SKSA, Ltd. incorporated in 2000 with the mission of providing the people of all ages and skill level with a source of quality, adaptive education for paddle sports, kayaking in particular. Long Island has rich shoreline resources with a myriad of excellent paddling locations. We also have many outfitters providing fine equipment with whom SKSA is proud to work. SKSA was founded to provide a highly qualified training resource for the Long Island area. SKSA is here to provide the novice paddler with the skills needed to safely get the most out of their new equipment.

SKSA, Ltd also acts as a resource to other training and touring businesses on Long Island, providing advanced skills training for the instructor/tour leader. SKSA can supply instructor training and certification under the auspices of the local American Red Cross and the American Canoe Association.

It is the goal of SKSA to promote the growth of safe, competent paddling on Long Island and also to foster appreciation and understanding of the shoreline environment. To that end we intend to act as a center for quality skills education and also lead tours where the novice and expert alike can practice in a realistic setting to develop an appreciation for the dynamics and complexity of the coastal environment.

Elizabeth O'Connor is founder and head instructor for SKSA. She grew up around and on the waters of Long Island. There has been a paddle of one type or another in her hand for more than 20 years. Kayaking has become a major part of her life since 1995. Elizabeth has trained extensively with the American Canoe Association, is one of only two instructors on Long Island with Open Water Coastal certification and is currently serving as Divisional Instructional Facilitator for the ACA - Atlantic Division. She has also worked for years with the local American Red Cross teaching basic kayak skills and is now one of a small group of Instructor Trainers for ARC - Suffolk County. She holds current certification for First Aid, CPR and Wilderness First Aid. More recently, she has begun training with the British Canoe Union, is certified in 3-star skills, has passed her Canoe Safety Test (BCU Lifeguards) and is a Coach-2 in training.

Elizabeth holds a degree in Equestrian Studies and had a career in the breeding and racing industry before quitting to raise a family. She worked for 15 years as an Environmental Educator and wildlife rehabilitator specializing with raptors. When not kayaking she is a wildlife artist working in paints and wood, carving detail bird sculptures. She also crews weekly on a racing sloop as the foredeck person. Her interest in carving primitive paddles has grown into a business of constructing modern high-tech paddles. As head instructor she is often seen traveling with her favorite furry friend "K-Sea" the kayaking K-9. Elizabeth brings a depth of educational resources and experiences to her classes and tours that goes beyond her qualifications as a trainer of advanced kayaking skills.

Elizabeth also is an avid kayak racer. She has successfully defended her title of National Champion Woman's Sea Kayak racer for the U.S. Canoe Association (USCA) five years running from 2001 to 2005. In 2005 she won both Sea Kayak and ICF Marathon races on successive days. In 2003 she was selected as the senior woman member of the United States National team competing in the ICF Worlds Championships in Valladolid Spain where she was the top US point achiever having finishing 11th in Women's Marathon.

To our knowledge Elizabeth is the first women to circumnavigate Long Island in a kayak. This was accomplished over a seven day journey with her partner Danny Broadhurst, in 2002 as a charity promotion which raised over $165,000 for the Long Island Altzheimer's Fund.

More recently she has taken on the challenge of coordinating major events. With the help of the US Coast Guard, and NYS Department of Parks Recreation and Preservation as well as a host of other groups and clubs she has brought to the public three Long Island Paddle Sport Safety Symposiums. Each one has been more successful than tha last with booths, lectures and demonstrations of safety, rescue and kayak rolling. These events have so far been presented absolutely free to the public.

Gordon Dayton started as an SKSA student in 2002 when an encounter with an unexpected squall galvanized him to find a competent instructor. He has since progressed from a novice paddler through all the training programs offered by SKSA. While training with SKSA Gordon took up kayak racing in a semi serious way, both in sea kayaks and in ICF boats. He has particpated in many local and regional races including the USCA - Nationals in 2003 and 2005.

Not to neglect his sea kayaking skills, he completed his BCU 3-Star skills certification with Steve Maynard in fall 2004, then went on gain certification in kayak rescue techniques (BCU Canoe Safety Test) and begin training as a BCU Level 2 Coach. He is currently certified to instruct for BCU 1, 2 and 3-Star skills and can certify at the 1-Star level. Further, working with the American Canoe Association he certified as a Basic Coastal Kayak Instructor. With the American Red Cross Gordon is certified as Kayak Instructor - Basic River and also certified in First Aid, CPR and Wilderness First Aid.

