Meet the Instructors

Jay Gitomer Jay Gitomer is the owner-operator of Blue World Paddlesports. She is an ACA L3 coach, BCU L1 coach, and BCU 4 Star Leader. She is known for her creative, fun approach to training, and specializes in discovery learning and skills development through structured games. Jay is a former coordinator of the Chesapeake Paddlers Association and currently volunteers with Team River Runner to help wounded service people.
Matt Kane Matt grew up paddling recreationally, on the south shore of Long Island and gravitated towards sea kayaking after relocating to the Hudson Valley. As lead guide at Hudson Valley Outfitters he has enjoyed introducing hundreds of paddlers to the sport. Matt also teaches at Manhattan Kayak, Tuktu Paddles, and runs his own business, Cold Spring Paddler. Matt’s passion for kayaking and hospitality make new paddlers feel comfortable on the water. As an ACA L4 Instructor he focuses on teaching introductory and intermediate kayak classes. In his leisure paddling time Matt explores big water along the Connecticut and Rhode Island Coast, participates in the mayors cup. As the Director at Large with the Hudson River Watertrail Association he is a asset to the Hudson valley paddling community.
Bob Myron Bob has been an ACA Certified instructor and a registered Maine Guide since the 1980’s. As an L5 Coastal Kayaking Instructor Trainer and Canoe instructor trainer, Bob has paddled and taught from Maine to Memphis to New Jersey and Alaska. Bob enjoys working with people as much as he does paddling, his goal as an Instructor Trainer is to meet each person at their current skill level and help them improve their skills as a paddler and an educator. For fun Bob enjoys expeditions in his sea kayak, canoe tripping and cruising on his Sailboat. In 2011 he and his family completed a yearlong sailing adventure navigating his way from Maine to the Caribbean and back. Bob owns Outdoor Leader Trainers of America (OLTOA) which specializes in ACA and Registered Maine Guides training programs for the outfitters, guide services and the public.
Tom Noffsinger Tom Noffsinger is an ACA Open Water Instructor, a BCU 5 star aspirant and lives in Chesapeake. He teaches at a variety of symposiums and excels at helping paddlers take their skills to the next level with a comfortable teaching style. Tom's favorite areas to paddle include Anglesey, Wales, the Triangle off Tybee Island, Georgia, and Nova Scotia. Be sure to ask him about his Alaska (adventure) trip.

Chris Raab With more than 25 years of experience as a expedition guide and instructor Chris brings practical experience and technical skills that help paddlers grow, explore, and enjoy the paddling environment. As an ACA Sea Kayak, Canoe, and Traditional Skills Instructor & Instructor Trainer with BCU training, Chris has worked for Outdoor Discovery Schools of Maine and Outdoor Leadership Trainers of America and is a Registered Maine Sea Kayak Guide. Chris's style focuses on helping students meet individual goals while making learning and exploring fun! As a professional conservation biologist, LNT Master Educator, and NAI Certified Interpretive Guide, Chris combines his passion for paddle sports and the environment to help people develop the sports they love and forge a connection to the places they go to enjoy them. As the owner of Tuktu Paddles he teaches paddles sports all over the country and produces custom handmade paddles for all paddle sports.
Bob Malloy
Tim Williams Tim began sea kayak paddling in 1997, continuing a love of the water and watersports. A long-time student and teacher of the Japanese martial art, aikido, Tim approaches kayaking with a real physical and spiritual intensity that he loves to share with his students. Lucky to call Dr. Chuck Sutherland his first formal kayak teacher, Tim quickly went to the ocean and surf to get his skills and kicks aligned. Tim's been teaching ACA IDWs and ICEs for 12 years. An ACA Level 4 Open Water Instructor, he also gained WCA (Welsh Canoe Association) L#3 (Sea) status as a coach, in addition to BCU 3 and 4* ranking. Tim's enthusiasm and desire to have his students challenge themselves is infectious. A professional educator and nutrition expert, he loves sharing ideas and learning.
Dennis (Jules) Bodner Jules began kayaking through photography “as a wildlife photographer I found it easier to approach my subjects in a kayak, but the more I took out the kayak to shoot I discovered I liked to paddle better”. He is an active member of JSSKA, a year round paddler and a former member of the board of directors. Jules is a proficient Greenland style roller and is a mentor at Delmarva Paddlers retreat and Hudson River Greenland Festival. Jules is an ACA Level 4 open water sea kayak instructor. He has a laid back fun going style of teaching. “To me kayaking is fun, Teaching is fun, and therefore learning kayaking should be fun”
Ed Mann Ed is an ACA level 3 Coastal Kayak instructor and former President of the Jersey Shore Sea Kayak Association. He is also an instructor for the Jersey Paddler Kayak school and a mentor at Traditional Greenland events such as the Delmarva Paddlers Retreat and Hudson River Greenland Festival. When he's not teaching, you will usually find Ed upside down trying to master a new roll.