We’ve known Aaron since he was a camper in the Coastal Expeditions kayak camp.  Now in his second full season with Coastal Expeditions, he’s known around HQ as one of the best kayakers that we have on staff due to his passion for the sport and attention to technique.  We wanted to know what made him want to make paddlesports and guiding a career, so we sat him down last week and asked him a few questions.

Kari Crolley: You are a unique employee at Coastal Expeditions because Chris knew you before you starting working here. What was your first exposure to Coastal Expeditions? I know that you were a camper a few years ago. Was it back at Young Naturalist Kayak Adventure Camp?

Aaron Moriarity: It’s been so long that that it’s kind of hard to remember the first experience was. I believe that I did paddle with my mom with a group of her students one time as a kid, and Chris was her guide.  He was so intimidating to me  at the time and he had that addictive personality that you wanted to be around and learn from. So, I’d probably say that and at kayak camp.

KC: How many years did you do camp?

AM: At least two or three. And I believe that I considered helping out one year, but it just didn’t work out. But yeah, I definitely paddled for two years.

KC: In between doing camp and then coming back to work for us, did you do start kayaking on your own?

AM: I did the occasional kayaking with my dad and a couple of his friends when we would do our beach house trips to Pawleys Island. We would pop into boats and do inlet paddles at sunset. But honestly only a handful to ten times a year.

KC: When did you come back to Coastal Expeditions?

AM: July of 2015.

KC: And since then you’ve really gotten into kayaking…

AM: Oh, yeah. And I’ve always loved it, but now that I have a reason and an excuse to put so many hours into a boat everyday…I love it.

KC: What your ACA (American Canoe Association) certification level?

AM: Right now, it’s an L3 Coastal Kayaking.

KC: I know you love doing tours. What’s your favorite tour to do, and from what location?

AM: I always love the low-tide tours. My favorite location would have to be Folly just because of the level of intimacy you have out there with the client and there is hardly any boat traffic. It’s quiet. And the wildlife out there is on another level.

KC: And you like doing instruction also…

AM: Oh, yeah. Definitely.

KC:  So tell me about that, because I think that’s an area where I could really see you expanding at Coastal Expeditions.

AM: I’ve always loved teaching and instructing, whether it be through skim boarding or surfing or whatever, sharing experiences with friends. And now I just find myself falling into this niche of be really good at instructing kayaking. I pride myself in the technique-based side of the sport.

KC: Do you think that you’ll go further with your ACA certification and try to be L4 or L5?

AM: I do plan on it.

KC: That’s awesome. And on a tour, what’s your favorite kind of wildlife to see when you’re with clients?

AM: I never saw a manatee in Charleston until I started working with Coastal Expeditions, so that’s always cool and a nice surprise. Strand-feeding dolphins are always amazing. But in speaking about birds, probably Swallow-tailed kites and Mississippi kites on blackwater.

KC: One last question. You are also involved in the South Carolina Outdoor Education Program field trips, taking middle school students into blackwater and saltwater environments through kayaking. What do you feel is the biggest takeaway from these kids getting to participate in the program?

AM: For myself or for the kids?

KC: Both, I’d love to know both.

AM: For myself, I’ve always kind of been awkward around children, especially trying to educate younger people because I just don’t feel like they listen to me. As a person, as an individual, I’ve grown out of that weird bubble and I interact with the kids a lot more, and better. For the kids’ sake, I definitely say it’s building awareness of what we have here locally that a lot of people don’t know about and how important it is to the ecosystems and the world in general. It’s necessary to make some efforts to keep the world from being destroyed.

KC: Well,that’s all I need! Thanks for taking a minute to talk with me.