Today we’d like to introduce you to Annely Thorstad.
Hi Annely, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I grew up in Atikokan, Ontario, known as the Canoe Capital of Canada, and have spent my life paddling. My passion for the sport has shaped who I am and inspired the business I started. I want to help as many people as possible discover how rewarding paddling can be, a concept known as “passing the paddle” among canoeists. Surrounded by the lakes and rivers of the Quetico-Boundary Waters Wilderness Area, I began paddling early and later joined the competitive scene, learning new skills and meeting others who shared my interest. This path led me to coaching, where I found real joy in helping others. Coaching deepened my understanding of paddling and gave me the chance to work with people of all skill levels on a cross-border dragon boat team in Fort Frances and International Falls. I also served as race director for a festival held on the waters between these two communities. In winter, I helped organize the “Ice Dragons” festival, which brought in participants from as far away as Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee. My commitment to paddling and helping others improve led to the creation of the Annual Black River Rumble in October. This river race, held at our home and small paddle facility, welcomes paddlers to use any craft over distances of 5, 10, 15, or 30 miles. We use the event to raise funds for Boy Scout Troop 300 in Georgetown and to support the new Black River State Park. The same goal inspires the Black River Rendezvous Paddle Sport Fundraiser and Expo we are hosting in June.
I started Boundary Waters Paddlesports Coaching and Conditioning with my husband, Greg (who grew up in International Falls, Minnesota), while working as a paddle-sport coach at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota. I wanted to offer more structured training and coaching specific to the unique needs of paddlers. My goal was to help people improve their skills, fitness, mobility, and performance. Today, my vision is to foster a vibrant community of paddlers who support one another in their journey towards both fun and athletic excellence, while promoting health, wellness, and a lifelong passion for paddling. I envision a future where every member feels like family here and is empowered to achieve their personal best through the application of cutting-edge sports sciences and performance psychology.
A couple of years ago, I began designing online coaching programs to reach more people after completing a successful cross-Canada coaching tour with Vesna Radonich, an 8-time world champion and international va’a coach. After that tour, my mission became to help as many paddlers reach their potential with expert, science-based support. Our business is also our home, and my husband and I have worked hard to make it a one-stop shop for paddlers. He transports, repairs, and stores all kinds of canoes, kayaks, and gear, and is also a coach and athlete on the international dragon boat stage. Together, we help people learn to paddle, try out different crafts and gear, and provide a safe place for visitors and locals to launch paddle crafts. We make sure everyone is safe on the water by guiding them or by tracking their return time as they execute a safe float plan. We’ve taught people how to set the trim and balance canoes, and how to plan trips safely. During my second term as Secretary of the Canadian Voyageur Brigade Society, I continue to promote camping and brigading in both the US and the Canadian wilderness.
This past year, I launched the online Paddle Performance Framework to help paddlers improve their technique and conditioning, lower their risk of injury, and boost their comfort and endurance through mobility, nutrition, and performance psychology. Since you can’t paddle well if your body doesn’t move properly, I started with paddle-specific mobility courses. My online learning portal provides paddlers with the tools they need to learn and perform at their best, regardless of age or skill level. Having had to come back from nine surgeries myself, I know how easy it can be to give up the activities you love, and what it takes to come back physically and mentally to enjoy the outdoors again.
Alongside my paddling work, I am also a professional in psychology and sports performance. I have a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a focus on Performance (2021) and a Master of Science in Sport Psychology (2024) from Capella University in Minnesota. I am now working toward a PhD in General Psychology with a focus on Performance in Sport at Grand Canyon University in Arizona. My current research examines how athletes perceive interventions to reduce competitive anxiety and how these strategies affect team performance in dragon boat racing, a fast-paced, explosive, and highly synchronized sport. In addition to my academic work, I serve as the Second Vice President of the United States Dragon Boat Federation, and have created a USDBF Level 1 Coaching Certification course for new coaches and clubs. Personally, I have earned medals at regional, national, and international competitions, and have worked with over 1,000 athletes and coaches in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the UAE to help them improve their performance.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There are struggles in anything worth doing. We’ve personally sacrificed a lot for our business, but the challenges have made the successes that much sweeter.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The very best part of a life serving the paddle community is, first and foremost, the people we have been fortunate enough to meet. We have coached dragon boaters, stand-up paddle boarders, and outrigger and va’a paddlers to race as teams and individuals. This experience has been particularly rewarding, as it drove my educational endeavours to meet their needs. New second-career athletes or returning paddlers following surgery are my favourite, as the “ah-ha” moments they experience are priceless. As they start to realize they CAN do this and that a greater community is ready to welcome them, it becomes infectious! Their “win,” no matter how big or small, becomes your win, becomes the team’s win, and everyone just wants more of that feeling. Working with kayakers, wilderness, and big-boat voyageur canoeists has its own rewards. Whether planning a day trip or a multi-week adventure, the time spent planning and being on the water, paddling down rivers and across lakes, brings a sense of joy and accomplishment to all.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favourite childhood memory is completing the 12-day portion of the Outers program at Atikokan High School. The Outers program is truly a rite of passage for Grade 11 students, focusing on intensive, hands-on outdoor learning in Quetico Provincial Park, during which kids develop survival, canoeing, and leadership skills, promoting teamwork, resilience, and environmental stewardship. Even now, as a 60-year-old program, the culminating 12-day canoe trip, which includes a 3-day solo, challenges students with intensive, hands-on wilderness experiences. This trip was life-changing for me in so many ways. It was the first time I had pushed myself to accomplish something that hard, and I loved it. The friendships, the knowledge I gained, and many memories we made have stayed with me and remain near and dear to my heart.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.boundarywaterspaddlesports.com and www.paddleperformanceframework.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boundarywaterspaddlesports/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BWPSCC
