Jason Haltunnen. Explorer. Entrepreneur. Father. SUP master.
Photo by Courtney Naesgaard
Time stands still. Mind gets quiet. Similar to the body-mind flow felt in yoga, you begin to feel your stresses slip away as you focus on only the present moment. Stand, paddle, pause. Stand, paddle, pause. Breathe in and out. Repeat.
Owner, Three Dogs Paddle Co.
Jason Halttunen, 39
Where did you grow up? Where have you lived? What brought you to Port Alberni?
I was born and raised in Missoula, Montana. I've lived in Spokane, WA, Lake Tahoe, CA, Denver, CO, Hood River, OR, Seattle, WA, Vancouver, BC and now feeling at home in the Alberni Valley. My house, recreational opportunities, climate, and proximity to West Coast are the primary elements that brought me to the Alberni Valley.
What do you do? What makes your work unique? Three Dogs Paddle Co. promotes healthy recreation for all demographics of the community, offering Stand Up Paddle (SUP) board rentals and sales. Three Dogs is unique because we're the first in the community to focus on stand up paddle boarding and the overall customer experience by providing high end rental equipment, sales and lessons.
Photo by Courtney Naesgaard
Describe the challenges you’ve faced with your business, as well as the opportunities.
With any recreational business there is always the challenge of Mother Nature. The Dog Mountain fire was a challenge, along with a couple of rainy Saturdays. Three Dogs is excited about the growing popularity of the sport (SUP), traffic volumes along Hwy 4 and the increasing awareness of how awesome the Alberni Valley is!
Pic by Courtney Naesgaard.
Describe your partnership with Sproat Lake Landing’s new Adventure Centre:
Collaborating with Sproat Lake Landing has allowed us to offer our product and customer experience at the lake, making it easier for folks to access the water and gain experience with paddle boarding.
Why should people try paddleboarding?
People should try paddle boarding because everyone and anyone can do it. It's a fun, healthy way to engage with nature and SUPS are even more stable than a canoe!
Describe your perfect Alberni moment: an early morning paddle on Sproat Lake.
