Kevin Williams
Kevin has been kayaking for over 30 years, first on the river, then on the sea. He is a Level 4 (old system) river coach and a Level 3 (new system) sea kayak coach, which is now called Performance Coach. He is also an Advanced Sea Kayak Leader, formerly known as 5* Leader. Basically, he can deal with anything. Kevin is proud to have been trained by Gordon Brown of Skyak Adventures, and Doug Cooper at Glenmore Lodge, where he occasionally works as part of the team.
He has been kayaking all over the world including Austria, Nepal, India, Greece, USA, New Zealand and of course all over Scotland. He is well known for his excellent camping cuisine made from scratch with fresh ingredients.
Janni Williams
Janni has been sea kayaking for 7 years mainly around Skye and Lochalsh but has dipped her paddle into the sea in Greece and New Zealand as well as on the occasional river. She is Sea Kayak Leader, aka 4* Leader, and UKCC Level 2 Sea Kayak Coach. Janni is also a qualified PE teacher, mountain leader and climbing wall instructor.
Being a Gaelic speaker, she loves interpreting the names of skerries, islands and other places we see when we’re out. She can coach in Gaelic and German as well as English.
Sean Watson
Sean is with us for his third season this year, and is a strong member of the team. He has an honours degree in Adventure Performance and Coaching at West Highland College School of Adventure Studies and is an Advanced Sea Kayak Leader and L2 Sea Kayak Coach.
When he is not paddling he is normally out on his mountain bike or quickly doing 18 mile Tarskavaig Loop after work.
Gillian Parker
Gillian is a BCU level 3 coach (old system). She has been kayaking mainly around the West coast of Scotland for the last 15 years although first took up kayaking while at university a few years previously. She splits her time between working as a mountaineering instructor and kayak coach and also works with school groups in outdoor centres. In winter Gillian works as a ski instructor as well as some work for the Scottish Avalanche Information Service.
Angus (Mòr) Murray
Angus is a Gaelic speaking islander who hails from the Isle of Benbecula, taking up kayaking with Uist Canoe Club as a youngster. He then really fell for the sport on moving to the Isle of Lewis 7 years ago and joining Stornoway Canoe Club. He spends his spare time paddling to and camping on uninhabited islands and in remote places whenever possible.
Angus has another job as Programme Manager of the Skye Ecomuseum. This makes him a bit of a specialist in the history and diverse environment of the area. Angus started with SSSK in 2020 and has really enjoyed sharing the sport he loves with clients of all ages and experience (and sampling beers from The Misty Bottle after).
Erin Winkelmann
Erin is our trainee instructor and youngest team member. She started with us last year and would like to explore what it’s like to be a kayak leader and coach. She is going to start with us in June 2022 as an assistant leader.
Erin is passionate about the sea and having grown up in the remotest part of the local area, she is an expert in local affairs and extraordinary ability to handle the touchest weather conditions.
Rebecca Crawford
Reb is initially joining the team as a trainee, and progressing to a full team member in July. She studied at The University of Cumbria on the Outdoor Adventure and Environment degree, graduating in 2018. Since then, she has been a keen outdoor enthusiast, working in various sectors of the industry. She has been an enthusiastic paddler for the last 5 years and has an avid interest in the ecology and geology of the coastal environment, and how we can access that through kayaking. Reb is a Summer Mountain Leader and is also currently training at a centre in the Cairngorms.
James Cornes James is an Advanced Sea Kayak Leader (Trained by the One and Only Gordon Brown) and an aspirant Sea Kayak Coach. James has had a love and been around the sea as long as he can remember. Was the enormously proud owner of his own craft at the age of 12 and from there moved on to working with his father on his Lobster and Crab boat then on to Trawlers and Seine Net fishing. During this time, whilst on land, James was also a member of the Auxiliary Coastguard and underwent RNLI Training. James has been paddling the sea around Skye for 11 years having circumnavigated the island. Paddled throughout the Western Islands, West and North coasts of Scotland. Active member of Skye’s most Northerly Kayaking Club and love’s nothing better than leading fellow enthusiastic paddlers to some of Skye’s remote hidden gems.
Angus (Òg) Hulbert
Angus is a student at the University of Highlands and Islands studying Marine and Coastal Tourism. He has been paddling from the age of 9 competing nationally in Slalom kayaking and reaching the UK premier division. He has now transferred his knowledge into sea kayaking, and has recently passed his Sea Kayak Leader Award. He has a passion for marine wildlife (flora and fauna) and would be happy to answer any questions.
Angus is also a professional landscape photographer, enjoys sailing and any other sport that involves a bit of water.