a damm good paddler for a first attempt

Just over 18 months ago I hired a  worker, Haakon to help me out with building  sea kayaks.
Haakon was just the man for the job he was immaculate with his work and attentive to the detail and he  only expected the best from his work,just what I needed in a worker.

He is  pretty quirky guy .

Hailing from Montana in the USA right smack in the middle at the top with no ocean within 8+ hours either way and no experience with seakayaks or the ocean.
He is an amazing juggler and the quirkest part was that Haakon only hitchhikes and I mean everywhere.Not one day was he late for work and even managed to cross the river to work in major floods swimming ( and still not late)

I took Haakon for his first paddle up along the coast line .

I was in my new Nadgee Solo and Haakon in a rudderless/skegless Nadgee Expedition, heading North early in the morning on a glassy flat ocean stopping for lunch at Middle head.
After a quick break we headed back with the Nor'easterly getting stronger by the minute.

On the way back the wind was an easy 15/20 knots and building as we paddled .

Haakon casually fell in only to quickly roll up!!!

Hows that for a lucky first roll attempt in rough water ,well it happened once more before getting back.

Haakon was in fine form for a new paddler.When we got back to the beach ,he wanted to try some surfing and off he went.

You can see he hasn't got the fine detail as yet but look at his roll after being knocked over surfing

Sorry for the bad editing and filming ....... my bad

Sadly last week I had to wave goodbye to a very good worker who became a very good friend as he is heading home to see family and friends for a few years before coming back to OZ to work for NKA again......Right Haakon ?


clip-2009-12-05 21;52;50 from Nadgee Kayaks Australia on Vimeo.