ELLA AS A PADDLER AND INSTRUCTOR
I completed my basic kayaking course (now called the Paddle 1 course) at the paddling club Tampereen Vihuri in 2014. I started backpacking already as a teenager. When starting kayaking, I realized that the
belongings for multi-day trips is much easier to take with you in a kayak than on your back. On kayaking trips, food does not need to be as ascetic as when hiking, because their weight has no importance.
At first, I paddled using the club’s kayaks and participated in club-organized trips. As my skills, confidence, and paddling companions increased, I bought my own equipment and began expanding my
journeys to independent adventures. In addition to the beautiful lakes of Pirkanmaa, mainland Finland and the sea offer countless amazing
paddling destinations where you can spend days exploring stunning scenery. Some of my favorite long- distance destinations have included the Archipelago Sea National Park in the Gulf of Finland, as well as
Kolovesi and Linnansaari National Parks in Lake Saimaa. Excitement in kayak touring comes from flowing water, open sea, and large waves. I have experienced these, for example, in the Tromsø archipelago, on the Lieksanjoki River, and while crossing the Baltic Sea from the Stockholm archipelago to the Turku archipelago. I completed the Finnish Canoeing and Rowing Federation kayaking instructor training in 2020, after which I have instructed courses at Tampereen Vihuri paddle club during summers. After moving to the countryside, my club activities unfortunately decreased because of the distance. I founded Kukkia Kayaking in 2026 because I wanted to share the joy of kayaking with local residents, cottage owners, and visitors to the area. I paddle because it is one of the best things you can do in summer. What an amazing perspective for experiencing the lake nature! A paddler moves almost silently (unless you are in very talkative company), so nature sometimes comes really close.
I am a trainer partner of the Finnish Rowing and Canoeing Federation:
“The trainer partner mark is a sign of a high-quality, safe and responsible canoeing training service. The trainer partner of the Finnish Rowing and Canoeing Federation is committed to operating in accordance with the Canoeing Safety Guidelines and the Canoeing and Canoeing Federation’s Responsibility Guidelines for Canoeing Training Activities. The trainer partner meets the qualification requirements of the Meloja training concept. For more information about the trainer partnership: melontajasoutuliitto.fi/retkimelontaa/kouluttajakumppanuus.
The Finnish Rowing and Canoeing Federation acts as the central organization and link of Finnish canoeing and rowing communities, and oversees the general and common interests of their individual members. The purpose of the federation is to promote equality and tolerance through physical activity, as well as support cultural diversity and the sustainable development of nature. The federation’s operations are based on the ethical values of physical activity and the principles of fair play in sports.”
