‘What’s New’
Summer Travels
A few days ago I staggered in the door of my townhouse in northern California. I was exhausted from traveling for the past two months but couldn’t help but crack a smile at how fat my cat had become in my absence. Over the summer I have seen some amazing places, made some fantastic new friends and shared laughs with old friends along the way. Finally my head appears to be back in the right time zone and I’ve had a little time to reflect on my adventures.
My trip began in mid-June when my friend Michael Morris and I drove to Washington to attend SSTIKS (South Sound Traditional Inuit Kayak Symposium). SSTIKS has always been a special event for me, because it was where I was first introduced to skin-on-frame qajaqs and traditional kayaking skills. This was my third year as an instructor there, and upon arrival I was immediately greeted by the friendly people that make this event happen. The high point for me at this year’s event was having the opportunity to do a rolling demonstration with Brian Shulz in a tandem skin-on-frame qajaq that he built. The two of us had never even seen each other roll, and the demonstration made us both laugh as we attempted one roll after the next… some successfully and others not so successfully. Following are links to the first and second parts of the demonstration.
After SSTIKS Michael dropped me off at the Seattle airport where I boarded a plane for Copenhagen, Denmark. For the next three weeks I did a tour of Denmark and Sweden with kayak designer Johan Wirsén. The tour was organized by Mats von Wowern of Tahe Marine. Johan and I traveled from one Tahe dealership to the next doing full day classes with me teaching rolling and him teaching boat design. We spent hours in the car together going from one place to the next, and jokingly commented that it was a good thing that we got along. Sweden and Denmark are beautiful, and the days that we weren’t teaching we explored castles, fields, historic landmarks and warm beaches. I had brought clothes for cold weather and was surprised by the hot sun shining down on people sunbathing and swimming in the warm, calm water.
After three weeks, and lots of good laughs, I once again found myself at an airport, this time on my way to Nuuk, Greenland to participate in the 2010 Greenland National Kayaking Championship. I was in Greenland in 2008, and it hadn’t really hit me that I was going back until I saw a small plane with the words Air Greenland painted on the side. As the plane dipped low over Greenland I saw the icebergs floating in the water and took a deep breath. My experiences in Greenland in 2008 were overwhelming, and I’d told myself that I’d be back. I feel very lucky that I returned a mere two years later. Greenland is magical. There’s no other way to describe it. Throughout the week I participated in several Greenland games, including racing, rolling and rope gymnastics. Although this is a competition, it is a friendly competition, and it is more about keeping the ancient tradition of kayaking alive than anything else. A week after arriving in Greenland I headed back to Copenhagen to catch a flight back to the U.S. the following morning, smiling at the icebergs and promising myself that I’ll be back.
I arrived in Copenhagen and although I had a nice room in a great hotel, I couldn’t sleep. I was thinking about SSTIKS, Denmark, Sweden and Greenland. The following morning I hopped on a plane back to the U.S., but I wouldn’t be going back home for several weeks. I arrived in Seattle, and Barb Gronseth, co-owner of the Kayak Academy, picked me up. I’ve spent quite a bit of time at the Kayak Academy, and immediately settled in, laughing and telling George Gronseth and Barb all about my adventures. The following evening I attended the Kayak Academy’s Wednesday Evening Skills Night. I did a rolling demonstration and chatted with participants about Greenland Week 2010, a fun week of activities and a three day competition organized by The Kayak Academy, Dubside, Maligiaq Padilla and myself. That evening Barb, George and I talked about the event and did some more planning. The following morning I hopped on an early flight to Minnesota for The Traditional Paddlers Gathering.
Alex Pak, one of the organizers of the event, picked up me and Will Bigelow of The Walden Qajaq Society. Will had just arrived in town, but was already off to play some squash. Alex took me on a tour of Minneapolis. That evening I stayed with Michelle and Jeff Forseth (thanks guys) and the following day we went to the event, which took place on Lake Mille Lacs. This is a camping event, and I watched as the braver of the group attempted to set up the large group tent. After setting up the tent we headed to the water and began some informal instruction. Over the next three days we had a blast with rolling, rescues and strokes instruction, a silent auction (I came home with an awesome new tuiliq, made by Chris Gmeinder) and a unique harpoon contest, ran by Jeff Bjorgo. I did the Saturday evening slideshow on my recent trip to Greenland. This was my first time attending The Traditional Paddlers Gathering, and I loved it. Paddlers in the mid-west know how to have a good time!
