Paddling tips, tricks, news and gear reviews from an Unsponsored point of view

Category: Q&A Series (Page 3 of 5)

Unsponsored Q&A Series – Sam Ellis

I’ve waited a while for this one and I’m really please that Sam has taken the time to take part in the Unsponsored 2013 Q&A series. I’ve known Sam for many many years, I reckon 12 years +.

Sam has consistently and quite quietly been out charging some of the biggest whitewater around the globe and hunting down some first descents closer to home. Sam is simply a superb paddler and it’s been great to have the opportunity to paddle with him over the years. Keep on charging!

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Tell us a little a bit about you accomplishments in the canoeing/kayaking world.

My accomplishments, I got “most improved paddler award” at my old canoe club one year when I was 13ish which I was well proud of!! Been on GB freestyle team for a few years competed in a World Champs and some European champs, a few first d’s. Paddled some of the most amazing whitewater on the planet with some great friends.

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Unsponsored Q&A series – Deb Pinniger

Freestyle paddler, expedition guru and accomplished slalom paddler Deb Pinniger has been at the top of the game for over two decades. Deb has participated in many wilderness/whitewater adventures across the globe and spends a great deal of time sharing her kayaking skills and knowledge with others. I was delighted when Deb agreed to take park in the Unsponsored 2013 Q&A series.

Unsponsored Q&A series - Deb Pinniger

Tell us a little a bit about you accomplishments in the canoeing/kayaking world.

I was freestyle world champion in 1999 and twice world silver medalist 2001 and 2003, European champion and five times British champion. I guess had a pretty good run.

I was also lucky during the same time to participate in a number of expeditions, one of which was an attempt of source to sea of the Stikine, with Olaf Obsommer, Olli Grau and others in 2001, another highlight was running the Ivindo River in Gabon with Nico Chassing and Olaf Obsommer in 2007.

Beyond competition and expeditions, I have been involved with coaching for a long time, which has been very rewarding and with its own highlights, some of which have been running youth trips to the Zambezi, Zanskar and Tara Rivers with young people. More recently I have been working at the 2012 Olympic kayak slalom venue Lee Valley and have headed up the kayak program there, which has been great fun to kick the program off from scratch. Continue reading

Unsponsored Q&A Series – Nick Troutman

Canadian Nick Troutman grew up near the Ottawa river in what is know at the White Water region. A move onto the water seemed a natural progression. At age 13 Nick did exactly that. Nick joined the Canadian National Team at the age of 14, won the North American Championships at the age of 18, and won the World Championships at the age of 20.

Part of the Jackson Kayak team Nick spends a great deal of his time travelling the world and paddling. I am therefore very grateful that Nick was able to take a little time out to take part in the Unsponsored 2013 Q&A series.

Unsponsored Q&A Series - Nick Troutman

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Unsponsored Q&A Series – Louise Jull

Through Unsponsored I have been fortunate to get in contact with the best paddlers and kayak designers in the world. Louise Jull falls right inside of this category. Whether it’s in slalom, freestyle or steep creek extreme river racing Louise is pushing the envelope. A truly superb paddler (see the video below) and great ambassador for the sport. I am stoked that Louise has kindly agreed to take part in the Unsponsored 2013 Q&A series – enjoy!

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Tell us a little a bit about you accomplishments in the canoeing/kayaking world.

From 2008-2011 I represented New Zealand in our National Senior Team on the international Slalom Circuit. At the end of 2011 I made the switch to doing a lot more river-running and Extreme Racing. Competing at the White Water Grand Prix in Chile was a highlight but the progress I made in my paddling in 2012 was good, I managed to get on a lot of different rivers and performed well sticking some good lines in New Zealand, California, Colorado, Norway and South America.

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Unsponsored Q&A Series – Diego Robles

Diego Robles is a young kayaker who is pushing and developing the sport in the emerging Ecuadorian paddling scene. It is a great honour to have such a great rising star and ambassador of the sport to take part in the Unsponsored Q&A series.

What has been your biggest accomplishment in the kayaking world?

When I was 20 I ran Chuchaki falls in Leporacan gorge. At the time it was the tallest waterfall an Ecuadorian had run. I am always looking for something bigger to run.

