As with my review of the first edition of Sea Kayak With Gordon Brown, let me cut to the chase here.  Volume 2 includes a new trip, a bit of a history lesson, and lots of new skill work in real world conditions. V2 is a fun, tight presentation that will add to your skill set and keep you sitting in front of your TV from beginning to end… Well, unless you find yourself impulsively loading up the kayak to rush out and try something he’s just presented.  For my part, I was able to take away and apply one new-found method to a class almost immediately. The new (to me) gem gave 2 students a much quicker success than they would have otherwise.  For one student, it was the only answer that worked. As she was sitting back up in her kayak and smiling ear-to-ear.. I told her, “You have Gordon Brown to thank for this one.”  I don’t think I can give the DVD a better compliment than that.  There’s a lot of good stuff in there, even for us coaches and more experienced paddlers to take in.          

This time the trip portion takes you to St Kilda, a remote cluster of islands far off the west coast of Scotland in the North Atlantic ocean. The entire archipelago is now a world heritage site having been inhabited for millennia until the last residents were evacuated from Island of Hirta in 1930. In Sea Kayak With Gordon Brown 2, you will visit the islands, explore some amazing caves and arches, see wildlife, explore a historic village and learn some of the history of the islands as well. The DVD also includes a very interesting section on the first open water crossing to St. Kilda in 1965 by Hamish and Anne Gow. The Gows made the crossing in a plywood hulled “Clyde Double”. And the navigation plan? Wow. Just wow! Compliments to Simon Willis and Gordon Brown for finding new ways to keep a primarily instructional video fresh and interesting.

The skill sessions include sections on assisted and self-rescues (even a paddle-float rescue!), towing, technical landings, rescue scenarios and more.  Each skill is taught on flat water using solid camera work, both video and stills, to give the best views of the skills being taught.  You’ll have no problem seeing or hearing the coach throughout the DVD.  In fact, the audio quality stood out to me in that it never felt muffled, sharp or tinny which can be a bit of a distraction in some other instructional DVDs.  Simon Willis provides his classic BBC documentary voice, while Gordon is clear and concise in his instruction. I even learned a new Scottish word, “Whook”, (pronounced “H-long U-k) as in “Heel whook”. (Sorry, it was there!)

Speaking of the heel hook, there are many newer and up-to-date methods presented here that someone who’s not taken a class in a few years should really catch up on. The “update” alone will be worth the cover price many paddlers. There’s even a section on kayak play.. Well, it was kayak play.. now it’s “Self Rescue Foundations” and “Balance Exercises”. Personally I liked it more when it was still play…  You can also expect some online extras to complement the DVD. Watch the Sea Kayak With Gordon Brown website for that.

I”ll leave it to others to come up with perfect, DVD cover quote.  I can’t give you one.  Gordon Brown of Skyak Adventures is simply one of the world’s premier sea kayaking coaches and Simon Willis goes a long way not only to capture and share the knowledge, but to infuse a bit of Gordon’s personality as well. There’s a lot of gems in here, and maybe just as importantly, watching Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown Volume 2, just makes you feel good when you watch. It will inspire you to want to explore new places and try new skills.  In the end, that’s what it’s all about.

Oh, one critique, In any instructional video including Rowland Woolven… there should be more screen time for, Rowland Woolven.. And… when he’s not on the screen, everyone else should be asking, “Where’s Rowland??”  

Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown Volume 2 will be hitting shops later this year. (Update: To be in shops around October 10th) For more information, video clips and video diary head over to SEAKAYAKWITHGORDONBROWN.COM.  Great work guys! Thanks to Simon for the advance copy.

**Photos  © Rowland Woollven or Douglas Wilcox. St Kilda cleit  © Copyright Bob Jones and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

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