In addition to our usual crew of local mentors, we’re pleased to welcome Dubside, Tim Gallaway, Gina Johnson, Henry Davies, and Chuck Smith to the 2025 Traditional Paddlers Gathering
Dubside
An internationally known authority on Greenland rolling techniques and Greenland rope gymnastics, Dubside is easily recognizable at any event by his completely black attire and distinctive beard. He spends a portion of each year in Greenland interfacing with Greenlanders and learning more about their culture and their kayaking skills, and no doubt teaching a bit also. The remainder of his time he spends traveling throughout North and South America, Europe and Japan giving presentations, demonstrations and instruction for symposia, clubs and outfitters. Dubside is also the creator of the qattaarneq.com website.
Tim Gallaway
Tim began using a Greenland Paddle in 2008 and after teaching himself a majority of the traditional rolling list he was bitten by the Greenland Rope Gymnastics bug and is now one of Qajaq USA‘s ropes gurus. In the summer of 2018 Tim traveled to Greenland to compete in the National Qajaq Championships. In 2021 he completed a personal goal of a paddling expedition along the Michigan shoreline of Lake Superior and Lake Huron and has his sights on bigger expeditions in the next few years.
Gina Johnson
Gina, a traditional Greenland paddler since age 14, is a patient and encouraging mentor who works well with beginners and weary paddlers. She’s committed to inclusivity and making everyone feel comfortable and valued, regardless of background or size. Her infectious energy and enthusiasm create a positive and memorable experience for all, and she’s dedicated to ensuring everyone feels at home in and on the water.
Henry Davies
Henry is an ACA Level 4 coastal kayak instructor with the Traditional Skills Endorsement and a kayak guide and guide trainer in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Whether he is guiding, tripping, surfing, rock gardening, or just paddling his local lake (Superior), he uses a Greenland paddle almost exclusively. He likes to teach rolling, strokes and maneuvers with the Greenland paddle, and encourages the development of all those skills for use in real life conditions.
Chuck Smith
Chuck Smith, owner of Aluu Paddles hails from Michigan to join us again this year with a special build. Chuck will lead us from the initial stages of Skin-on-frame building, all the way to a sea worthy product over the next few events. We are lucky to have him at this stage of the build, as we’ll be covering everything from measurements and fit, to gunnels and rib bending at TPG this year. Spend a session, or spend all day with Chuck, you’re going to learn the nitty gritty about building your own by helping him build our sample. Not to mention, Chuck is an awesome on water instructor for Skin-on-Frame rescues. Don’t own a Skin-on-Frame? You should still know how to rescue one, because one of your paddling friends does own one.
Chris Von Briesen
A resident of Milwaukee, WI, I have been a coach/trip guide for the following organizations: Urban Ecology Center, SherriKayaks, and the Milwaukee Kayak Company. I continue to coach at the Door County Sea Kayak Symposium. I have been WW kayaking in NE Wisconsin and have completed a 50-day canoe trip in NWT, Canada. I have been a volunteer with Chicago Adventure Therapy (CAT) and serve on the Board. I have held a WI EMT-Intermediate license and Wilderness First Responder Certification (WMA).
Peter Strand
Peter Strand hails from Wisconsin and is the current organizer of the Traditional Paddlers Gathering in Minnesota. He is a member of the Qajaq USA board and is a mentor at many local events. Taking many years to learn to roll using videos on the internet and a euro-paddle, Peter is dedicated to decreasing the learning curve for others. Leading several club trips a year, both local and international, Peter paddles as many days as possible. In 2017, Peter traveled to Greenland and participated in the Greenland National Championship.
Pete Kuhn
Pete is an ACA Level Four coastal kayak instructor and guide who is well-known for coaching mid-west paddlers on rolling techniques. Pete is also renowned for his ability to foam out kayaks to make them fit the paddler, an essential technique for people learning to roll. Pete is also as comfortable teaching rolling as he is teaching strokes and maneuvers, he runs several classes dedicated to traditional strokes, paying particular attention to paddle extension.
Sipke Deboer
Sipke is originally hails from Friesland, but has lived in the US since a young boy. He’s passionate about long distance, endurance activities and has completed over thirty American Birkebeiner ski races. He’s kayaked the entire length of the Missouri river, and is currently on his final section hiking the Appalachian Trail. When he’s at home in Minnesota, he builds skin-on-frame Qajaq, harpoons, and Aleutian and Greenland paddles. Fully outfitted with Inuit hunting gear, Sipke is an accomplished harpoon thrower, and he’s sure to change the rules every year, so expect a different game this year. Sipke participated in the Greenland National Qajaq Championship in 2017.
Renee DuFresne
Renee is a director of the board of Qajaq USA, the Qajaq USA Membership Coordinator and TPG lead organizer. Renee loves playing Inuit Games, both on and off the water. Whether it is the artistry of the forward stroke, or the beauty of a well executed roll, passing on, preserving and sharing the traditional paddling and culture are her passion. Not just passionate about Greenland paddling, Renee is an ACA Level 3 Instructor, with both Traditional Skills and Rolling Endorsements. She also holds a BCU3*. Renee participated in the Greenland National Qajaq Championship in 2017.
Mike Woida
Mike is a builder of kayaks. You normally find him in a gorgeous strip built. He has repairing several kayaks that most people would have considered a total loss, and got them back afloat. He primary paddles the waters of Minnesota, but visits the salty stuff when he can. He is also an avid downhill skier.
Tim Manning
Tim is a kayak builder, paddle carver and mentor has been a regular at the Gathering for many years. Tim’s enthusiasm for kayaking is infectious. Tim is an ACA L2 instructor, and also assists TPG with it’s “Eagle Scout” kayaking merit badge program alongside Scout leaders Bill Ness and Chuck Rose.
Aidan Manning
Aidan Manning, a third generation kayaker with a knack for Harpooning, taught by our very own Sipke Deboer. Whether you want to learn harpooning on the water, or on the land, or even on the ropes, Aidan will be there to spearhead the way.