Year-Round Paddling and Water Adventures

"We paddle both sea kayaks and packrafts. Over the years, we’ve explored waters extensively across Finland and Sweden, as well as in Slovenia, the United States, Tasmania, and New Zealand," Caj describes.

Katja and Caj also operate as wilderness guide entrepreneurs through their company, Hutkai.

"We organize adventure-oriented packrafting expeditions into the Finnish and Swedish wilderness, as well as whitewater paddling courses on the Kymijoki river," Katja says.

Living in Pargas, the sea is always within easy reach. Except for the hottest summer days, Katja and Caj practically always wear drysuits. A drysuit keeps you warm while paddling and, above all, provides safety in potential rescue situations.

"Capsizing a sea kayak is rare, but on the water, you must always be prepared for the worst. In Finland, high-quality whitewater instruction – especially for packrafts – is scarce. That’s why we’ve traveled abroad to learn from some of the best packrafting experts in the world," Caj explains.

"A drysuit makes paddling possible even in freezing conditions."

Whitewater paddling involves swimming and occasionally hitting rocks. In Finland, a drysuit is practically essential, making it possible to paddle even in freezing conditions. Flood season is peak time for whitewater paddlers, but the waters remain cold.

"On the rivers of Lapland, you quickly realize that a drysuit is almost always the best choice. Even in touring, rainy days are common. In a drysuit, the rain doesn't bother you; you can just focus on enjoying nature while staying dry and warm," Katja adds.

Katja and Caj have about ten years of experience with Ursuit drysuits. The suits endure heavy use in whitewater environments, where swimming is part of the sport and contact with rocks is hard to avoid entirely.

"A drysuit is one of our most important pieces of safety equipment, and we must be able to trust it one hundred percent."

"In demanding conditions, we value durability and functionality above all else. Heavy use also means regular maintenance," Caj reminds.

When it comes to maintenance, Katja and Caj value quality, speed, and reasonable pricing.

"It is also a matter of responsibility that maintenance happens locally, so the suit doesn't have to be sent to the other side of the world. Ursuit’s service center in Turku has proven to be fast and high-quality – as long as you remember to book your appointment in time," Katja concludes.