Beyond The Eddy Line podcast

Designed and built in the heart of the Inside Passage on Quadra Island, BC, "Nimbus Paddles" shaped by the waters they’re meant to paddle. This boutique paddle maker owned by Rob Bender, and Damon Stapinsky. In this episode, Rob joins me to explore how paddling styles have evolved, how to match a paddle to the paddler and their style of paddling, and the question many paddlers face: is the paddle...

In this episode, Daryl Spencer has taken the Level 3 course three times. In our conversation he shares how each experience was different. Now on the path to becoming a Level 3 instructor himself, Daryl also offers practical advice for paddlers who are considering taking the course. Unlike Levels 1 and 2, where paddlers are introduced to new skills, Level 3 expects participants to arrive with a sol...

How do you turn goals into real progress on the water? In this episode, Mike Gilbert returns to talk about paddler development and the power of intentional practice. With more than 15 years as a sea kayak guide and instructor, and nearly half that time serving as President of Paddle Canada , where he helped shape and develop national training programs. In this episode he shares what it really take...

What does real risk management look like when planning a kayak trip? In this episode, we explore how to identify, prevent, and manage risks — from the early planning stages to decisions made on the water and even back on land. Preparation, sound judgment, and responsibility are at the heart of every successful trip. My guest Mike Gilbert, recognized as one of Canada’s top sea kayak instructors. Wi...

“The Tiny Little Needle” known as Deception Pass in Washington, will truly test your technique and your connection to the boat. In this episode, Chessy Knight breaks down the magic and mechanics of Deception Pass. Along a constantly shifting eddy line wedged between the rip current and the boiling water lies a dynamic playground for skilled paddlers. Chessy shares how she plays in giant whirlpools...

My returned guest is Annelisa Pedersen. She is a Paddle Canada Level 4 paddler, a rolling instructor, and a classical musician. She loves surf and dynamic water, and that’s exactly where she wants her students to feel comfortable. She’s back to share her insights on how to choose the right instructor for your paddling journey and why it is important when learning technical skills.

If the sound of current flooding -in excites you and the word “narrows” sparks visions of big possibilities, this episode is for you. Meet " The Swell Pirates". Five young skilled paddlers who came together to push their limits and support one another in dynamic water. Their favorite playgrounds include Surge Narrows , Okisollo Channel’s standing wave , and Ucluelet . My guest, Caelin Harris , exp...

Wildlife is a big part of our experience on the water — often heard before it’s ever seen. In this episode, we tune into the sounds of the coast with the help of Roy Jantzen, as we explore the voices of the wild that surround us while paddling. Roy spent his career as an educator in marine tourism, natural history, ecotourism, and climate change in tourism. He is also the author of several books,...

Susan Marie Conrad is a long distance adventure kayaker who solo paddled the Inside Passage twice! Each expedition: Nearly 2,000 km in 78 days. Susan followed her hero, Audrey Sutherland who paddled this route 3 times, last one when she was 82 years old. What an inspirational story. In this episode, Susan shares how her relationship with nature looks like the “Beauty and the Beast” . From waiting...

My guest, Annelisa Pedersen, offers a unique approach to paddling development. As a kayak instructor, classical musician, and somatic movement teacher, she helps paddlers build strength, stability, and mobility through deeper body awareness. In this episode we explore how sensory awareness and refined technique can help paddlers build confidence and move more fluidly. Annelisa provides some ideas...

Happy new year Paddlers! In the third part of my conversation with J.F. Marleau , we explore what it means to live as sustainably as possible. He shares how fishing, foraging, hunting, and harvesting have become an essential part of his life. He also explains key considerations for fishing while kayaking and his best recipe for cooked seaweed. This episode brings the conversation full circle, grou...

In this second part of my conversation with J.F. Marleau , we talk about his role as a lighthouse relief keeper, while he and his partner were stationed at the Nootka Island Lighthouse . Along the BC coast, there are 27 active staffed lighthouses , and J.F. shares what that responsibility really looks like. The daily weather observations that being report so vessels of all kinds, including kayaker...

In this episode I’m joined by J.F. Marleau, co-owner of SKILS https://skils.ca/ on Vancouver Island, now semi-retired after more than two decades of teaching and leading paddlers on big, advanced expeditions. J.F. has spent over 20 years teaching coursed and taking paddlers into remote, powerful environments, pushing limits and embracing the realities of true wilderness travel. In this conversatio...

Today’s guest is a true play boater at heart. Chessy Knight , from Squamish, BC, is a Paddle Canada rolling instructor with a deep love for Greenland paddle techniques. In this episode, we talk about boat fitting, her favorite Greenland paddle, and how she brings those rolling skills into dynamic water.

In our very first episode, we’re joined by Spencer Jones — a rough-water sea kayaker known throughout the paddling community for pushing boundaries in some of the most powerful tidal conditions on the planet. Spencer has become especially recognized for his feats at Skookumchuck Narrows in British Columbia, Canada — a world-class tidal rapid where, during the biggest tides of the year, a massive s...