ITV: Sophie Gilfillan, U21 Female Paddler of the Year
Sophie Gilfillan has been named U21 Female Paddler of the Year after a season spent pushing limits across rivers throughout the Americas. From big laps on the Ashlu to first descents in British Columbia and smooth lines in Mexico, she paired progression with consistency, with some downriver freestyle also in the mix. We caught up with Sophie to talk through her year and where she is headed next.
KS: Sophie, congratulations on being named U21 Female Paddler of the Year! Looking back, how did this past season feel for you?
SG: This past year honestly felt like a dream. I really bet on myself, and it paid off. I moved to Squamish for the summer and got to paddle rivers that had been long-time dreams of mine. It was definitely my biggest year of kayaking to date, and the most driven I’ve ever felt. I met lifelong friends in eddies and takeouts on rivers that became part of my identity this year.
KS: That’s great to hear! Was there a particular river or trip that came to define the year for you?
SG: Mexico really stood out as a highlight. It felt like the crescendo of my year. I snuck away from university for a week and met up with some incredible humans to go play outside. It was a chance to realize some big dreams and put all the skills I’d been stacking up in my arsenal to the test.
KS: Your lines there looked great! Closer to home, were there any moments on the river that stayed with you?
SG: Another moment that meant a lot to me was back in February, when I took my friend Haley—who I had been teaching to kayak—off her first waterfall. Watching her accomplish a goal like that with confidence and celebrating together at the bottom reminded me why I love kayaking so much.
KS: Amazing. Do you feel like this season marked a shift for you, either in your paddling or in how you show up on the river?
SG: I feel like I stepped out of my comfort zone a lot this year, both on and off the river. Kayaking itself has never brought me much anxiety, but moving across the country for the summer and meeting so many new people all at once was pretty daunting. That move pushed my kayaking to a whole new level—getting to experience Canadian rivers I’d dreamed of and paddling with new people who had a huge impact on my skills. I also found a new confidence in myself personally, which translated into confidence on the river—not just in my abilities, but in being a better part of a crew.
KS: What was the biggest challenge you had to face this season?
SG: The biggest challenge came when things felt like they were going too well. Two days before I was supposed to head to the Stikine, I broke my foot. A major reason I moved to Squamish was to get strong and dial in my creek boating to prepare for that trip. I remember sitting in the hospital, pleading with my doctor to tell me I’d be fine to take on one of the most notorious canyons in the world in two days while she just shook her head at me.
KS: Ah that must have been tough. How did your recovery go after the injury?
SG: The days that followed felt impossible. I couldn’t work, I couldn’t kayak, and watching the crew I was supposed to go to the Stikine with leave without me was heartbreaking. But once the initial disappointment settled, I realized that although the Stikine had been my goal all summer, what I actually found was something even bigger. I built a beautiful network of people who loved and supported me deeply, and when they understood my disappointment, they showed up for me in ways I didn’t even know I needed.
KS: The important places and the important people, heh? We hope you’ll get to catch the Stikine this year! We wish you all the best for 2026.
L’article ITV: Sophie Gilfillan, U21 Female Paddler of the Year est apparu en premier sur Kayak Session Magazine.