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The Seafreedom Team |
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Seafreedom was
founded by Tony back in 2001. He is a British
Canoe Union level 5 coach. He will tell you that there are better coaches,
but BCU L5 is the top qualification. He has over 40 years kayaking experience in the UK,
North America, Norway, Greenland and Japan. Tony coached as a club volunteer
for 15 years whilst pursuing a career in manufacturing management. He
turned professional and started Seafreedom in 2002 as a mobile operation
and moved to the Oban area in 2004. He is passionate about enabling
others to experience the sea and the joy of paddling. He's also
notorious for really awful jokes.
He occasionally still works as an international quality control and productivity consultant and as manufacturing improvement coach. |
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Carol Lang is a
partner in Seafreedom kayak business. She is an
outdoor education professional. She is a BCU Level 3 sea kayak coach and
also a rock climbing instructor. She has paddled extensively in Scotland
and the Mediterranean. Carol has been running Seafreedom programs since 2007
and is now working towards the top kayak guiding award.
Carol also somehow finds time to run her own really cool ethical clothing business. Have a look at her website at www.gael8.co.uk She's really good at stories too. |
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Leonie joined
Seafreedom in 2010 and has been paddling in the area for many years. In
2011 she qualified to the new UKCC Level 2 coach award which is in many ways a
superior coaching award to the old level 3 though in less demanding
water. She never seems to be fazed by anything (including rolling in the
falls of Lora) and has a knack of putting herself where she is most helpful to the
clients. She can take you open canoeing as well.
On top of all this she is a talented artist and has her own ground-breaking kayak art business. Have a look at her website at www.artandsea.co.uk |
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Alistair Magee is a multi skilled outdoor professional. He has mountains leadership and rock climbing qualifications as well as his Level 3 kayak coach and 4 Star leader certificates. "Ali" as he is generally known, has a knack of finding just the right coaching technique to suit individual clients and has developed an innovative kayak rolling program. Oddly though, he is the only sea kayak guide we know who is nervous of seals! |
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Another outdoor all round professional, Jon Saunders is a Level 4 white water kayaking coach, working towards his L3 sea award. He is also a qualified mountain leader. An awesome WW paddler, Ice climber and Ski mountaineer, Jon loves outdoor challenges. He's also renowned for somehow finding places that do tea and cake just a short walk from the beach. |
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A talented sea and
river paddler, Laura Murphy is a Level 2 coach, has completed her Level
3 Sea training and is hoping to achieve her L3 coaching award soon. She
has been leading kayak trips in the Oban area for four years and has
extensive paddling experience both on rivers and sea. Outgoing and
enthusiastic, Laura's sense of humour keeps us laughing even in heavy
rain.
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Ross Dempster is also an all round outdoor professional. In addition to his Level 3 Sea Kayak and White Water coach qualifications he is also a Mountain Leader and Yacht skipper. Ross also works for the Venture Trust, working with challenging programs for young people. It's easy to tell if his is on the water because you can hear him laugh for miles! |
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Olga somehow
manages to put up with being married to Tony whilst running an excellent
4 star B&B, cooking wonderful food and running the office. A teacher
for many years, Olga also paddles, walks the hills and skis cross
country. It will most likely be her voice you hear if you call during
paddling time. And unlike the rest of us, she always knows where the car
keys are!
Have a look at her paddler friendly B&B on www.strumhor.co.uk |
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Tony and Olga on expedition in Greenland |
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