About Us
For the Sweetwater team paddling is more than an activity, it is a lifestyle. Since 1992, we have brought our love of water sports to our customers through Sweetwater Kayaks. From rentals to lessons and expeditions, we think that time is best spent on the water. We love everything from getting beginners on the water to helping seasoned paddlers fine tune their skills. Kayaking has allowed us to discover new places, have unforgettable experiences, and make lasting friendships and we want to share that with you!
Read about the Sweetwater staff below:
Russell Farrow
BC 4 Star Award/Sea Kayak
BC Level 3 Coach/Sea Kayak
BC Three Star Award Canoe
ACA L4 Sea Kayak
TSRA Certified Solo Open Boat
Wilderness First Responder
Professional player of stringed instruments
As president of Sweetwater Kayaks, Russell’s extensive sea kayak expedition experience makes him a great source of paddling knowledge. Paddling has brought Russell all over the United States as well as the globe. Most notably, he organized the Labrador 2005 Expedition where he paddled Labrador’s northeast coast which is thought to be one of the most inhospitable and challenging coastlines in the world. He has also paddled across the Baltic Sea from Stockholm to Helsinki, and an expedition in the high arctic from Pond Inlet, on the north end of Baffin Island, to Admiralty Inlet. In addition to his paddling, Russell is an accomplished musician who has appeared on Saturday Night Live and is currently the guitarist for the band Sisemore. He is an excellent source of local Florida knowledge, creative facial hair, and travel stories.
Steve Farrow
ACA Level 1 Introduction to Kayaking Instructor
BC 1 Star Award
First Aid /CPR
In his 30 years as an airline professional, Steve has traveled the world in search of the ideal outdoor experience. After retiring, he joined Sweetwater Kayaks and now manages the shop where he provides every customer with great knowledge of the Saint Petersburg and Tampa area. Steve is both a trained kayaker and paddleboarder which makes his first hand knowledge of products in the shop very valuable.
Chad Maynard
ACA Level 3 Coastal Kayak Instructor
ACA Kayak Rolling Endorsement
BC UKCC Level 2 Coach
BC BCAB2 Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Paddlesports
ACA SUP Level 1 – SUP Instructor
BC Stand Up Paddleboard Support Module
BC Three Star Award/Sea Kayak
BC Three Star Award/Canoe
Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning
Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA)
CPR Certified
Prior to plunging into the sport of kayaking in 2005, he spent years racing sailboats and fishing from canoes the lakes and rivers of Northern Ohio. He took his love of water with him as he headed off to college in Southeast Ohio where he majored in computer science and minored in mathematics. He has continued his formal education by receiving an MBA from the Unversity of Phoenix in Tampa. So when doesn’t have his nose in a textbook or is not on the water paddling, the most likely place to find Chad is coaching kayaking, canoeing, or standup paddleboard (SUP) courses offered through the shop or renting kayaks at Weedon Island Preserve. In addition to his participation in kayaking and other water sports he has a full time career in the information technology (IT) field. He loves all types of music, bowling, cooking, rollerblading, weight lifting, Texas hold’em, and is an avid golf duffer. FORE!!!!
Wayne Douchkoff
ACA Level 3 Kayak Instructor
ACA Certified Trip Leader
BC 3 Star Award Canoe/Kayak
BC Level One Coach Paddlesports
SOLO Wilderness First Aid/CPR
Florida Advanced Master Naturalist, U of FL
Florida Master Naturalist Program Instructor
Certified Interpretive Guide, National Association for Interpretation
Lifelong Learner
Wayne’s passion is the outdoors, whether exploring, learning or teaching others. 10 years into his 3rd career, he still makes time to volunteer in the Tampa Bay Area as an educator, naturalist, citizen scientist and all around sage (meaning ‘wise’ or ‘wise guy’, depending on your perspective).Photography, skydiving and eating makes Wayne an all (a)round guy.
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Sweetwater Kayaks 