Freya Hoffmeister - Ahead

Posted by derrick on April 17, 2008

In October of 2008 Freya Hoffmeister is set to begin one of the most challenging expedition attempts possible in the world of Sea Kayaking.  Her goal is to become the first woman to circumnavigate the southern continent of Australia. The first person to circumnavigate Australia was Paul Cayffn some 25 years ago.

The trip is expected to take about one year to accomplish.  Along the incredible 9,400 mile route Freya will no doubt face wild seas, hungry crocks and curious sharks. In addition she will have to average some 35 miles per day in the tropical heat, while facing long open crossings and days where miles of cliffs will make landings impossible.  This is not a trip you can “phone in”.  That of course is the adventure, and the challenge.

When I set out to talk to Freya about the trip I found myself facing my own little challenge.  Freya of course is a friend and I know her to be much more than the caricature that easily becomes created in the mills of the paddle press or the symposium campfires. Freya is a smart, talented person with amazing drive and a strong competitive nature and of course much more.  I want to thank her for taking time to answer all my questions, even when she knew I was digging a bit. (wink, wink)

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d - Freya, thanks for taking time to do this.  Alright, you just got back from your record trip around the South Island of New Zealand and now you’re already planning to circumnavigate Australia.  When did that idea hit you, and when did you commit to the trip?  Why?
 
Freya - Well, on the last days of my NZSI circumnavigation I started thinking about what to do for my next big trip. Even though I’d been away from home more than 70 days I just hadn’t had enough…

My first thought was, for sure, that I’d paddle around the North Island as well! Paul Caffyn gave me his  NI book and over the next fives days that I was bogged down with bad weather over Christmas at Paul’s house I read it almost half of it. But, well, it didn’t excite me all that much. Perhaps because it seemed too similar to what I’d already seen around the South Island but with less beautiful scenery, less remoteness. Clearly it would be challenging as well especially since there would be the same tricky surf barrier around most of the island again but I guess I was even more eager for a larger, very different trip, even if no one had paddled around the NI besides Paul. But around OZ as well…

After I finished the NZSI trip I spent another 10 days with Paul and managed to wrangle almost the last copy of his book about paddling around Australian from him. I’d long thought that I didn’t want to paddle in a land invested with crocs, man (or woman) eating sharks and I’ve never been fond of poisonous snakes — on land or sea — but as the challenge came into tighter focus my attitude changed…

After talking to my family and business managers at home and finding out that it was actually possible to take off that long, I decided that, yes, I will do it! Clearly this is a HUGE challenge: the distance, the endurance, having the skills to paddle in very volatile conditions, plus, as I said, dealing with the creatures there. But I just love to do something really "outstanding" which might be hard to repeat…
 
d - We could go on all day about the dangers of this trip, but I think everyone knows by now that you don’t scare easily.  So let me just check, is there anything about this trip that does cause a little concern for you?
 
Freya - Naturally, I don’t have much experience with crocs, sharks and snakes…and I’m very happy to keep it that way! So I think it’s best to learn how to AVOID any really close encounters. And just like on NZSI, it’s important to learn more and more how to best AVOID the biggest breaking surf. That’s my biggest concern!
 
There are three very long sections of cliffs where you can’t land for two days; however, that doesn’t scare me too much as long as I set out in suitable conditions.

The lack of fresh water in some corners will be solved since I’ll have a desalinater as a backup and I’ll have enough room in my kayak to store enough food.
 
d - Those of us who’ve been around to watch you move quickly from your “woman in black” traditional paddling days to racing and World Class expeditions have wondered I’m sure what’s driving you to keep this pace?
 
Freya - Well, that’s just ME…Actually, I was always the "Woman in Black", the rolling stuff just did emphasize the public vision i was a "roller" only…

But I never felt that I was just a traditional paddler. I’ve brought my gymnastics background to the boat: when I teach rolling, my style is more of a modern, playful approach to rolling. I try to make it creative and fun.

I’ve always loved expeditioning. I’m curious by nature! This includes to learn different disciplines of kayaking that I’ve never done like the surf ski stuff.
 
d - How do you look at the Australia trip in the sequence of what you’ve done so far. Is this the “Big One”?  Or do you just consider it another step?
 
Freya - For sure it’s A VERY BIG One, but still another step! I won’t stop paddling after that! And I can’t imagine that I’ll stop searching for new challenges.
 
d - Not all, but most expedition paddlers seem to have a list of certificates and stars by their names, ACA, BCU, etc,.  Have you taken many classes yourself along the way or are you a learn by experience type person?
 
Freya - In my early sea kayaking days I felt it would be interesting to take a five star class  to get to know what the BCU stuff is all about. But I drifted away from the idea because of all of the rules and regulations. I think they make sense in general but it didn’t appeal to me.

