Karl Krüger

In the 2017 Race to Alaska (R2AK), Karl became the first, and only, person to paddle the full 750 mile race course on a Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP), completing the race in 14 days and 6 hours.

In August of 2023, Karl completed his second leg of Paddling the Northwest Passage, a total of 877 miles thus far through the Arctic Ocean. What began as a single-season bid to SUP the Northwest Passage has evolved into a multi-year expedition to go deeper into what the Arctic offers.

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About

Karl Krüger has been on the water his whole life.

His father began his education as a paddler when he was 3 years old. He taught himself to windsurf at age 12, 39 years ago. Karl began teaching sailing when he was 17, and now holds a United States Coast Guard 100 Ton Master’s License with Sail and Tow endorsements. For over 20 years, he has cruised extensively in the San Juan Islands, Canadian Gulf Islands, the Canadian Coast, and Alaska.

Karl holds a B.S. in Environmental Science/ Toxicology and an A.A.S. in Ecology and Environmental Technology. He also holds current certifications for CPR and Outdoor Emergency Care.

SAIL

Captaining the 64 foot Bruce Roberts steel cutter Ocean Watch, Karl leads the South East Alaska Flotilla with Kruger Sea and Seattle Yachts.

Teaming up with Backcountry Medical Guides, Karl will captain S/V Ocean Watch as part of Maritime Medical Guides' Maritime First Responder Programs.

PADDLE

In 2022, Karl paddled 420 miles of the Arctic Ocean's Northwest Passage on his custom Bark SUP, solo and unsupported from Tuktoyaktuk, Canada to Paulatuk, Canada. In July of 2023, Karl returned to the Arctic for the second leg of his journey, paddling another 457 miles to Kugluktuk, Nunavut. Karl has paddled a total of 877 miles through the Arctic Ocean.

Karl is also a four time SUP first-place finisher in Northwest Maritime Center's Seventy48 Race. Karl has finished each of his wins in under 18 hours.

In 2017 Karl became the first person to complete the Race to Alaska, 750 miles from Port Townsend, WA to Ketchikan, AK by Stand up Paddleboard, completing that race in 14 days and 6 hours -- just minutes behind a double-handed trimaran.

SURF

All work and no play makes a dull life. Karl finds renewal in surfing the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest Coast and chartering Sail to Surf trips with KrügerSEA.

Karl looks to return to Icy Bay, Alaska to surf and perhaps lead a Sail to Surf trip through the Northwest Passage.