WHO WE ARE
We Are Sea Kayak Carolina
Owners: Deb Mitchum | Scott Szczepaniak | Sue Kershaw
Staff: William Seabrook | Steve Bleezarde | Kristina Wheeler | “Jammer” Jane
Sea Kayak Carolina is a paddling school: All three owners are passionate paddlers — and each is passionate about getting others excited about kayaking. All three are American Canoe Association Open Water Coastal Kayak Instructors.
Pictured (l to r) are owners Deb Mitchum, Scott Szczepaniak and Sue Kershaw.
Sea Kayak Carolina is the premier kayak store in South Carolina. We carry boats we paddle ourselves, and gear that we use ourselves.
The instructional staff of Sea Kayak Carolina loves to work with paddlers of all levels. We are experienced at teaching the basics to people that have never been in a kayak before — in an introductory class, or a mellow tour around Oak Island at Folly Beach. We will challenge intermediate paddlers in our rescue classes and surf classes. We have the experience to help our students learn the finer points of boat control, strokes and maneuvers, and navigation. If it happens in a kayak, we can help!
Sue Kershaw
Sue Kershaw is our S&M expert! (Strokes & Maneuvers, that is.) Sue is adept at helping paddlers of all experience levels to refine their grace and style. She is precise in her strokes, and proven at perfecting her students’ strokes.
Sue’s precision is a clue to her other life: she is a Chief Financial Officer for an international business consulting company based in Boston, Massachusetts. But they let her live in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, and fly her “up North” as needed. Sue is a relatively new instructor — getting serious about kayaking in 2006. She was awarded her ACA Basic Instructor certification by Jeff Cooper and Cathy Piffath (of H2Outfitters) in the Spring of 2007.
On the fast track, she became an owner of Sea Kayak Carolina in early 2008. She keeps our books in order (Sue is a Certified Public Accountant), brings over 25 years of business acumen to the shop, and most importantly, loves to share her passion for kayaking with others. She is an awesome instructor, and was awarded her ACA Coastal Kayak Open Water Instructor certification by Dale Williams in September 2008, and was certified as an ACA Open Water Coastal Kayak Instructor Trainer in the Fall of 2011. Sue has trained with Tom Nickles, Gordon Brown, Jen Kleck, Steve Sherrer, Hadas Feldman, Jean Totz, Jeff Allen, Josh Hall and Dale Williams. Sue’s primary sea kayak is a Maelstrom Vital. Sue was also certified as a South Carolina Coastal Master Naturalist in the Summer of 2008 – she knows her critters!
Deb Mitchum
Deb Mitchum is also known as the “Alpha Dolphin!” Deb is the one you want to teach you to surf a kayak, roll a kayak, and the one that you want on the big, wide ocean when things become challenging.
Deb was an occasional paddler for years, but got serious in 2004 and decided to learn to roll. So, she learned to roll, and then she learned to teach rolling (she is among the best roll instructors in the world.) She learned to surf a sea kayak, and learned to teach others this skill.
Deb also competes as a surf kayaker in the short boats. She was awarded her Open Water Instructor Certification from Josh Hall and Steve Hutton. She is a BCU 4* sea paddler; having trained with Gordon Brown (her favorite coach!) Steve Maynard, Steve Braden, Phil Eckels, Ben Lawry, Mark Schoon, Mel Rice, Fiona Whitehead, Nigel Dennis, Tom Nickels, Dale Williams, Tom Bergh, Nigel Foster and other greats. Deb has been paddling a NDK Romany hard for the past few years. She also owns a garage full of surf kayaks. In the Fall of 2008, Deb will be pursuing her ACA Surf Instructor endorsement.
Deb is a Charleston native. She is a Registered Nurse and also works as an executive in the health insurance industry.
Scott Szczepaniak
Scott Szczepaniak started paddling in the Spring of 1991. When he was recently described as 4/5ths fish – Scott thought that was the ultimate complement!
In addition to his love for sea kayaking, Scott has had a Coast Guard career, has been a SCUBA Instructor, and worked with Outward Bound as a marine science educator and ferry boat captain. He has been to sea on research vessels, tall ships, and training ships. He spent many years riding LNG ships and 1000’ container vessels into and out of Boston Harbor. Scott brings his experience as a marine science educator and boat captain to bear when teaching navigation, meteorology, oceanography and coastal ecology to his students. And anyone else within earshot!
