Ted Wang
Ted in his Teaching Boat
Ted grew up in Southern Indiana, where he was introduced to lake and river canoeing. Combined with many family trips to the East Coast, where swimming off the beaches of Long Island was a major activity, he began a life-long affinity for being on the water. While living in Colorado, he took up whitewater kayaking in the Colorado River headwaters but soon realized he wanted to try sea kayaking instead.
Learning the basics with friends and later in club workshops, Ted spent all of his time paddling in the cold waters of high altitude lakes, reservoirs, and rivers — quickly understanding the need for proper clothing and learning to assess water and weather conditions to decide if paddling, or some other activity, was appropriate. He began going on guided paddle trips in the San Juan Islands, British Columbia, and southern Baja, Mexico, hanging out with the guides to learn everything he could from professional kayakers.
He moved to Bellingham in 2008, primarily to be closer to saltwater paddling. He passed his American Canoe Association Level II Certification in 2009. From 2009 to 2013, Ted was the principal sea kayak instructor at the Bellingham Bay Community Boating Center, where he developed most of the kayaking course content in addition to teaching most of the classes. During his tenure, he received universally high evaluations from his students for his teaching ability, patience, safety awareness and enthusiasm.
Ted has been formally trained in a number of teaching disciplines, in addition to sea kayaking. In the 1970s, he was certified by the Professional Ski Instructors of America as a cross-country ski instructor. He was an Instructor/Trainer/Examiner for the National Ski Patrol System at ski areas where he professionally patrolled (in Indiana and Colorado) for Patrol Ski Skills, Toboggan Handling, and First Aid. He was awarded a “National” certification as an Avalanche Instructor, an award conferred by his teaching peers, and also received his National Number by the NSPS for his service to the ski industry and patrolling. He’s been certified through OSHA and had “Train the Trainer” instruction in Risk and Crisis Management.
His work experience, besides teaching kayaking, has been diverse, including: pottery-making, gift store ownership, professional ski patrolling and directorship, safety management, and local government in both elected and appointed positions. He loves Labrador Retrievers, travel and sea kayaking is a lifestyle for him. His goals for students are: insure a safe and FUN experience, provide ample time for skills practice, accurately critique students’ technique, provide suggestions on how to improve, and increase awareness of the paddling conditions found in this region.