Born in Bangkok but raised on the Great Lakes, Justin is not only the epitome of a great guide, but he is constantly improving and reinventing the way he tours the waters of Door County, Wisconsin. With ACA L3 and Wilderness First Aid already under his belt, Justin is soon to complete his Level 3 Coastal Sea Kayak Instructor IDW and is well on his way to his Wisconsin Master Naturalist certification. Read more to find how he started guiding and what drives him to give the best experience kayaking Door County with The Spotlight.
How did you get into guide work?
After 2 decades of professional cooking and eventually becoming a chef, I wanted a change of career but had no clear idea of what to do next. I quit my job and decided that I would only apply to jobs that did not involve cooking. I applied to a few positions that I chose at a glance. One of the random jobs was for a guide position kayaking Door County that sounded nice to me, the idea of working outside on the water. I got the job as there are several outfitters and kayaking is a popular summer tourism activity but since I lived very close to the northern launch far away from company homebase I was given the unique ‘deal’ to run tours up north by myself. After my first season I was hooked! While the wind and water could be challenging I loved every second on the water and unexpectedly discovered I could create amazing outdoor experiences for people. At the end of the season I felt more connected with nature and noticed my fitness had improved.
(Too cold? Try kayaking warmer waters in the Virgin Islands)
Run me through a typical day kayaking Door County with you. What can your guests expect?
My day starts with looking at the wind and water and checking current buoy readings online. After I get back from the water I check bookings for the day, contact customers that need rebooking or help and then after printing receipts for customers to sign I take 20 minutes for yoga and stretch for the 6.5 hours of paddling and talking and loading/unloading boats. Quick bite and lunchpack, water bottles filled and a hot Yerba mate (preferred for public speaking, helps to remember info and stories for tour) and I’m headed to the launch with my rig and all the gear.
I’m at the launch an hour before tour departs, unload boats and set up seats, line up kayaks along the shoreline with proper seat count for tour. I greet them as they arrive, let them sunscreen and use the restroom and have them get PFD’s fitted starting 15min before tour. I’m a stickler for punctuality and if a tour is listed for 9am, my tours start at 9:00 on the dot, regardless of stragglers.
Tour starts with summary of our tour route and a safety lesson that includes some paddling instruction. After paddle lesson, we hit the water, I locate and show a shipwreck from late 1800’s and tell maritime stories and then we head to a bluff to check out fading Native American pictographs. Then we head to a scenic bluff point where I babble about geology as I find the story of the rocks fascinating and humbling. We head back but I make a point to paddle alongside every person during tour to make that connection and learn a bit about each others lives. I have talking points and friendly conversation during tour but also try to have spans of silence so that the water and nature become the focus.
Why should I take a trip with you instead of just going it alone or with someone else?
I grew up on Lake Michigan and the spot I lead tours is also where I live and paddle year-round as a sponsored sea kayaker, so you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who knows kayaking Door County better than I do, especially the northern tip where I am. I know every wave break, shoal, riptide and current because I look at the water everyday, year after year. The reason folks should paddle with me is because I can keep them safe on dynamic waters that are very cold but can also teach proper technique based on my high level of sea kayaking experience. As a local that has explored every inch of the Door County shoreline I can recommend the best tour routes with the best scenery and safest conditions.
What’s the best part of the job? The parts that keep you coming back?
There are so many ‘best parts’ but it’s all about connection. I love when I get those really great long conversations that are sparked by an interest in the differences in our lives, as we tell each other about ourselves and find common shared interests like nature. It’s so energizing! I’ve had people offer places to stay, to work, stickers, beer, gifts, a drawing from a child, books to read, etc…all of it helps me not be so cynical and judgmental of others in a modern world that can be kind of mean and isolated.
I also love it when a younger person or child on tour has a great time on the water and is already asking their parents if they can get a kayak! Honestly, my goal is to get as many people paddling as I can in my life, kind of like a kayaking Johnny Appleseed.
What’s the worst part? The part that feels like work?
I think the worst part of guiding is telling people that they can’t go kayaking today due to water conditions. Even though the wind is something I cannot control, it’s zero fun telling a person that had been planning this for months, drove all this way and put that effort in. The kids sometimes cry which really is the worst. I once had a 10 year old boy that wanted nothing more than to go kayaking on his birthday. He cried as the 2-3 foot swell was breaking on the shoreline behind me.
The part that really feels like work is dealing with bookings after a long day of work. After finishing the day of 3 tours and then having to spend more time that night rebooking uncooperative customers is no fun and can take a up a lot of time. People are nicer face to face than on the screens so every now and then you have someone making a stink about a tour booking when you’re trying to have dinner with your girlfriend.
(Learn about running a kayak guide business with Cape Fear Adventure Company)
What would you tell somebody wanting to get into guide work?
You need charisma. Have you noticed that experienced guides are quite the characters? It’s not an accident that guides speak universal language to each other. Great guides are confident, strong, definitely in charge but also kind and funny and approachable. It’s not for everybody, it’s like a performance. It’s hard work that is physical but also requires brains and charisma. Most people have the physical and the brains but charisma comes from down deep.
Have a passion for life. You got to have heart, have a real passion for life or else why are you leading? You gotta love kayaking, actually, because if you don’t you’ll give up at the slightest struggle and be a crabapple employee. Loving that ‘thing’ you do will get you through the tough days.
It’s hard work. Everyone loves a great tan and the idea of an easy job but I will tell those people guiding is not the job for you. Or anyone else. Guiding a kayak tour masterfully requires discipline, training and research in order to create an experience that is meaningful and worth the price of tour.
Be disciplined and constantly learn things. Get trainings under your belt, get certified, challenge yourself and study up. Read books, watch videos, memorize stories and facts but also exercise and stay fit. Being great at guiding can make you great at life.
Justin owns a business specializing in helping advanced beginners make the
transition from sit-on top to sit-inside sea kayaks to create a lifelong passion for the sport. You can find Justin on Instagram here. Find out more information about kayaking Door County at his website here.
Do you know a guide who should be featured? Whether they raft, dive, hike, bike, boat, float, walk or talk – if they lead guided trips – they deserve to be featured. Send me an email to thelivelost@gmail.com or a message to my Instagram here.
