Interview with Kayaker, Adventurer and Author Mark Agnew

In 2023, Mark Agnew undertook a groundbreaking journey as part of The Arctic Cowboys, the team that became the first to kayak the entire Northwest Passage. After this amazing adventure, Agnew wrote his debut book about the experience, and There Will Be Headwinds is a story about teamwork, perseverance and personal growth in an epic adventure.

The book has been ranked in Paddling Magazine’s Top 10 Greatest Kayaking Expeditions of the Century (so far), and it was shortlisted for the Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature 2025 – the first time in its 40-year history that a book centred on kayaking has been on the shortlist.

Mark appeared at the Kendal Mountain Festival in November 2025 to speak about his book, and adventure writer Natasha Sones spoke with the author about how he felt about the honour of being nominated for one of the most prestigious awards in adventure literature.

An inspirational journey
There Will Be Headwinds (Icon Books) is a testament to the power of teamwork, determination, and ambition — and a celebration of the human spirit of adventure. At Kendal Mountain Festival, Mark took to the stage at the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal to talk about his adventure to a packed audience.

He explained how, in two tandem kayaks, he joined West Hansen (Expedition Leader), Eileen Visser and Jeff Wueste. The infamous route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans had defeated countless explorers for centuries, and Mark himself had failed twice before on expeditions to row across the Atlantic. Describing these failed attempts was humorous – Mark has a very witty speaking style – but also poignant, as you could tell how challenging these experiences had been for him at the time.

The book is an account of the physical hardships and mental health struggles Mark faced after these previous failures, and he spoke honestly about these on the stage. There were several dramatic moments detailed in the book, including how he and his teammates battled freezing seas, relentless winds and polar bears. They paddled ultra-marathon distances, often for several days in a row. They were in a desperate race against time, as winter returned.

Speaking about how he defined adventure, Mark said he wanted to “define the journey and not the destination.” He talked about how he used to measure success by setting world records, but then changed his mindset to challenge himself, immerse himself in nature, and experience camaraderie with teammates.

He explained, “There will be headwinds… when the headwinds come, instead of saying ‘oh what an obstacle’, I’m thinking ‘am I challenging myself’? Now I am much more energised, I’m achieving the goal, the headwind is actually facilitating the challenge… I wanted the experience of being immersed in nature, and now it is spilling over my bows, over my face, and I’m totally immersed… I wanted relationships and camaraderie to form when tough times are shared. The good times don’t facilitate those deep bonds.”

Mark reflects on his struggles and reveals the lessons from sports psychology that helped him conquer his demons and achieve something truly remarkable. How going from failure to world record breaker made him feel. It was an astonishing story of ice, suffering, and camaraderie and resonated with the entire audience.

There was a book signing straight after the event, so popular that every copy sold out.

The Boardman Tasker Award Ceremony
The Boardman Tasker Award for Mountain Literature is awarded annually to the author or authors of the best literary work, whether fiction, non-fiction, drama or poetry, the central theme of which is concerned with the mountain environment.

Established in 1983 to commemorate the lives of Peter Boardman and Joe Tasker, the Boardman Tasker Charitable Trust celebrates their legacy by awarding the annual Award for Mountain Literature and the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Past winners include some of the most iconic names in mountaineering literature. For a kayaking book to be recognised in the 2025 shortlist marks a milestone for paddle sports in a prize traditionally dominated by mountaineering and climbing narratives. This year, there were 28 books (32 in 2024) from 10 countries in the running. The judges decided on seven books for the shortlist. The works ranged from mountaineering memoirs to Himalayan history — but Mark’s story with The Arctic Cowboys stands out as the first to chart a course by paddle.

The Award Ceremony was held at Kendal Mountain Festival 2025. Alongside the shortlisted authors – some appearing virtually on screen as they could not attend the event – was an audience of mountain enthusiasts, including mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington, a climbing legend and pioneer. Mark described it as “one of the honours of his life to stand alongside these amazing authors.”

Natasha spoke to Mark before the judging ceremony to see how he was feeling. He said, “I am genuinely astounded to be on the shortlist along with these amazing books. When I look back at the winners in the past, such as Touching the Void, I can’t believe I’m on the list. I’m not contemplating whether or not I will win, I’m just trying to enjoy it and get to chat to some amazing people and come away with a rich experience rather than measure the success of whether or not I win.”

After interviews with and readings from all the authors, including Helen Mort, the judges’ decision was announced. The book The Corridor by Iain Peters was the winner. The room was filled with applause. All of the nominees enjoyed the event.

Reflecting on how it feels to be on the shortlist, Mark said to Natasha afterwards, holding his certificate, “It feels a bit surreal, I’m such a fan of all outdoor books and reading some of the books that have won in the past, to have a kayaking book on there – alongside these giants of literature – it feels humbling. The book is one thing, the adventure is another, and my gratitude always goes back to my teammates – West, Jeff and Eileen. Without them, there would be nothing to write about. It fills me with joy.”