After the event I spent another night at the Forseth house, and then hopped on a plane to Thunder Bay, Canada. Joe O’Blenis, his partner Diane and Diane’s twin sister Dawna picked me up at the airport and took me to their house. Joe makes my paddles, and after numerous conversations with him he’d set up a weekend event at his house and surrounding areas. I wasn’t teaching until the following weekend, so we spent the week exploring the area (saw a bear up close) and rolling in the pool in the backyard. Joe has numerous kayaks surrounding the outdoor pool, and it was fun to hop in them throughout the day and just play in the water. The following weekend I taught rolling while Joe taught strokes. In the evening I did another Greenland slideshow presentation. Sunday afternoon I did a rolling demonstration in the pool followed by an interactive ropes class between two trees in the front yard, and Monday morning Joe took me back to the airport.
It was a strange feeling to be on my way home. It was even stranger to watch the familiar redwoods of my hometown come into view, but wonderful to see my friends Lexy and Michael waiting for the plane to land. So now I’m home, and after several days of sleep I’m almost ready for the next adventure… which begins on Thursday.
For more pictures, please visit the Gallery.
Optimist Kayaking’s 2010 Symposium: October 14 to 17, Israel
October 14 to 17
Location: Israel
The OPTIMIST Annual Skills Symposium and BCU week is a great time to immerse yourself in training, networking with coaches from around the world and listening to some amazing international presentations.
Offered are half day clinics where you can learn a variety of paddling techniques, rolling, rescues, safety and navigation, as well as BCU award training and assessments.
This symposium is not just about kayaking; it is a wonderful event where you will meet paddlers from all walks of life, a unique cultural experience in Israel, in a very safe and friendly environment.
2010 Greenland National Kayaking Championship Slideshow: October 11, Eureka, California
October 1 to 3
Location: Eureka, California
Helen and Dubside will speak about their experiences at the 2010 Greenland National Kayaking Championship during Explore North Coast’s Member Night. Member Night is held at the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center, located at 921 Waterfront Drive in Eureka, California.
Layback vs. Forward Finish as First Rolls
Question: I am in my mid-40s, and fairly new to kayaking. I built a touring kayak from Chris Kulczycki’s book, “The New Kayak Shop.” It’s a large volume boat, and has a fairly high rear deck. Also, I’ve played hard over the years, and my back isn’t a flexible as it once was. Do you think rolls that finish forward are a better place to start given the high deck and less-than-super-flexible back?
Answer: I would suggest a layback roll if you can do it safely, even with limited flexibility. Your finish position will be with your head back, chin in the air and eyebrows hanging down. It is not so important that you are able to touch the back deck as it is that you are able to be floppy over it. If you can hang in this position and not be in pain, this is the route that you should take.
In rare cases a forward finish roll is better as a first roll. These rolls are good for people who have had back injuries, or other issues, that prevent them from being comfortable in the layback finish position. For these people, I teach a forward finish roll as a first roll. Some flexibility is required for forward finish rolls as well, since the paddler needs to be able to come up hunched forward on, or close to, the front deck.
Wednesday Skills Night: July 21, Lake Sammamish, Washington
July 21
Location: Lake Sammamish, Washington
Helen will be at Kayak Academy’s Wednesday Skills Night on Lake Sammamish. This is a great time to work on rolls and ask questions about the upcoming Greenland Week and Competition taking place in November.
Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium: February 18 to 20, San Francisco, California
February 18 to 20
Location: San Francisco, California
This is a skills symposium, not a selling event. It will be a fun and exciting weekend of sea kayaking in one of the most spectacular and dynamic locations in the world, under the span of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and around the rugged Marin Headlands. This event is dedicated to the sheer joy of being able to paddle well and safely and as such is not affiliated with any particular organization. Spring tides and powerful Pacific swells will ensure challenging conditions for even the most seasoned paddlers, and whilst this event is not intended for absolute beginners because of the time of year, instruction is offered for novice/intermediate paddlers in the calm waters of Richardson Bay.
Delmarva Paddler’s Retreat: October 1 to 3, Lewes, Delaware
October 1 to 3
Location: Lewes, Delaware
Since 2001, the Delmarva Paddler’s Retreat has transformed to become the first all Greenland, traditional paddling event of its kind in the United States. It has increasingly moved towards an extended gathering of Greenland enthusiasts, sharing traditional skills, boat construction and the implications of traditional origins on modern kayaking. The event began to include, apart from instructional elements, distinguished invited speakers, and world class demonstrations and workshops.
Rolling Clinics and DVD Screening: August 13 to 15, Dana Point and Newport, California
On Saturday, Aug. 14 and Sunday, Aug. 15 Helen will be teaching 3 rolling clincs. Although the focus of the classes is on Greenland style rolling, anyone is welcome to attend. She’ll be teaching whatever people want to learn (first rolls, off-side rolls, layback rolls, forward finish rolls, norsaq rolls, hand rolls… whatever).
On Sunday, Aug. 15 there will be a DVD Screening at REI in Santa Ana.
On Friday, Aug. 13 private classes are available.
