July 15 - 19, 2026

"This place will change your life"

Alexander Haase

Paddling Bio

I wasn’t expecting paddling to become a central part of my life. During COVID I needed a goal to help me get through lock down, and an Antarctic cruise with a kayaking option seemed about as bucket-list-worthy of a goal as I could come up with. The flyer said I needed to be an intermediate sea kayaker, and having literally no experience I signed up for a few intro classes, including a paddle across the Strait of Mackinaw. That was pivotal for me: The winds were howling, swell rolling 3-5 feet, and someone taught me how to swell surf!?! I felt alive and small in a good way: full of awe and connected to a new joy and curiosity I had no idea existed. Since then I’ve been pursuing that awe and joy across the great lakes, up and down East and West coasts, and even on an expedition to Greenland. Friends and family have graciously smiled and nodded and cheered me on as I’ve tried to learn all I can about navigation, sea state, gear, maneuvers, and play. I’ve brought back stories of expeditions in alien beauty, misadventures shredding plastic and gelcoat, and swimming with the best.

Certs

ACA L4 Open Water Coastal Kayaking Instructor

Who am I?

I’m an outdoor empowerment enthusiast at heart, with a good deal of engineering baggage to enable my passions. My first true loves were climbing, backpacking, and enabling others to find those loves for themselves. I’ve carried that joy of knowledge transfer and empowerment into roller derby officiating, weight lifting, and, since covid, into sea kayaking.

My primary goal as a coach is to facilitate a positive relationship in kayaking, and, more importantly, positive relationship with ourselves. Skills, experiences, and connection are part of the process–it’s the joy, safety, and meaning that keeps us coming back.

My GLSKS Story

I first learned about GLSKS bumming a camping spot from a friend on my way to backpack Ilse Royale. It was the summer before I became a kayaker, and I arrived just in time for the Saturday night social gathering. Listening to everyone talk about their week with warmth, support, and belonging keyed me into GLSKS being more than a paddling meet up.

I learned that I was a kayaker that fall on a rolling crossing of the Strait of Mackinaw and attended the next 3 GLSKS, absorbing knowledge and community like a sponge. I loved that GLSKS was hands on, practical, and such a supportive and safe environment for learning hard skills. I’m so excited to be coming back to facilitate that environment for others.

FB: https://www.facebook.com/alexander.haase.771/