Apr 30, 2019
On this episode of AntArctic Stories, we speak with Graham Charles, one of New Zealand’s most versatile outdoor professionals, with over thirty years of professional outdoor experience and qualifications to the highest levels. He is also the founder and President of the Polar Tourism Guides Association.
Graham shares with us his experiences of being part of the first team to kayak the length of the Antarctic Peninsula in 2001, unsupported and without anything to communicate with other than a handheld VHF radio. He also gives us a glimpse of what it was like to be on the first team to circumnavigate the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia in 2005 by kayak.
These "world's first" expeditions along with his long career in guiding and contributing to professional qualification development led to Graham spearheading the first standardizing body for polar guides, which we discuss in the second half of this episode.
HIGHLIGHTS
2:30 - Part one: Graham tells us about his record-breaking kayak trip down the length of the Antarctic Peninsula
9:10 - Limited tech for communicating (no satellite phone back in 2001)
10:30 - Graham and team get caught nude sunbathing
12:40 - Part two: South Georgia - Graham shares what it was like to be the first to circumnavigate this remote island
21:00 - What is the PTGA & how did it all start?
25:30 - What spurred Graham to start the PTGA independently
31:45 - Who is behind the PTGA?
32:30 - Graham talks about the difference between company-specific guide training programs and the PTGA's approach to competency measurement
34:40 - The advantage of the PTGA not being mandatory, but rather a program that invites guides to willingly get measured and be proud of the PTGA designation
36:50 - How to become an individual member
38:00 - What about the corporate members?
39:20 - We hear about PTGA performance measurement
40:45 - How many assessors does the PTGA have?
43:10 - How to get assessed & the reason behind a workplace-based assessment model
45:00 - How guides can learn more about PTGA accreditation
LINKS
Polar Tourism Guides Association: https://polartourismguides.com/
Graham Charles' website: http://www.grahamcharlesnz.com/
AntArctic Stories is brought to you by Twin Tracks Expeditions - your experts in small ship expedition cruises and unique adventures to the Arctic and Antarctica. We love sharing our insider knowledge to help you find your next polar adventure.
Find us on:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/twintracks
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/twintracksexpeditions
Our website - http://twintracksexpeditions.com