But I felt approval from others that I can survive on sea was not what I needed. And I didn’t need a teacher to tell me to get a "proper" paddle since I was using my epic wing as always. I’m very independent and liked to decide that type of stuff on my own. In addition, I didn’t want to teach "regular" kayaking classes as I was busy enough with my special niche of teaching how to roll. And I am much more a "one on one" teacher or a loner than a guide or someone who can entertain a whole group on a trip…
 
d - You have like 20 sponsors these days!  I guess that makes you the expert on what it takes to have companies support you in sea kayaking. So do you have any tips for expedition paddlers who are thinking about seeking sponsorships?
 
Freya - Well, first you have to INVEST in yourself: to get skills, to find out what you like, to do stuff which people think is interesting. You must establish what makes you "special" to stand out of the big crowd.

If you feel one day you gained a bit of experience by investing thousands of dollars in high tech gear, you may feel you want to share your knowledge via a website and start teaching at symposiums.

This gives you public exposure, which is a BASIC ingredient of what a potential sponsor would expect. If you’re making a lot of appearances at symposiums and are able to teach and give interesting lectures that’s a big selling point. As is writing nice stuff for your website or for paddling specific magazines. It’s also a good idea if you embark on a BIG trip to provide the public updates on your web site.

In short, the more exposure you can OFFER a potential sponsor, the more likely you are to find someone to work with! Just be aware it’s a relationship built on give and take. If you have to OFFER plenty, you might be able to GET plenty. Sea kayaking is not the most popular sport, so within the kayaking industry it might be likely to get some gear for wholesale price or even for free as sponsorship. But it takes MUCH more to get financial sponsorship, especially from non-kayaking companies. That’s what I’m working on now for the OZ trip: To get financial support from companies - that aren’t directly related to sea kayaking.

Still I think it’s a mistake to think that sponsoring can cover all of your expenses (or even make you rich.) For me it’s a labor of love, and working with a sponsor is more an appreciation of what you have achieved already!
 
d - You’re going to paddle an Epic Sport. That’s not the first kayak I’d think about for an expedition.  What made you decide on the Epic for such a long journey?
 
Freya - I was very happy with my NDK Explorer and still love it, but I wanted a "fast" and lightweight kayak with a rudder for maximum speed for that year’s long OZ trip. The Explorer is solidly built. It’s pretty fast and a skeg works well, but there is a reason why racing kayaks have a rudder and a long waterline…I was already working with Epic as I was using their wing paddles already, so it was natural to get into the "sea kayak" as well sooner or later!

I am known for extremes. I’m quite open to new ideas and I love speed…even on expeditioning. So I decided to take the "risk" to use this modified sea kayak from my much appreciated paddle sponsor Epic.

I am currently working quite intensely with Epic to continue the development of their existing Epic 18x sport to insure it’s rock solid but still a lightweight expedition kayak with a rudder that will be able to most likely resist serious abuse on a year-long expedition.

On my OZ circumnavigation I should get now maximum speed due to the rudder, long waterline and a lighter weight.

I won’t drop my NDK Explorer at all; all of my 10 different kayaks have their niches and I love every one!
 
d - Are you still into traditional paddling?
 
Freya - I was never into traditional "paddling" except when I raced at the Greenland National Championships with a Greenland paddle and a Greenland style kayak. On all of my previous trips I’ve used an epic wing paddle and fiberglass boats.

What I was doing was "Greenland style rolling". In fact, even on teaching rolls I do not teach "Greenladstyle Rolling", but I am using the traditional method, paddle and kayak for an easy beginner’s entry to a safe reliable roll. For sure it’s still fun to play around with exotic variations of rolls, but this is a limited skill and just a basic for me to feel safe on the water in any conditions.

d - I usually ask everyone I talk to for Quix, to share some of the practical side of doing a trip like this.  Australia will take about a year to complete.  A lot of things happen in a year. The business keeps moving, kids grow, seasons pass. . How do approach being “away” for a year?
 
Freya - Before I could commit to the trip, I made sure that my son’s father, my franchise partner and my two shop managers are fully behind me. And they are! I am very thankful to all of them! Without their full support I couldn’t do it, both practically and mentally!

For sure the toughest part will be to not see my 12-year-old boy for one year, even though he and his Dad promised to visit! And I know he is proud of his "special mom" too. His father is retired with plenty of time and I think he is the best "mom" and dad in one person our son can get!
 
That is the "base" team.
 
Although paddling solo, the extended team will be my kayak weather man Karel Vissel, all OZ people who’ll get in touch and help me prior and during the trip, the person to update my blog and might help me writing some articles during the trip, and, much appreciated, guys like you who spread the gossip news! :-)).

Without my sponsor’s list it would be much more expensive to do it, new ones are always welcome!
 
d- Ok last question.  What’s one thing no one knows about Freya Hoffmeister?
 
Freya - Being in the public spotlight, people have their own picture of me just from reading my website, seeing pictures, the word of mouth, maybe having experienced teaching me somewhere or heard a lecture. But I don’t think that ANY of my kayaking companions know the "real" Freya…they all think they know (love or hate?) the picture of the "Woman in Black"…a modern kayak action figure…

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Visit Freya’s website at www.QajaqUnderground.com