Pre-registration is required. To register, visit
Reykjanes Vorhittingur, Iceland – May 2010
For me, paradise is found in cold climates with lots of clean, icy, salty water. So when I was asked to teach at an event in Iceland I was thrilled. I had never been to Iceland and didn’t know what to expect, but I had a feeling that it would be an adventure. I woke early (very early) on the morning of May 9 and began the long journey. Four flights later I was in Iceland, although because of a volcanic ash cloud that prevented landing at Keflavik, the plane landed on the opposite side of the country as originally planned. My first sights of Akureyri from the small plane window took my breath away as the plane landed in a long and narrow valley between steep snow covered mountains. I had checked the weather forecast before coming so that I would pack accordingly, but that first breath of icy air told me that I had underpacked for the land part of my adventure.
The original plan was for me to travel to Reykavik and drive to the kayaking event with one of the organizers, Ingi Sigurðsson, but because of the airport change, it was easier for me to get to a town called Ísafjörður, located in the western fjords, and only about a 90 minute drive from the kayaking event taking place the following weekend. I got a ride with a French photographer and skier named Colin. He had picked up three other “stray people” who had traveled from Hungary, and the five of us loaded our gear into a small rental car. After about five minutes, Colin wanted to stop for breakfast. I was exhausted and wanted to get to my destination, but instead smiled and walked into the cafe, getting my first look at the delectable treats that are common in Icelandic cafes. After breakfast we continued on our way, stopping at a few locations to take pictures and breathe the cold air. I was very tired and was feeling very out of it but I realized that I was in a beautiful place and it was actually a great thing that I was traveling with someone who wanted to take his time getting to the final destination.
Colin had decided to take the Hungarian hitchhikers all the way to their stop, even though it was a detour for us. In the small town we said our goodbyes and Colin and I went into the tourist office to look around. Colin told me that just about every town in Iceland has natural hot springs, and he asked around to find out where the nearest ones were. We were told to travel 20 kilometers and three horse gates down a dirt road. By this point I was smiling at Colin’s casual attitude toward travel and was looking forward to a hot soak in a natural tub. After a wonderful soak I walked around a bit, still amazed by the gorgeous landscape and thinking how lucky I was to have the opportunity to travel to places such as these.
I had left home over 35 hours ago and still hadn’t slept, and after the soak I got into the car and quickly dozed off. It wasn’t long before Colin woke me, and I opened my eyes just in time to see the blow from a humpback whale in an inlet. Colin drove off-road toward the water and we both jumped from the car to take pictures before continuing on.
One more stop for lunch and several hours later we arrived in Ísafjörður. I said goodbye to Colin and met up with Halldor, another event organizer. He took me to the town’s kayaking club and introduced me to some other kayakers. It’s always amazing to me that no matter where I travel the same enthusiasm surrounds kayaking clubs, and a group of kayakers who have no history together can instantly become the best of friends. I sat in Halldor’s skin-on-frame qajaq and chatted with him about kayaks and kayaking. Then he took me to his house, where I spent the rest of the evening with him and his family before settling in for a much needed night of sleep.
The next day I woke to an empty house and decided to go and explore the town. I was immediately glad that I’d brought my warm Outdoor Research down jacket and squeezed the hood tight around my face. The town isn’t very large, but the shops are charming, and after a roll with butter and cheese and a hot cup of coffee, I proceeded to walk around. I was surprised that everyone spoke English, and once again, as I always do when I travel, I told myself that I need to learn another language. That evening I asked Halldor’s wife, Helga, if there is a trail into the mountains, and she pointed to one across the inlet and suggested that her or Halldor give me a ride to the trailhead the following day.
In the morning I woke and decided that instead of getting a ride around the inlet I would walk. The journey was much longer than I had anticipated, but I was in no hurry and took my time, stopping to take pictures and to try to pronounce the words that were written on signs. I smiled at a sign with a picture of a town with the words Ísafjörður appearing on it. The same sign (without the words) and a line drawn through it sat on the opposite side of the street facing the other direction, signaling that those who passed it were no longer in town. I came to the trailhead and began a very steep climb up the mountain. I stopped a couple of times to take in the scenery, then continued up, my feet crunching in the patches of icy snow. Finally I reached the top and turned to see the small town across the inlet and below me. That evening I relaxed in Halldor’s handbuilt sauna.
The next evening we all drove to the kayaking event, Reykjanes Vorhittingur. It takes place at a charming old boarding school that has since been converted to a hotel. The building was built over a geothermal pool to keep it warm. It wasn’t long before all of the kayakers were laughing together in a very large geothermal pool outside. It was strange to me to be in a place where the air is so cold, and the water so warm, and I laughed as I realized that I’d be teaching in a bathing suit instead of my usual get-up of several layers of fleece under a drysuit. What was even stranger was when several snowflakes fell from the sky, melting instantly as they touched the steaming water.
