and best practices for international travel with a TRAK kayak. Expect to be inspired to take your TRAK abroad.