No-one forgets the first time they kayak under the Golden Gate Bridge. Since moving to San Francisco in 2006 I have paddled under this iconic structure too many times to count but each time is a unique and memorable experience. There are only a few man-made creations that compliment the natural landscape and the Golden Gate Bridge is one of them. Spanning the mile-wide entrance to San Francisco Bay it enhances the wild beauty of the Marin Headlands and frames the cityscape of downtown San Francisco. Kayaking on San Francisco Bay is about much more than the bridge. A staggering amount of sea water flows under the bridge during each tidal cycle and that combined with powerful Pacific Ocean swell, complex wind patterns and a rugged coastline makes this one of the best sea kayaking locations in the world.

Having been to several sea kayak symposiums in the UK it was obvious to me that San Francisco Bay and the Marin Headlands would provide the perfect mix of mild and wild that makes for a great symposium. Then there’s the bridge to paddle under which should be high on every sea kayaker’s bucket list. The Presidio Yacht Club (Travis Marina), part of the former Army Post of Fort Baker, serves as the headquarters for the Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium, now in its fourth year and already recognized as one of the best events of its kind in the sea kayaking world. The California Paddlesports Council, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote paddlesports and the paddlesports industry stages the event. Matt Palmariello is the Event Manager and it is his hard work over many months that actually makes the event happen. We have chosen February as the month for GGSKS because it provides for the best combination of ebb tides, interesting weather and available coaches. We invite some of the best coaches from the UK and North America (including several Kokatat Team members and Ambassadors) to come and coach students in a variety of classes that range from flat water forward stroke clinics to advanced rock garden classes. The all-day classes are strictly limited in size and that combined with a high coach to student ratio ensures maximum learning. Of course that makes this an expensive event to put on and we rely on sponsors like Kokatat to help make this event affordable.

Kokatat has supported GGSKS from the start, providing demo dry suits for students to try in classes – dry suits are essential since the water temperature is around 52 degrees in February. Kokatat has also donated a dry suit for the GGSKS raffle which raises money for the Marine Mammal Center which rescues and re-habilitates sick and injured marine mammals and conducts research and education at its state-of-the-art facility nestled in the Marin Headlands.

This year, as well as donating a dry suit and providing demo suits, Kokatat was the presenting sponsor of the GGSKS Welcome Party on Friday night and I want to take this opportunity to thank Kokatat’s founder and owner Steve O’Meara and the staff at Kokatat for their support of GGSKS and paddlesports in general. As a Kokatat Ambassador I am honored to represent a company that supports the grassroots of our sport and is committed to producing clothing that allows us to enjoy our sport whatever the conditions.

The winter season often provides the best paddling conditions on San Francisco Bay and this year is no exception. Whilst the Sierra’s skiers have been struggling to find good powder, we have been blessed with some beautiful days on the water. And the weekend of the symposium was sunny and warm with enough wind and swell to make conditions in the tide races and outside of the Golden Gate very exciting. The pictures speak for themselves but I think it is safe to say that this year’s event was the best so far and we are already planning for 2013. Thanks again to Kokatat for helping to make it all possible. - Sean Morley, Kokatat Ambassador, California Paddlesports Council President and Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium Director. Photos courtesy of Dominick Lemarie & Stormick Photography.