Kayak Session Magazine

The biggest whitewater kayaking magazine in the world. If a photo speaks a thousand words, then Kayak Session is an encyclopedia. Dubbed the ‘National Geographic’ of whitewater kayaking, we collaborate with some of the best photographers and most acclaimed writers in the outdoor industry. Our photo concept is to show stunning images of kayakers in their element. This photos-first idea is coupled with a creative layout and fresh content, sure to inspire our readers with every issue. Kayak Session is the essential reading for whitewater kayakers worldwide.

Kayak Session Magazine

EDITO

GALLERY SHOT

NEWS AND HAPPENINGS • This ongoing column is a place to report on the current news, latest descents, expeditions, people and trends in the whitewater world. The world is indeed a big place but the river connects us all. This column attempts to keep us in touch throughout the world paddling community.

EVENTS

DESCENTS

“NO COUNTRY FOR OLD KAYAKERS” A MISSION INTO THE ICELANDIC UNKNOWN • There is no place where the raw power and beauty of the waterfall embody possibility as in Iceland. There is also no place as hard on your back… Knowing that he isn’t getting any younger led Mikel Sarasola to spend three weeks this June chasing Iceland's thaw and searching for new waterfalls and rivers to explore. Sarasola, Aniol Serrasolses, and Aleix Salvat’s mission into the Icelandic unknown mingled success with frustration, all in pursuit of the river—or rapid—with the perfect balance between pleasure and fear.

BANKS, IDAHO The Center Of The Universe • The middle of nowhere, the center of the universe. Somehow, the small unincorporated town of Banks, Idaho, population 7, manages to be both at once. Little more than a zip code, a parking lot, and a café, Banks is a blink and you'll miss it town. But for paddlers, there are few better places when it comes to progression for all skill levels. While the Banks Café marks the confluence of the North Fork and South Fork Payette and the subsequent start of the Main, “Going to Banks” has come to mean far more.

ICY WATER, MIDNIGHT SUN 11 Days Exploring Lapland’s Unknown Whitewater • This summer, six thrill-seeking kayakers embarked on a long-awaited adventure—11 days spent exploring unexplored rivers in the heart of the Lapland wilderness. This mission, in one of the most remote and hostile places Europe has to offer, challenged Julien Turin, Eric Deguil, Nouria Newman, Guillaume Hasson, Tomas Neime, and Jonas Le Morvan to surpass their own limits and (finally!) re-experience the unique burst of adrenaline that comes from being subjected to the extremes of nature and kayaking in the unknown.

Interview: OTTILIE ROBINSON-SHAW • There are some who want to be the best, and there are those who, by being the best, raise the bar for everyone around them. Meet Ottilie, or rather, “Ottie” Robinson-Shaw. The two-time Junior World Champion and current European Champion is changing expectations and setting new standards for a new generation of women’s freestyle with her explosive technique, massive air, and sheer love of the sport. Tenacious, driven, determined, competitive, Ottie exemplifies what can happen when you subscribe to the philosophy of “kayak without limits.”

GAVIN JOSTAD : SO YOU WANT TO RUN THE LW? PROGRESSION AS A GROM IN THE GORGE • Up and coming paddlers help keep our sport growing and evolving. In this column, World Class Academy Principal Capo Rettig interviews new, young talent to explore themes of the whitewater scene.

ACCESS TO THE OTTAWA RIVER • Around the world, people are determining how to balance equitable public access, natural resource protection, and private property rights.

HOW TO IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS: PROGRESSING FROM THE BOW STALL TO THE LOOP • In this column, Bartosz shares the magic of freestyle. More than just learning tricks,...