Jorgen influenced the development of sea kayaking in Denmark, through the formation of Havkajakroerne, which is the main group of sea kayakers in Denmark. He also had 3 shops, which sold kayaks and related equipment. He attended many courses, including visiting Plas Menai in North Wales. Two years ago he headed south and has now established a guiding and rental company on the beautiful island of Menorca. He has just completed a sea kayaking instruction DVD which will be available in Danish from the middle of April and is in the process of being translated into Spanish and English.

How did you get into paddling? I saw an advert which said, “come rowing with us” but when I got there it was the kayak club which was even better. I didn’t know the difference because in Danish the words are the same

What type of kayak do you paddle? A sea kayak, my favourite is a Current Designs Extreme.

What is your favourite paddling area? It couldn’t be anything but Menorca.

What is your day job? Sea Kayak guide

Who would you say has had the most influence on your paddling development? It would probably be Drew Delany. He was at Plas Menai when I went on some courses

Who do you think has done the most to develop modern sea kayaking? Probably Nigel Dennis

If you were paddling a double sea kayak who would you want in the front seat and why? It would be Dorit, my wife.

What is the best or most memorable paddle that you have undertaken? Paddling in the area around Aassiat on the west coast of Greenland, with huge icebergs.

What is your favourite stroke? Forward paddling or telemark turn

If you were to offer one piece of advice to newcomers to the sport what would it be? Go out and have fun

How do you see the sport developing in the next 10 years? Increasing in popularity, probably more focus on safety as there is the possibility for incidents particularly with Sit On Top’s or kayaks without bulkheads.

What is your major frustration with the sport? That some people sell kayaks which aren’t real sea kayaks and so the customer ends up with a kayak which isn’t suitable for the sea, ie no bulkheads or just one.

What music would be the soundtrack to your paddling life? Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water”

Do you belong to a Club and what is your involvement? I am still a member of Fredericia Kayak Club, ProHavkajak (Association for Professional Kayak Instructors) and Havkajakroerne, all in Denmark, I was a member of the Board but not since we left Denmark.

Have you ever had an embarrassing moment. Something afterwards that you can smile about but wished hadn’t happened. On a night paddle somebody with a GPS had put the course in incorrectly and so we headed off in the wrong direction, we did the trip but in the reverse order. I had the bearings but trusted the person with the GPS.

Do you have any regrets – something that you had wished you had done but now can’t see yourself doing? I should have started sea kayaking 20 years earlier and completed some big trips

Why do you think we are interviewing you today? Mainly because you are in Menorca for a paddling trip.

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