Ambassadors of traditional inspired kayaking: Christopher Crowhurst - by Jannie Heegaard

Background

This year we have decided to share with you a series of short interviews with interesting and beautiful paddling people we have met around the world and their thoughts on traditional and greenland paddles, paddling or traditional inspired kayakbuilding. We could call them Ambassadors of traditional kayaking or Paddling with stick people or just people we feel are important in sharing their passion for Greenland and Arctic kayakbuilding, traditional paddling and Greenland paddling especially, worldwide. The first portrait is of Christopher Crowhurst. 

Christopher Crowhurst

A lot of you already know him, and to those who do not we would like to introduce to you Christopher Crowhurst, former president of Qajaq USA (2016 – 2019) and founder of Qajaqrolls a site with lots of interesting stuff to read and devore. Anders has known Chris for a while, and I have known him personally since 2017 where I met him at Delmarva Paddlers Retreat. But I have known his name for years and have known him as a generous and enthusiastic person who shares many resources for rolling and building kayaks and now also videos on his website, for free! I have used his Rolling with Sticks Guidebook many many times throughout the years while teaching people how to roll. It is just brilliant! It provides a minimalistic very illustrative image of each roll with key points of learning many different rolls in a very simple 'how to learn' way. Most importantly you can take it out on the water and put it in the front deck of your kayak or share it with your students. In my opinion it is some of the best illustrations ever made. I love it! In recent years he has dived into the world of yoga and meditation with his lovely wife Jaquelyn and now we have also seen him jumping on to a homemade SUP-board and doing yoga on it (we might need to hook him up with a Norwegian Wood SUP-paddle). He resides in Minnesota USA with his family, and you can read much more about Chris and what he does on his website mentioned above.

How did you stumble upon your first Greenland paddle and why did you ‘stick’ to it?

When I moved to Minnesota about 15 years ago, I didn’t know anyone in the local paddling community. Jacquelyn and I were paddling through an inner-city chain of lakes where we came across a group of paddlers “showing off” their rolling skills. We introduced ourselves and through discussions noticed several of them were using Greenland paddles, and from that moment I was in love with the paddle. I went home did some research, joined Qajaq USA, purchased a Tahe Greenland and a Greenland paddle from a local paddle maker and have not looked back since.

Who or what has had the biggest impact on your journey into Greenland paddling?

It might sound a little ethereal, but I would say my relationship with the water has undergone the most profound change during my journey. Over half our body is made up of water, over two thirds of the Earth is covered by water, we are all joined to each other through this aquatic connection. As a young man I would fight the water as I paddled, attempting to control it and dictate its behavior to get to where I was going, using brute force. As my relationship to water changed, I began to realize that the water can take care of me, that by working together, with ease and finesse, I can move in a symbiotic way and achieve wonderful outcomes. Rolls come easier, strokes are less tiring, turns are carved beautifully. The Greenland paddle is a subtle tool. Because of its long narrow blade compared to the broader shorter blade of modern kayak paddles it lends itself to gentle, subtle use. Attempting to thug your way through a turn simply does not work well. The paddle teaches you how to change its angle and depth, talking to you through its vibrations, asking you to readjust your stroke and not to fight with the water.

Why do you feel it’s important to keep the Greenlandic traditions alive?

Cultural appropriation is rampant in many aspects of our lives. The indigenous people of Greenland suffered greatly at the hands of the European settlers, through the imposition and introduction of their religions, cultures, alcohol, laws, all done to create conformity and control rather than out of appreciation and respect. Much knowledge and skills were in danger of being wiped out. The work of Qaannat Kattuffiat has helped keep the traditional Greenland Qajaq skills and knowledge alive before they were lost to the history books. If we lose the knowledge or forget the origins of kayaking, we will be missing out on three thousand years of development and culture which can enrich society. Do we want peoples understanding of kayaking to just be the $80 kayak they can buy in Walmart, or instead to understand that these kayaks are derived from the subsistence hunters of Greenland? I believe society is a lot richer when it appreciates, rather than appropriates.

What is the most important thing you hope to share with the Greenland inspired kayaking world today?

Relax and be present. Think of paddling as a meditation, each stroke a mantra, the water talking to you as you ask the water for help. The same is true for rolling, ask the water to help you rise to the surface, relax into your back arch as you surface and gently ask the water to support your blade as you slide into the back deck. Changing your relationship with water will change the outcome. Look after the water and it will look after you.

What is the most important thing people who have not yet made friends with the Greenland paddle should know?

Greenland paddles are more accessible than ever, globally. My recommendation is always to try one, gently. My second recommendation is to learn (or be shown) how everything can be done with an extended paddle, turns, sculling, rolls, all come into harmony when you learn the joy of sliding the paddle into an extended position instinctively. The longer the extension, the less effort you need to create the lift and support you need.

Do you have any reflections upon sustainability that you feel are important to share?

Humans can only survive three days without water. Every kayaker has a responsibility, arguably every human, to take care of the water that we use for our survival. Each micro change we can make in our lifestyles to prevent pollution and waste can help preserve and improve the quality of water. I have become a vegan primarily through my understanding of the impact on the water supply that consuming animal products has. I wish everyone would raise their consciousness of the impacts their lifestyle has on the environment, and then makes the best decisions for themselves and others.

Where did your latest paddling experience take you?

Here in Minnesota the water has been frozen for 5 months, my last paddling experience was with my wife in Voyageurs National park, on the Canada-USA border. We spent several nights camping on Namakan island and taking day trips to explore the beautiful surroundings. Strong wind, snow, and freezing temperatures all failed to put a damper on the trip which provided gorgeous sunsets, lovely paddles and wonderful company.

What’s next?

My recent focus has been on how to blend yoga, mindfulness, conscious living and kayaking together, to introduce people to the benefits of all four in a holistic program. It’s a work in progress, but I believe all of these elements can make profound positive impacts on people’s wellbeing, and the planet’s.

We would like to thank you so much Chris for sharing your thoughts on this with us on the Kajakkspesialisten blog. Please keep paddling and exploring and also thank you for these generous words on Norwegian Wood Paddles quoted below:

"Love at first stroke! We have over 50 paddles in our collection of Greenland paddles, but somehow these Norwegian Wood Paddles are always the ones we take with us. After many miles they have taught us a lot about efficient forward strokes"

Chris and Jaquelyn Crowhurst