Meet John

My name is John Chase and I’m a paddler just like you.

I enjoy being on the water and making every outing an experience. I attended Canoecopia in 2012 and was inspired by the people I saw and met at the show. I saw a lot of people very passionate about enjoying the outdoors. What scared me was that I also found many of those people to be terribly unfit and unprepared to participate in the adventures they so wanted to experience. That, along with my experience as a NASM Personal Trainer, led me to write Power to the Paddle: Exercises to Improve your Canoe and Kayak Paddling.  The book became an Amazon best seller and inspired the addition of a companion video by the same name.

This website is focused on:

  • Helping you become a better paddler through improved fitness. You’ll find articles, videos, and tips to help improve your endurance, strength, flexibility, agility, balance, and power.
  • Providing world-class paddle sports education, instructor certification, and CPR/Wilderness First Aid programming.
  • Bringing you incredible back country experiences in our Great Lakes water paradise and beyond.

I live near Traverse City, Michigan where we are surrounded by some of the most beautiful water in the world.  Azure blue water, towering sand dunes, fjord-like bays, crystal clear free-flowing rivers, a thriving year-round outdoor culture and park system, we have it all!

I am an ACA Level 3 coastal kayak instructor, Level 2 Costal Kayak Instructor Trainer, Level 2 river kayak instructor, and a Level 2 SUP instructor.  I am a featured presenter at Canoecopia and instructor at Rutabaga’s Door County Sea Kayak Symposium (a fantastic event!).

 

 

I am a proud P&H Sea Kayaks Team Paddler, representing the best crew with the highest quality boats.  Whether you’re day touring, surfing, overnighting, or heading out on a big expedition, P&H has a boat for you.

 

 

I am a Werner Paddles Ambassador and have been a proud Werner paddler for many years. The quality, service, aesthetics, and attention to detail in their equipment is second to none.

 

 

 

 

 

I am an Ambassador for Bishop Boards.  Beautiful craftsmanship, great quality, and a wide variety of products means whether you are SUP fishing, touring, surfing, or doing SUP yoga, Bishop Boards has a ride for you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Certifications

  • ACA Level 3 Coastal Kayak Instructor
  • ACA Level 2 Coastal Kayak Instructor Trainer
  • ACA Level 2 River Kayak Instructor
  • ACA Level 2 SUP Instructor
  • NASM Certified Personal Trainer
  • TRX Trainer certified
  • Medic First Aid CPR/AED Instructor
  • ASHI CPR/AED/First Aid Instructor
  • ASHI Wilderness First Aid Instructor
  • Certified Park and Recreation Executive

Interests

  • Kayaking
  • Stand Up Paddleboarding
  • Adventure racing
  • Road and mountain biking
  • Mountaineering
  • Orienteering

Favorite Books

 

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    4 Comments

    2. Hi John,
      We talked briefly after your presentation on Friday night at Canoecopia. I said I was able to do a lot of the exercises that you shared on my total gym. I just received my total gym roller and after 5 minutes I could feel a difference in my calves and hamstrings. It is a new piece of equipment so check it out and let me know what you think. Thanks, Gary M.

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