About

Posted by Greg on March 13, 2008

For years I resisted having either a personal website or a blog. Although I enjoy sharing my writing, both activities seemed entirely too self-absorbed for my tastes.

In 2007 I left the corporate world and the mindset that I was living for retirement — to start living for today. While it’s always wise to prepare for the future, life is what happens between the big plans, vacations and retirements. In the corporate world I had money but precious little time for anything more than a 2-3 week trip.  For years I had yearned to pursue kayaking “expeditions” and other adventures (I also plan to through-hike the Appalachian trail). I knew that I would have deep regrets otherwise.  So now I have time, but limited money. Anyone who tries to make money by writing about kayaking, teaching kayaking or by adventure activities either learns to get very creative or starve (or crawl back to a cube in the corporate world). I don’t care for evident self promotion. On the other hand, avoiding all exposure is not very balanced or realistic either. The world can’t beat even a tiny path to your door if they don’t know where your door is — or especially if you have no door at all…

On my trip around Iceland I was surprised how much I enjoyed sharing the daily details of my trip on a blog. I have been sharing my expertise for years on the Qajaq USA forums, so this is really a natural progression. I am looking forward to having another medium to share my writing, thoughts and images. Some experiences are really better shared.

I’m still finding my way outside of the corporate world. I’m doing a variety of interesting jobs, including private instruction, enjoying long kayaking trips and writing/speaking about them, working for Travel Country Outdoors (a large outfitter in Orlando, Florida), and even doing a bit of painting. Anything that will let me pursue a kayaking lifestyle.

Was leaving the corporate world worth it? Let me put it this way. In 23 years the longest vacation that I could muster (for competing in Greenland) was three weeks. Since I have changed my lifestyle I have circumnavigated Iceland. I have toured Europe. In May of 2008 I have plans to play in tidal races in Wales, participate in the Vogalonga race kayaking the the canals of Venice amid a flotilla of hundreds of non-powered boats, teach Greenland kayaking in Italy, and in June start a three month circumnavigation of Newfoundland. So yes, it has been worth it (even if that pile of bills is not shrinking as fast as I would like).

Following is some profile information about me.

Born in 1960, Greg Stamer grew up paddling open canoes but was instantly captivated by sea kayaks and got his start in 1988. Home is wherever he happens to be, but central Florida is his home base.

Greg is the President and founder of Qajaq USA, the American Chapter of the Greenland Kayaking Association (Qaannat Kattuffiat).

Greg is perhaps best known for his study, teaching and writings of Greenland technique and culture. He has written articles for Sea Kayaker magazine and authored the chapter, “Using Greenland Paddles” in “Eastern Arctic Kayaks, History, Design, Technique” by John D. Heath and E. Y. Arima. Greg is a featured paddler in Justine Curgenven’s “This is the Sea” video, and is a guest-instructor in “Nigel Foster’s Sea Kayaking Series”.

A minimalist by nature, Greg was attracted to Greenland-style kayaking and began learning Greenland skills in the late eighties. He credits the late kayak historian, John Heath, and six-time Greenland champion Maligiaq Padilla, as his primary mentors. In 2000 he attended a week-long training camp in Qoornoq, Greenland and learned from some of Greenland’s best kayakers.

Greg participated on the first American team, when the annual Greenland Kayaking Championship was opened to outsiders in 2000. He won his age group in the World Class (which combined all Greenlanders and foreigners), and earned medals in different disciplines, including long distance racing and rolling. Greg returned again in 2002 and earned another gold medal for rolling. While there he enjoyed kayaking in several locations along the Southwest Greenland coast in a traditional skin covered kayak; “The Greenlandic coast and fiords are truly soul-inspiring in their beauty. Works of man are few, and the immense landscape both humbles and empowers you at the same time”.

Greg loves to teach and is a much sought-after coach for symposiums, across the USA and worldwide. Greg has instructed in the United States, Japan, Spain, Great Britain, Newfoundland and New Zealand and looks forward to traveling and teaching in new locations.

In addition to “Greenland-style”, Greg enjoys kayak surfing, rough-water kayaking, some whitewater, and trips of all kinds. Greg has pursued multi-week trips in many locations, including the Pukaskwa coast of Lake Superior, the Apostle Islands, circumnavigating Isle Royale in Lake Superior, portaging his sea kayak across Isle Royale (to fish the inland lakes and to hear wolves and see moose), exploring the coastal areas of the Florida Everglades, and more. Working for a large corporation developing computer software limited his time-off to three weeks or less for trips. In 2007 Greg left his high-paying corporate job, and escaped from his small “cube”, to pursue a more fulfilling lifestyle and to enjoy longer trips.

In June 2007 Greg and trip partner Freya Hoffmeister circumnavigated Iceland (1,620 km) in 33 days (25 paddling days). Greg used a carbon Superior Greenland paddle on the trip.

He is currently planning his next adventure, a solo circumnavigation of Newfoundland in 2008.

Greg is available for lectures, for teaching at events around world, and offers private lessons devoted to Greenland-style technique.