Scott was certified as an Open Water Coastal Kayak Instructor in the early 1990s by Vaughn Smith in the Atlantic Ocean on the backside of Cape Cod. He paddled extensively in New England before moving to Charleston, South Carolina in the Spring of 2002. Scott holds a traditional paddling endorsement with the ACA; he lists among his Greenland gurus Greg Stamer, Josh Hall, Ray and Margaret Killen, and Becky and Mark Molina. Some of his “euro-blade” mentors are Dale Williams, Karen Knight, Nigel Dennis, Josh Hall and Steve Hutton. Scott is an ACA Coastal Kayaking Instructor Trainer, Open Water, Level 4.
Scott is a member of Team P&H -- and often is seen paddling a P&H Aries or a P&H Cetus HV.
Wiliam Seabrook
William is our shop manager in addition to being a full-time kayak instructor and guide. He was born and raised in the Charleston area and has been playing in the local waters since before he learned to walk —
He did take a sabbatical from living here to serve 20-years in the U.S. Air Force, returning to the area fulltime when he retired in the spring of 2008.
William has been kayaking for around 13 years but really got serious about it when he retired from the Air Force. He is currently an American Canoe Association Level 4 Open Water Instructor.
He brings with him a wealth of knowledge about local waterways, and loves to share this information with his paddling friends and clients. In December of 2008 he founded the Charleston Sea Kayaking MeetUp group which has grown to more than 600 members and is one of the most active paddling groups in the area.
His biggest enjoyment comes from turning people on to paddling and watching them progress while sharing his love of the sport. He likes to say “When you’re kayaking you aren’t just observing the water environment you’re actually part of it.”
His favorite kayaking trip is to Deveaux Bank, paddling in his home waters of the North Edisto River. However, he’s also a developing ocean paddler who thinks surfing waves is the most fun you can have in saltwater.
Come by and visit William sometime at the shop and he’ll be happy to talk paddling with you, show you latest gear or help you find the right kayak for your paddling journey.
Kristina Wheeler
Kristina was placed in a big 'ol Grumman canoe at about 6 months of age. She pretty much grew up in that very canoe, paddling numerous waterways throughout northern New England and various Canadian provinces. However, she didn't realize until she moved to Charleston eight years ago, that a paddle with two blades could be cause for a great time as well!
Kristina began her work in the south as a naturalist at Middleton Place and directed their outdoor program for several years. She fell in love with kayaking on the Ashley River. "The connection with nature that one can feel when out on the water - is just incredible. You are truly, part of the ecosystem and can then leave it with no trace. The wildlife interactions that I have experienced while kayaking are the best I have had."
She is incredibly enthusiastic about sharing her love of nature with others. Kristina is a Coastal Master Naturalist, Certified Interpretive Guide and a self-proclaimed "bird nerd". Just ask her what she has recently added to her life list!! She also loves to introduce people to the sport of kayaking in a fun and enjoyable way, by instructing many of the Intro to Kayaking courses that are offered by Sea Kayak Carolina. She is currently an American Canoe Association Level II Coastal Kayak Instructor. To keep up with her passion for networking, she holds board positions on the South Carolina Nature Based Tourism Association, South Carolina Paddlesports Industry Association and has volunteered with the Center for Birds of Prey for many years.
We Call Her “Jammer” Jane
Jane became passionate about kayaking after taking a Fundamentals of Coastal Kayaking Class taught by Scott and Sue. Though she started out as a modern (euro-blade) paddler, she discovered traditional/greenland-style (skinny blade) kayaking and realized this was the style she wanted to pursue. In addition to building a traditional West Greenland skin-on-frame kayak, she has carved the paddles that she uses. Jane enjoys teaching others about kayaking, both modern and traditional/greenlandic. In addition to assisting with classes and trips, Jane can be found in the shop “kayak hospital,” customizing and repairing all types of kayaks (see our kayak repair page).
Steve Bleezarde
Steve is our webmaster and also makes himself useful as both an instructor and guide. He began his paddling career shortly after moving to James Island from the northeast in 2001. He is an ACA Coastal Kayaking Instructor. An outdoor enthusiast, he has served in leadership roles with the scouting program, the Sierra Club and the Audubon Society.
For years Steve's joy in kayaking came simply from the outdoor experience — getting on the water, into the marshes, and closer to our area's birds and other wildlife. It has only been since 2008 that he has actively pursued more advanced paddling and instructor training, and he now enjoys ocean paddles and surfing. He has tremendous enthusiasm for paddling and sharing what he's learned.
“I had an instructor's perspective while I was learning...I was learning to teach at the same time I was learning to paddle,” he says. Keeping that in mind, and sharing his own learning experiences, Steve likes to help others develop their paddling skills and confidence. “It makes me a better teacher. I haven't forgotten some of those challenges I faced along the way.”