Paddling Education

In this story, Ambassador Jacob Kastrup Haagensen takes us with him on a packrafting adventure in America’s famous Grand Canyon, on the Colorado River. Then watch his film about this expedition, The Luck of the Draw.

Bobby Puttonen runs Stockholm Nature, an adventure company in Stockholm, Sweden, where kayak tours play a large role. We got Bobby off the water long enough to answer a few questions about the business and kayaking in his part of the world.

The crystal-clear lakes of Grand Teton National Park are begging to be paddled, not just photographed! One of the most picturesque spots in North America, the Teton Range hosts several of these lakes with stunning mountain views.

What’s it like to live and sea kayak in the far north of Norway? Aqua Bound Ambassador Joachim Larssen is based there. He tells us about life there in this blog, as well as some of his cross-country sea kayaking adventures around the world.

Aqua Bound Ambassador Ella Vallance grew up working in her family’s sea kayak business in British Columbia, Canada. She loves making sure their guests get to eat incredible food on their kayak trips.

Ilia Smirnov took to an 18-foot canoe in May 2026 and paddled all 2,350 miles of the Mississippi River, from the headwaters to the Gulf Coast. He completed his journey in just under 34 days.

Aqua Bound Ambassador McKenley Newman grew up in the US but has lived in Europe for the last 10 years. He has extensive whitewater kayaking experience on both continents, which has given him an insider’s perspective on their similarities and differences.

When Florian Guillier reached out to us in 2024 to tell us about his planned hike and packraft trip in New Zealand’s South Island, we knew we had to be part of it.

At 80% the size of Lake Ontario, some people think Georgian Bay should be considered the sixth Great Lake. This Canadian offshoot of Lake Huron makes a wonderful paddling destination for novice and experienced sea kayakers alike.

Aqua Bound Ambassador Dane Hallinan has been sea kayaking in Australia for almost two decades. From year-round kayaking options to his country’s unique wildlife, Dane shares why his part of the world is special for kayaking.

The Collegiate Whitewater Festival (CWF) is a unique opportunity for student whitewater kayakers to gain racing experience in a supportive and safe environment. 

Aqua Bound Ambassador Rodrigo Alfonzo has been actively helping to shape the packrafting scene in his home state of Chiapas, Mexico. He’s brought his family on board (literally) as well.

Want to be inspired by a plethora of amazing sea kayaking destinations? Here’s a round-up of some of our best content to get you excited about kayaking around the world.

Deane Parker, New Zealand adventurer and filmmaker, just released his new film Kakariki: The Turquoise Canyon. Here, he shares the backstory of his group’s packrafting journey down this steep, technical river on New Zealand’s West Coast.

Aqua Bound Ambassador Devin Brown launched her touring kayak into the headwaters of the Mississippi River one rainy morning in 2024. While her trip didn’t end as she hoped, she didn’t imagine it would inspire a short film one day.

Max Clemencon is a newer member of Aqua Bound’s Ambassador team who has been organizing packrafting meet-ups in Europe. The next meet-up he plans is in France in Spring 2026.

Four female adventurers took on a 5-week expedition in Baffin Island in the early summer of 2025. Their trip consisted of a 250-kilometer circuit, completely human-powered across sea ice, up mountains, over tundra and down a river.

“There’s so much untapped potential for packrafting in the Midwest,” says Minneapolis photographer and paddler Jamie Cooper. “It’s way more attainable than people think.”

Turkey offers sea kayakers a unique blend of the clear, turquoise waters of the Mediterranean, beautiful and dramatic coastline, and history that stretches back millennia.

Michael O’Dwyer is on a mission to explore his corner of Sweden by canoe and kayak—and to inspire others to do the same. He’s compiling his experiences into a guidebook to showcase the rich paddling opportunities the region has to offer.

Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe isn’t just a paddle shop. It’s a paddling center with a focus on education and a passion for the water for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages near their Portland, Oregon headquarters.