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© Tanja Shuman
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Bernd
Sommer
d.o.b.
1974
Canoeing since: I was in my moms bally
Favourite run: Waikaia River NZL, of course Futaleufu
Chile
Future plans: To paddle until I die
Most exciting experience: 280 days of paddling in the
last year and still having enough money to go paddling.
Professions: Apprenticeship as a Carpenter. Now, making
money as a Sports and Outdoor photographer while travelling
with my Kayak and being a world citizen.
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For
me people with impressive energy about paddling: Joshua Lowry,
Mick Hopkinsen, Flemming Schmidt. Because those guy's are
soul boaters. The love to paddling is a company for life.
To be on or at the water will make the days for them. Even
Mick is over 50, and Josh is almost there they are still out
there playing and having a good time. I was paddling probably
long before I was born on the 12. of January 1974 in my Moms
belly. Only 6 years old I had my own Kayak already. With 12
my brother took me to my first Kayak slalom race. I learned
how to paddle fast and efficiently. I even placed very well.
Getting a driver license with 18 ten changed the interest
in boating a little bit. Now able to drive by myself I was
going of to explore rivers al over Europe way more interesting
than spending a weekend at 500m of slalom side for 5 minutes
of paddling. I quit my job as a carpenter to travel overseas.
First stop for two month was Chile and right afterwards I
stayed for four months of paddling in the USA. I was 21 when
I travelled for the first time out of the middle Europe time
zone. Since than I never really stopped moving al over the
globe to paddle. Seven month in Europe was the maximum in
the last five years. To make money on trips I used what my
dad toted me together with paddling, making pictures. Selling
pictures of the last trip and leading right in to the next
adventure. I am 26 now and for sure not ready to retire.
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Bernd at the worlds in NZ 1999
© Jochen Lettmann
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(Page
released August 2000)
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