28.2.08

Team Eskimo Norway


2007 Saw the start off the Team Eskimo Norway. It all started back in 2005 when we bought our first Eskimo boat, a Speedo.

What followed were phonecalls & and emails back and forth with the ever friendly and patience guys at the Eskimo plant: the boat leaked as hell.....
Finally it became clear that it missed some seals under screws for the seat.....

Once this issue was sorted out the fun started!

What a boat!! We were amazed about the speed of it and it's totally un-norwegian design. When you came at the river you saw some people think: what's that? Poor guy, what a long boat. That was mostly the last you did see them on the trip as they couldn't keep up the pace with the Speedo.


And from one thing came another and after a while the Team consist of Morten Bergsland, Karl Engen, Flemming Schmidt and Ferry Wagenvoort.

As Flemming and I were committed to the seriousness off family life, Morten and Karl set off on their Norway tours. They developed very quickly their skills in their Salto's packed on the back of Morten's Toyota Pick Up (yes he lives on a farm...) just living the endless Norwegian summernights...


Morten freewheels Spanumfossen, Telemark, in his Salto.

Karl at Raundalselva
Flemming playing Golfstrømmen, Sjoa
Ferry lining up, Sokna-river, Hønefoss.

During the summer the families also wanted to get out and so we ended up at the Sjåkwave with Flemming playing packhorse for kids and Topo Duo....

The nextdoor campsite at the wave is great with children as they can paddle and play in the pool that is created for them at the back of the campsite...


As summer ended we were invited by Eric and Jan to come down to the Otz river for the Sickline World Championships. Morten, Karl and Ferry flew down to germany and were taken great care of by the Eskimo/ Rikutech crew. Beer, boats and transport (with driver and head of team Eric) were suplied and off we headed to the Alps.

As none of us ever had been to the Alps for padling we were very keen on getting there. The weather was perfect and warm, too warm it soon turned out....

Waterlevels were high and the racetrack was closed down after a near accident. Tragicly i didn't stay with that, nasty injuries and a fatal accident followed.
All respect for the organizers and their backup volenteers: a great event!

We made the best out of it, meeting lots of nice fellowpadlers from all over the world. Food and party were great.

Sundaymorning arrived and we had to catch a plane in Germany so we finally tracked down our Team Chef Eric on the sofa in the kitchen. We tucked him safely in the car and headed for home...

The season was great and a big thanks to all the support from Jan and Eric!

Winter padling at Randselva, Hønefoss, Morten, Karl & Ferry

If you have any questions about padling in Norway, don't hesitate, just mail: fwag@broadpark.no

Greets from Norway and maybe see you in summer!

Team Eskimo Norway.