Pierre Fijalkowski – Major sea kayak raids
Pierre Fijalkowski is an international leader in the world of polar sea kayaking expeditions.
First through solo adventures from Spitsbergen to Alaska, then as a forerunner in the creation of sea kayaking trips in the polar region.
Born in Lyon on May 24, 1960.
From childhood he showed a strong attraction for climbing and mountaineering, but above all for the mountains.
During his geology studies at the University of Grenoble,
he went for the first time to Spitsbergen alone in the Far
North.
In solo hiking and ill-equipped, crossing wet tundra and
rivers with waist-deep water, with a 37-kilo bag, he spends
seven days alone in this hostile world.
Returning to his base in Longyearbyen, he discovered sea
kayaking and decided that it would be the ideal way for him to discover for traveling in Arctic.
His studies in geology completed, he will embark on solo sea kayaking in polar expeditions.
1989, Spitsbergen, 1000 km solo
He paddled for seventy days but, stopped by the ice, he could not fully realize his ambitious complete tour of the island.
This journey has been recognized as a National Expedition by the French canoe kayak federation. It allows him to be the winner of the Grand Prix de l’Aventure France Inter Fuji VSD.
1991, Alaska 3000 km solo
For more than five months he paddled in the labyrinth of the Alaskan fjords to reach Anchorage in Vancouver.
For this fabulous journey in the cold, in the middle of orcas and breaking waves, in 1991 he received the Born IGN de l’Aventure which rewards the best adventure of the year in France and wrote the book Alaska, 3000 kilometres of kayaking in solo, photographs Rémi Benali and Philippe Poulet, Editions Recto, 1992.
1992, Spitsbergen, 980 km solo
He set off again on the icy waters of the Svalbard archipelago, but this time via the south and the east coast, which is more dangerous. Halfway through he was stopped by the ice.
For this expedition, he leaves with a prototype kayak that he has developed himself.
An innovative technician
With these polar experiences, he is interested in the technical aspects of the equipment he has used, whether for kayaking, clothing, camping equipment or food.
Throughout his career, he will continue to offer innovations for the manufacture of boats, the design of paddles, the design of pulkas, the resistance of tents intended for extreme cold or Gortex wetsuits for sea kayaking.
He becomes the technical advisor of several kayak manufacturers.
1989 à 1993 for Plasmor
France’s leading sea kayak manufacturer.
He is developing a new sea kayak: the Belouga. It is the first kayak with a rudder in Europe. An asymmetrical design (master beam behind the kayaker to facilitate the paddle stroke). Its exceptional stability allows you to get back on board like on a windsurfing board.
Safety at sea is thus making a clear leap forward. In addition, it is the first kayak in France to have a large coaming (easy entry into the kayak) and a large oval hatch.
The kayak was made for the Raid Gauloises race. It is currently the best-selling sea kayak in fiber in France, by Plasmor.
1990 à 1992 for Mack
Manufacturer of kayak equipment.
He was part of Team Mack, group of the best highlevel athletes in Europe. He developed a new paddle with perfect grip in the water and with little wind resistance. It is located
between the competition paddle wing and the Eskimo
paddle.
It will be manufactured by Propulsion from 1992 to
2000 and marketed by Mack.