Gordon has a history of adventure hobbies starting with speleology where he practiced as a cave cartographer for the National Speliological Society in Central Pennsylvania while working as a Professor at Pennsylvania State University. Eventually serving local coordinator for the National Cave Rescue Commission. At the same time he was also developing skills in whitewater rafting and rock climbing. His move to Long Island put a practical end to these persuits and a transition to kayaking began

Gordon has become a key player with SKSA where he also serves as Webmaster. He intends to pursue higher level training with both the BCU and the American Canoe Association (ACA). He continues to lend his time to the American Red Cross, aiding with instruction in their their basic and intermediate kayaking courses.

More recently Gordon has taken on a leadership role founding and developing North Atlantic Canoe and Kayak, Inc. a Long Island based paddling club. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board and President. He also commits time to the Atlantic Division of the ACA where he hold the Coastal Kayak Chair.

Dan Troup has worked with Elizabeth since 1998 (prior to incorporation of SKSA). He has long been an avid local kayaker that is largely self-taught and loves to "play in the waves". He has a depth of "local knowledge" that is an important resource to SKSA during outdoor excercises. He has devoted much time over the years as a leader for Boy Scouts of America and has excellent rapport with younger students. He will often be seen helping as a wrangler and support person on tours and has excellent abilities at demonstrating and executing rescues. Dan holds his Red Cross Kayak Instructor Certification and has current certification in First Aid and CPR. In Spring 2006 Dan was certified as a Basic Coastal Instructor by the ACA. Bravo Dan!

Tim Williams is Owner and Head Instructor for Liquid Affairs Kayak Instruction. SKSA is proud to work with Tim on a variety of projects. Currently the only other ACA instructor on Long Island holding Certification at the Open Water Coastal level, Tim is also one of the first five certified by ACA to instruct in Traditional (Greenland) Skills". He holds the British Canoe Union Four Star - Sea award and was approved as a level 3 - Sea coach.

Tim has been paddling since 1998 and has trained extensively with some of the best known teachers in the sport, including Aled Williams, Nigel Dennis, and Ray Killen. He loves all aspects of kayaking from calm lakes and rivers to wild ocean surf. A professional educator, Tim is a public school teacher. He was an instructor of the Japanese martial art of aikido for over 15 years. Tim has dabbled in other pastimes including kiteboarding and cooking, though not at the same time.

Tim is interested in his own training as a continuing project and to this end he seeks out instructors and conditions that challenge and increase his knowledge. He hopes to work with SKSA to improve the instructional opportunities available to residents of Long Island, to train with Elizabeth, and hopes to improve his forward stroke over the course of the next decade.

K-Sea was born in 1999 in Missouri, then immediately left for Bohemia, NY. Her favorite pastimes are kayaking with "Mom" (Elizabeth) and greeting customers. She is employed full time as a security agent specializing in guarding of kayak transport vehicles. She will be seen often with Elizabeth just before or just after classes, clinics and races. She has become adept at riding on the back of sea kayaks, but prefers not to get her feet wet. She looks a bit like a black-haired standard poodle, but "knows" that she is a person.

The ARC of Suffolk County has for many years sponsored a program of intruction in basic kayak techniques. Its instructors are trained to teach introductory skills for use on protected waters. The curriculum is roughly equivalent to American Canoe Association "Intro to Kayak" and is designed mainly to aid camp counselors in teaching youth programs.

In addition, the local ARC offers a course of Instructor Training. It is a three-day course of instruction that generally takes place in mid-June.

The ACA, founded in 1880, is the nation's largest and most active paddle sports organization, dedicated to promoting canoeing, kayaking, and rafting. Membership in the association has increased significantly over the past six years, from a total of 5,000 in 1993 to more than 50,000 in 2002.

For most of the last three decades, the association has been a nationally recognized resource in the fields of paddlesport instruction and education. Currently there are more than 4500 ACA certified canoe and kayak instructors in the U.S. and approximately 240 ACA instructor trainers. Collectively, these instructors teach ACA approved programs to an estimated 100,000+ students each year, primarily through summer camp programs, affiliated groups (e.g. scouts, YMCA, etc.), liveries / outfitters, and professional paddlesport schools (such as SKSA).

The BCU, was set up in 1936 to send a team to the Berlin Olympics. The BCU is now the lead body for canoeing and kayaking in the UK. The organisation has grown considerably, and the range of canoeing opportunity has increased tremendously. Today the BCU has an individual membership of over 25,000, 469 affiliated clubs and 145 approved centres.

In 2000 the BCU federalised to become the umbrella organisation for the Home Nation Associations in Scotland (SCA), Wales (WCA) and Northern Ireland (CANI). In England, Canoe England was set up, on a par with the other National Associations, as a division of the BCU, to support the development of canoeing in England. The BCU is responsible for leading and setting the overall framework for the National Associations; representing canoeing interests such as coaching and competition at UK and international level. The BCU now has a presence in the United States through: BCU North America.