Bernadette Slotboom-Smits | Kayak Instructor & ICU Nurse, Netherlands

Bernadette grew up beside the Rhine in Doesburg and has been paddling its waters since 2015. Off the water, she's a registered nurse with 25 years in the ICU — which means safety is never an afterthought. Three kayaks in the garage, a river out the front door, and a life well lived.

The River at Her Doorstep

Bernadette Slotboom-Smits grew up in Doesburg, a small Dutch city flanked by the great Rhine River. Today she still lives along its banks and she still paddles it, season after season, year after year. Since 2015, she has explored the flat, flooded meadows and shifting waterways of the Netherlands with a joy that never seems to dim.

What sets Bernadette apart from most paddlers is her second life off the water. A registered nurse with 25 years in the ICU and a certified instructor in Basic Life Support, CPR, and AED, she brings a level of calm, medical competency, and safety awareness to every session that few can match. As a Dutch Open Water Kayak Instructor at WSV Level 3 for inland waters, she's as comfortable teaching beginners as she is navigating flooded polders in autumn. Three kayaks in the garage and a river out the front door for Bernadette, that's the good life.

AMBASSADORS IN ACTION

Take a look at one of our ambassadors using their Segla Gear paddle.

Extraordinary on the water

See why passionate enthusiasts who take their time seriously choose gear that reflects their love for the sport.

Just phenomenal — absolutely my favourite paddle I've ever used. At the risk of sounding a bit corny, it's an absolute joy to use. It's incredibly lightweight and very precise in the water; it cuts incredibly cleanly and is ideal for very long days. They've truly changed my relationship with the water.

Leigh van der Byl

BCU Certified Kayaking Instructor & Outdoor Content Creator, UK

Competing at the highest level of Greenland Rolling demands a paddle that is precise, light and utterly reliable. The Ikigai is my trusted companion — it delivers the performance and feel I need to compete for a World Championship title. There is simply no other paddle I'd choose.

Rumer Fenn

U18 Danish Champion in Greenland Rolling; World Championship Competitor

Paddling the Arctic waters of Nordkapp year-round puts every paddle to the test. Segla Gear holds up to the cold, the conditions, and the demands of remote expedition kayaking. When your life depends on your equipment, you choose what you trust — and I trust Segla Gear.

Hugo Salamonsen

Sea Kayak Guide & Norwegian Canoe Union Activity Leader, Nordkapp / Magerøy Island

K-Pro Paddle

Touring - Wave Controle Paddles

Greenland Paddles

Accessories | Safety Gear

Bernadette Slotboom-Smits | Kayak Instructor & ICU Nurse, Netherlands

Bernadette grew up beside the Rhine in Doesburg and has been paddling its waters since 2015. Off the water, she's a registered nurse with 25 years in the ICU — which means safety is never an afterthought. Three kayaks in the garage, a river out the front door, and a life well lived.

AMBASSADORS IN ACTION

Take a look at one of our ambassadors using their Segla Gear paddle.

Extraordinary on the water

Competing at the highest level of Greenland Rolling demands a paddle that is precise, light and utterly reliable. The Ikigai is my trusted companion — it delivers the performance and feel I need to compete for a World Championship title. There is simply no other paddle I'd choose.

Paddling the Arctic waters of Nordkapp year-round puts every paddle to the test. Segla Gear holds up to the cold, the conditions, and the demands of remote expedition kayaking. When your life depends on your equipment, you choose what you trust — and I trust Segla Gear.

K-Pro Paddle

Touring - Wave Controle Paddles

Greenland Paddles

Accessories | Safety Gear

Bernadette Slotboom-Smits | Kayak Instructor & ICU Nurse, Netherlands

Bernadette grew up beside the Rhine in Doesburg and has been paddling its waters since 2015. Off the water, she's a registered nurse with 25 years in the ICU — which means safety is never an afterthought. Three kayaks in the garage, a river out the front door, and a life well lived.

AMBASSADORS IN ACTION

Take a look at one of our ambassadors using their Segla Gear paddle.

Extraordinary on the water

Competing at the highest level of Greenland Rolling demands a paddle that is precise, light and utterly reliable. The Ikigai is my trusted companion — it delivers the performance and feel I need to compete for a World Championship title. There is simply no other paddle I'd choose.

Paddling the Arctic waters of Nordkapp year-round puts every paddle to the test. Segla Gear holds up to the cold, the conditions, and the demands of remote expedition kayaking. When your life depends on your equipment, you choose what you trust — and I trust Segla Gear.

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