Typically at events like this, I teach group rolling classes, but the kayakers here were more interested in private classes, so I set classes up beginning every hour and lasting 45 minutes. I was amazed at the skill level of these kayakers. Most had rolls on both sides and proved to be very competent in wind and a strong tidal race in the open water next to the hotel. Over the next three days I worked with many people on their rolls in the warmth of the warm geothermal pool. Between classes I’d get out, throw my Kokatat Storm Cag over my bathing suit and drink hot beverages in the icy air. Everyone that I worked with was delightful, and I had a wide range of students, that included several small children.
On the fourth day I taught a group class and then went on an open water paddle. The wind had picked up, and we spent some time playing in the wind generated surf. After a while we all headed back in to eat fresh puffin, drink red wine and pack up our things.
I was riding with Ingi and his wife Eve to Reykjavik and had a flight home the following day. It was a beautiful drive from the northwest tip of Iceland to the southern region. Once we got to Reykavik, the capitol city, I was surprised by the change in the landscape. There were trees, streams and a lot more people than in the other Icelandic cities that I’d visited. (Iceland is home to 300,000 people, with 60 percent of them living in, or around, the capitol.) Ingi and I went on an evening walk under the midnight sun. We looked at a gorgeous waterfall, beautiful trees surrounding a walking trail and a little alcove on the grass where his children liked to play when they were little. We walked past a naturally heated swimming pool with both an indoor and outdoor section that had an impressive waterslide looming above it.
The following day I found out that my flight had been cancelled due to volcanic ash in the air. I got a ride into the center of Reykavik to re-book my flight and all of my connections, then explored the city. I went in the shops, talked to locals and was tempted into buying a traditional Icelandic sweater. During a conversation with a local I asked, “If you had one hour in this town, where would you go?” The response was immediate, “to the top of the church.” Up the hill there was an impressive church, with an inexpensive elevator ride to the top where it was possible to see the entire town of Reykavik from every angle as well as the gorgeous water surrounding the town.
I had seen an ad to explore the country by horseback, and decided that would be a fantastic thing to do the following day. Ingi helped me make the reservation and the following morning I took a bus to some stables about 30 miles out of town. My companion for the day was Foxy, an Icelandic horse that had a personality of his own. We explored the riverbed and the surrounding hills, and I headed back to Ingi’s house with a smile on my face. Eve, who was originally from France, prepared a delicious traditional French dinner.
The following day the airspace opened up over Keflavik and I began a long, but still adventurous, journey home.
For more pictures, visit the Gallery.
Simplifying the Roll with Helen Wilson
About a year ago I started thinking about making an instructional rolling DVD. I wanted to show people that a roll doesn’t have to be quick and violent, and that a Greenland roll is gentle on the body… and it doesn’t even require a Greenland paddle.
I went to a local film production place and enthusiastically told the representative about my project. She looked at me with a confused expression on her face, and I realized that I either needed to drop the idea or find a kayaker to do the filming.
Soon after that I saw a trailer for a DVD called Paddle California. It was made by Bryant Burkhardt. I had instructed with Bryant for a few hours during the 2009 Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium, but had not seen him since. Still, I decided to contact him.
As it turned out, Bryant was the missing link to this project, and the two of us began putting the DVD together. I made an outline for the format, and Bryant drove to Arcata for a long weekend of filming in various locations around Humboldt County. Over the next few weeks Bryant and were in regular contact, with Bryant doing the editing and me working on sound.
Once everything was put together, we met again for a very long weekend of continuous work. We re-filmed what we didn’t like, added film that was missing and began the long process of burning DVDs and watching them again and again.
Amazingly, it was done late that Sunday… just as planned. At 6 a.m. the following day Bryant and I watched it one last time, agreed that it was good to go, and I took it to the post office. All I had thought about since beginning this project was the DVD, and I was surprised by the powerful emotions that I felt handing it over to the woman at the counter.
The DVD has three chapters and a bonus section. The first chapter teaches a balance brace and a standard Greenland roll (which can be done with any type of paddle). The second chapter troubleshoots the roll, and the third chapter is a progression to more advanced rolls. The bonus section is on forward finishing rolls.
Thanks to Tahe Marine, Kokatat and Joe O’ Paddles for providing financial support for the DVD, and to Outdoor Research for additional support. I also want to thank Bryant for working with me on this, Michael Morris for being my student and taking the skin off a qajaq so that I could use it and Alex Wilson, my son, for always laughing at his mother’s crazy projects (he’s also the person who has been labeling the packages for all the pre-orders).
Click here to see a trailer of the DVD.
To pre-order DVDs (released mid-May), click here. For Trade or Dealer inquires, call (206) 661-3745, e-mail getwet@activepaddles.com or visit www.activepaddles.com.