Unsponsored Q&A Series - Diego Robles

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Unsponsored Q&A Series – Jim Snyder

Jim Snyder is a squirt boating innovator, legend, founder and developer. He has been at the forefront of both boat and paddle design for decades. I am a huge fan of Jim’s boat designs and own all of his books (all kayakers could learn a great deal from the squirt boating world). It is therefore a great honour to have Jim take part in the Unsponsored 2013 Q&A series.

Tell us a little a bit about you accomplishments in the canoeing/kayaking world.

I began paddling in 1965. I was a raft guide for 19 years including being one of the original guides on the Upper Yough. I was a steep creek pioneer with numerous first descents in this area including 686 fpm Quarry Run in 1977 and 500 fpm, Elsey Run in 1979, and (~370 fpm) Red Run around the same time. I was an early kayak designer creating the first American ‘short’ commercially produced kayak (in glass) – the “Slice” in 1981 (3 meters long). Continue reading

Unsponsored Q&A Series – Rush Sturges

Rush Sturges is a freestyle and expedition kayaker with over one hundred first descents worldwide and has been a member of the USA Freestyle team on numerous occasions. Rush kindly agreed to take part in Unsponsored’s Q&A series for 2013. Enjoy.

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Tell us a little a bit about your accomplishments in the canoeing/kayaking world.

I guess one of my greatest accomplishments has been maintaining a position in the various aspects of paddling. I try to balance myself between freestyle, racing, extreme, and expedition kayaking. In addition, I’m heavily involved with the film-making component. I’m a really busy person and I work super hard on a lot of different projects, both athletic and creative. So far I feel like I’ve accomplished some cool things, but there’s still a long ways to go.

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Unsponsored 2012 Q&A Series – 2013 Who’s Next?

2012 has been a great year for the Unsponsored Q&A series. Some of the worlds top boaters agreed to take part in the series during the course of 2012.

2013 promises to be just as strong with a number of Q&As ready to go. This includes Q&As with Jim Snyder and Rush Sturges amongst others.

2012 – The Round Up

Unsponsored 2012 Q&A Series – Shon Bollock Continue reading

Unsponsored Q&A Series – Shon Bollock

Rounding up this years Unsponsored Q&A series is Shon Bollock. Shon is a whitewater kayaker and filmmaker from Mt. Shasta California. He has been on the water since he was 2 months old and is the owner of Shasta Boyz Productions. The chances are you have seen Shon in action in one of the many GoPro videos on Vimeo or Youtube. Enjoy!

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Unsponsored 2012 Q&A Series – The Story So Far

Which one is your favourite?

Unsponsored 2012 Q&A Series – Paul Robertson

Unsponsored 2012 Q&A Series – Darren Clarkson-King

Unsponsored 2012 Q&A Series – Adriene Levknecht

Unsponsored 2012 Q&A Series – Kenny Mutton

Unsponsored 2012 Q&A Series – Bren Orton

Unsponsored 2012 Q&A Series – John Weld

Unsponsored 2012 Q&A Series – Eli Helbert

Unsponsored 2012 Q&A Series – Billy Harris

Unsponsored Q&A Series – Paul Robertson

I’ve been hunting down Paul Robertson aka Cheesy to take part in the Unsponsored Q&A series for a few months. Paul kindly agreed to fit it into his super tight schedule. Paul is a former world C1 freestyle champion and a well known face on the freestyle scene. Paul is now Palm Equipments brand manager and marketing director which places him at the heart of kit development.

I am extremely grateful that Paul managed to find some time to take part in the Unsponsored 2012 Q&A series.

Unsponsored Q&A Series - Paul Robertson

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Unsponsored Q&A Series – Darren Clarkson-King

Darren Clarkson-King is a writer, extreme kayaker, expedition provider, river consultant, mentor and inspirational speaker. Darren has taken part in some truly epic expeditions including a solo descent of the Dudh Kosi and Arun in Nepal – Riding the tears of Everest. A true adventurer.

I have read much of Darren’s online work and I have always been struck by the feelings and depth of emotion buried within his writing. Many of Darren’s words are ones that I can so easily connect with and relate to.

To have Darren agree to take part in the Unsponsored Q&A series is simply awesome.

Rivers come and rivers go, one eddy flows to the next wave – we make our choices and move on. Never stopping, restless and awaiting. It is the drive to go with the river that takes us to its heart – moving us onwards to its end

Unsponsored Q&A Series - Darren Clarkson-King

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