Carl Busjahn

A friend once used a form of Winston Churchill's quotation to describe Carl - A mystery wrapped in an enigma. Many habits of the elusive and mysterious Carl will remain just that, a mystery. But here is a bit of what is known about him, along with a few brief highlights from his paddling resume.

Carl's roots run deep in southern Wisconsin soil. He grew up near Brodhead, on the Sugar River. His parents first got the family involved in paddling when they got an aluminum canoe when Carl was just old enough to remember the cold paddle drips from his father's paddle as he sat on the floor just ahead of the stern seat. Before he was out of high school, Carl had opened a Sawyer Canoe dealership in his parents' barn. Since then, Carl has logged more than 30 years in the paddling industry. He has also competed in countless local canoe races, as well as many Nationals events (including a few finishes in the top 10), and competed in the 1988 Olympic trials in flatwater kayak.

In 1992 he founded Carl's Paddlin', now known as Carl & John's Paddlin'.

Carl is on the staff at Carl & John's, and the family racing tradition continues as Carl and daughter Sasha team in local races.