Adventure Spirit Team
Michael Shugg, Lead Coach Adventure Spirit Kayaking
A lifelong educator, and paddler, Michael has turned his attentions to helping others develop the skills needed to experience the full majesty and challenge of kayaking at sea. He’s working on expanding his own paddling boundaries to the four corners of North America and beyond. He has paddled in Maine, Baja, Alaska, British Columbia, North Carolina, Georgia, Wales, Cornwall, Scotland, and his home waters of Florida. In 2010, he completed a solo circumnavigation of Vancouver Island paddling 662 nautical in 35 total days. He has plans for a circumnavigation of Newfoundland in the summer of 2015.
Certifications
ACA Level 2 Coastal Kayaking, Instructor Trainer
ACA Level 4 Open Water Kayak Instructor
ACA Level 1 Intro to Canoeing Tandem
ACA Level 1 Intro to Canoeing Solo
BCU/UKCC Coach Level 2
Moderate Water Endorsement Sea
3 Star Assessor
BCU 4 Star Sea Leader
BCU 3 Star Canoe
Wilderness First Responder
Training
BCU/UKCC Coach Trainee Level 3 Sea
BCU 5 Star Sea Trainee
A lifelong educator, and paddler, Michael has turned his attentions to helping others develop the skills needed to experience the full majesty and challenge of kayaking at sea. He’s working on expanding his own paddling boundaries to the four corners of North America and beyond. He has paddled in Maine, Baja, Alaska, British Columbia, North Carolina, Georgia, Wales, Cornwall, Scotland, and his home waters of Florida. In 2010, he completed a solo circumnavigation of Vancouver Island paddling 662 nautical in 35 total days. He has plans for a circumnavigation of Newfoundland in the summer of 2015.
Certifications
ACA Level 2 Coastal Kayaking, Instructor Trainer
ACA Level 4 Open Water Kayak Instructor
ACA Level 1 Intro to Canoeing Tandem
ACA Level 1 Intro to Canoeing Solo
BCU/UKCC Coach Level 2
Moderate Water Endorsement Sea
3 Star Assessor
BCU 4 Star Sea Leader
BCU 3 Star Canoe
Wilderness First Responder
Training
BCU/UKCC Coach Trainee Level 3 Sea
BCU 5 Star Sea Trainee
Adventure Spirit Kayaking Associate Coaches
These are some great instructors and coaches who are engaged from time to time to help provide a top notch experience for Adventure Spirit clients.
Jean Totz Tampa, Florida
Jean has been Coaching since 1997. She is a BCU Level 3: Open Water Sea Kayak Coach and an ACA Level 2 Instructor. She is an Expert Rolling Instructor and she conducts Coach Training and Mentoring. Jean has also been a valued friend and mentor for Michael for many years.
Sabine Freisem Orlando, Florida
Sabine is a rock star of the paddling world. She is a BCU 4 Star Sea Leader and ACA Level 4 Instructor. She has paddled all over Florida as well as more exotic locations like the Pacific Northwest. She also completed 2 days of current training in Deception Pass.
Chris Naff Jacksonville, Florida
Chris started his kayaking career 3 years ago in the Jacksonville, FL area. His passion for the sport motivated him to become an instructor. Chris is currently certified as a ACA Level 4 Coastal Kayaking Instructor and a BCU 3 star paddler. Chris enjoys paddling in the rough water and coastal areas around Northeast Florida. His future ambition in the sport is to become an Instructor Trainer with the ACA and become certified as a Level 5 Coastal Kayaking Instructor. While not on the water, Chris is a full time Firefighter/EMT with St. John’s County Fire Rescue.
Gil Hidalgo Orlando, Florida
Gil is an ACA L-4 Instructor. A talented and skilled photographer, he also developed the logo designs for Adventure Spirit Kayaking, and he is an all-around great guy.
