ITV: Kilian Ivelic, Male Paddler of the Year

Kilian Ivelic has been named Male Paddler of the Year after a season that stretched across the entire globe with nearly 300 days on the water. From home waters in Chile to the Pacific Northwest, Europe, Africa, and Central Asia, he paddled with a level of range and consistency that is hard to comprehend in a single year. Big water, steep classics, freestyle off waterfalls, and multiple first descents all found a place in his calendar. We caught up with him to talk about the epic year he’s had.

KS: Hey Kilian, congrats on being nominated Male Paddler of the Year. What a year you had!

KI: It was truly a beautiful year. Back when I was at uni, I was constantly planning which rivers and places I should visit. There always seemed to be a “common” destination lined up next, one after another: The Pacific Northwest, Iceland, the Stikine, Norway.… The year turned out to be quite different. I managed to do some of those plans, but so many random places turned into epic missions (like Madagascar and the Stans), which completely blew my mind. All of these changes happened thanks to the people I met while kayaking; they invited me and were the core group that made it possible for me to explore the world, and I’m super grateful to them for that.

KS: Was there one trip or moment that stood out more than the rest?

KI: I think Norway was quite special. Not only for that First D mission on the Kvenna, but also because, in the month leading up to it, there were about two weeks when an insane crew of friends got together. The good times were just unreal, so much joy both on and off the water.

Once again, it comes back to the people making the trip so much better. After Norway, I think my favorite moments were in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. We were really in the middle of nowhere, enjoying ourselves, kayaking a lot, and being scared sometimes. These were true adventures, and I loved them.

KS: Do you feel you took a step forward this year, either in your paddling or in how you approach the river?

« Knowing when it’s okay to push and when it’s okay to walk is something I’ve been working on for years, and this year I believe I made the right calls. »

KI: Of course! I learned so much. With so many days of constant kayaking on different rivers, I felt more comfortable than ever in my boat. I felt super confident running hard rapids, knowing I could pull a clean line, and when I saw something I truly didn’t like, I was okay with walking it. In that sense, I didn’t feel in danger on the water. I felt in control, and that felt really nice. Knowing when it’s okay to push and when it’s okay to walk is something I’ve been working on for years, and this year I believe I made the right calls. Paddling with so many great kayakers allows you to absorb and improve your kayaking and your mindset so much. More than anything, the biggest lesson was realizing once again that it is not about the destination, but about the crew.

KS: Did you face a moment this season that really tested you?

KI: Tajikistan was probably the hardest mission of all. We were on big water on the Muksu, and at first it still felt manageable. But the levels ended up being far higher than we expected. The lead-in rapids were super good, but the main gorge was way too much, which forced us into an insane walk around. It was not just the exhaustion of crossing a mountain; there was also a rocky traverse with a lot of wind, where a slip would have meant death. That really scared me. It was probably the scariest thing I did all year.

KS: What are you most excited about for the year to come?

« More than anything, the biggest lesson was realizing once again that it is not about the destination, but about the crew. »

Last year was a long kayaking season, and quite an expensive one. This year, I am planning to stay in Chile and work for most of the season. That said, there are still a couple of First Ds I would love to accomplish, which I believe would be both fun and interesting. And if it’s possible, I want to try to make it to Iceland in May, and hopefully Pakistan in October!

KS: Nice one! Enjoy Chile and its warm waters, and best of luck with the First Descents!

L’article ITV: Kilian Ivelic, Male Paddler of the Year est apparu en premier sur Kayak Session Magazine.