Nordic Sea Sharks

People say that you are a product of your environment and I completely believe that is true. I grew up in northern North Dakota across the river from Minnesota. While my family did not own a cabin on a lake in Minnesota, friends and extended family did. When I was in middle school, our family would rent a cabin on Lake Kabekona, just west of Walker, MN. As a result, I spent time every summer in Northern Minnesota small towns and at the best lakes in North America and across the world. I might be a bit bias, but maybe not.

If you have not been to a Northern Minnesota Lake, it might be hard to understand. There is something special about leaving the cities behind after a long week and heading North. When you reach the lake, the first place I tend to go is to the dock to look at the lake. It is as if the hectic city life melts away and calmness sets in. The sunsets, the stillness in the air, and the cry of the loons sets the mood. You can't beat feeling.

Some of my best memories are swimming and chatting with cousins and friends on the dock. Many small lake towns in the northland had an ice cream shops or the local "DQ" to visit in the late afternoons and nights were spent with a campfire, grilling, reading a book or playing card games. These were great times.

As great as all of these memories were, for me, nothing beats being on the water. Whether it was cruising across the lake with the wind in your face, waterskiing, fishing, swimming from the boat or just floating, boats were the best for me. Sometimes at night, there would be the slow cruise along the shoreline as the sun went down with laughter and conversation. Anyone who grew up on Minnesota lakes knows these shared memories as a lake kid.

After college, I was career focused and my time at lake basically ended. A few years ago, my wife and I purchased a dilapidated lake cabin as I had been wanting to restore one and an opportunity arose. We have spent the last three years on this project and it is now almost done. During this time, I have learned I like restoration and I love being on the water. I truly had forgotten how much the lakes meant to me. Northern Minnesota lakes are like no other and that is the reason I decided to launch Nordic Sea Sharks. This adventure offers me a chance to restore pontoons, which I consider to be the great northern sea sharks, and for others to experience "being on the lake" at one of northern Minnesota pristine lakes. My hope is that others are able to make great memories as I have done.

Life goes by fast...make sure to take time and enjoy the lake cruise.

K. Condit

A lifelong Minnesota lake kid