David Thoreson

Through adventure, David illustrates how exploration of human potential leads to discovery and success, whether in life or business.

Expert on

  • Teamwork / Teambuilding
  • Sustainability: Environment
  • Arts / Culture / Music
  • Adventurers
  • Motivation
  • Green/Environment

Fee Range

$1,000–$5,000

Travels from

IA, US

Biography

With his many extreme adventures exploring the planet, physical boundaries and human potential, photographer and sailor David Thoreson has a unique and entertaining story. David grew up near a lake in Northwest Iowa, learned to sail and love the water as a boy, and then took these experiences with him to lead a life of exploration and discovery at the far reaches of the globe. He is the first American sailor in history to accomplish the Arctic’s infamous Northwest Passage in both directions. David combines stunning photography with riveting stories to illustrate how exploring your potential leads to discovery and success, whether in life or business.

Full Bio-
Iowan David Thoreson seems to have been on adventures most of his life, whether bicycling 10,000 miles solo around the United States, Canada and New Zealand or sailing 65,000 miles across oceans and polar regions of the world. In 2007, David and the crew of Cloud Nine became the first American sailors in history to sail the Arctic’s Northwest Passage from the east to the west. In 2009, sailing aboard the scientifically-equipped, Ocean Watch, David became the only American sailor to have ever sailed the Northwest Passage in both directions.

In 2010, David completed the 28,000-mile circumnavigation of the North and South American continents on the 64-foot sailboat Ocean Watch. The mission of the expedition was designed to educate and inspire children and adults around the world to become more active and aware of issues involving the heath of our seas and oceans. David was the expedition photographer and videographer and sailed the entire voyage. Working with NASA and universities across both hemispheres, David was an eye-witness to changing Arctic and ocean environments.

David’s work has appeared across a broad spectrum of media from the National Park Service and Smithsonian to the Guardian, Wall Street Journal, PBS and TED. David premiered his documentary in 2008, “Arctic Journey in a Changing World,” on PBS. In 2011, an hour-long documentary on his 28,000-mile sailing voyage was nominated for a 2012 Emmy award. David was a 2016 speaker at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum. His new photo book “OVER THE HORIZON: Exploring the Edges of a Changing Planet” is now available for sale at www.davidthoreson.com

Speaker Videos

MANAGING THE UNEXPECTED: EXPEDITIONS TO THE POLAR REGIONS OF THE WORLD

Ever wonder what planning and executing an expedition really looks like? You will hear of dreams, goals, risk, business plans, start-ups and teamwork. Sound familiar? It should because adventure and business are similarly linked. David will take you on daring expeditions of endurance that challenge what is humanly possible. The same motivation that drives David to explore the polar regions is the same motivation that drive our individual lives and businesses.

David presents the story of three Arctic sailing expeditions and the quest for the infamous Northwest Passage. He begins with an attempt aboard the 57′ sailboat Cloud Nine in which the crew of six became trapped in the Arctic’s dense pack ice and barely escaped. Thirteen years later, in 2007, David and crew were successful in traveling along this treacherous route and became the first American sailboat in history to accomplish an east to west NW Passage.

In 2009-10, Thoreson was ice expert and documentary photographer on the scientifically-equipped, 64′ sailboat Ocean Watch which accomplished the NW Passage from west to east. The 28,000-mile voyage circumnavigated the N/S American continents and partnered with NASA, NOAA, numerous universities and scientific institutions to study the seas and oceans. David became the only American sailor in history to transit the infamous passage in both directions.

ARCTIC JOURNEYS IN A CHANGING WORLD: PERSONAL ADVENTURES AND EXPLORATIONS OF THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE.

This is a very adaptable presentation. It is perfect for academic, scientific or issue-driven institutions. At the same time it is very compelling to history buffs and visual arts organizations. The presentation includes personal stories and stunning photographs of David’s east to west Northwest Passage attempts aboard the 57′ sailboat Cloud Nine in which they were trapped in the Arctic ice, barely escaped and then were successful in 2007 traveling along famed Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen’s route. The crew became the first American sailboat in history to accomplish this feat. From 2009-10, David was ice expert and documentary photographer on the scientifically-equipped, 64′ s/v Ocean Watch which accomplished the NW Passage from west to east and completed a 28,000-mile circumnavigation of the N/S American continents.

David presents riveting adventure stories visually, stitching voyages together with history and science, photography and landscape, motivation and planning, wildlife, native villages, and Climate Changes in the Arctic environment contributing to loss of ice.

FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS AND DISCOVER HUMAN POTENTIAL: EDUCATIONAL SETTING PRESENTATIONS FOR YOUTH

David often presents in classroom settings and school auditoriums to youth of all ages challenging them to follow their dreams and explore their own potential. Thoreson grew up in a small Iowa town far away from the nearest ocean or sea. Following his own dream, David has now become one of the greatest exploring sailors on the planet.