Expeditioning and coaching at home and abroad have given Gordon the background needed for writing this book. Thirty years experience of sea kayaking and coaching, with forays into white water and surf coaching are shared with the reader. From his early days on the West Coast of Scotland in a home-built wood and canvas kayak to Greenland, New Zealand, Tasmania, Sri Lanka, Norway, Iceland, Canada, USA, as well as every home nation and all the outlying islands, he has always pushed the limit of his knowledge and skill. He also spent three months coaching on the rivers of Nepal. As well as owning and running Skyak Adventures on the Isle of Skye, Gordon trains and assesses to the highest level within the BCU and is currently involved with the development of the new awards scheme. He is a BCU Level 5 coach (sea and inland) and Scotland's only ACA Advanced open water instructor.