The Global Paddling Community

Interview with Alex Seliverstov, freestyler, creeker and expedition kayaker from Russia.

This interview was originally produced for the Portuguese web site 'kayaksurf.net' and is published exclusively on Playak in english to make it available to a wider audience. The portuguese version of the interview, with larger versions of some of the photos, is available here.

Name: Alex Seliverstov
Age: 37
Occupation: Pre-press
Kayaking experience: 4 years
Home base: Moscow, Russia
Competition records:

• Russian rodeo champion 2004
• Baon Adrenaline race 2004 prize winner
• Freestyle Cup winner 2004

Alex, you made a career in rodeo kayaking, steep creeking and kayak expeditions. Did you ever try kayak surfing?
No, unfortunately I haven't tried this kind of kayaking.

Alex, y ou were Russian rodeo champion in 2004... can you tell us something about this contest?
It's a great contest which takes place early July every year, on a famous Russian playspot, the hole in the Matrosy Village. There are about 50 participants each year. We've got four contest apart from the Championships - their results count for the Freestyle Cup. We've also got some smaller regional contests.

So 2004 was a great year for you!
Yes, I won 3 contests out of 5. Every participant gets some scores for every ranking in each contest. For example 20 points for the 1st place, 19 for the 2nd, etc. In the end of every season the person with the best total gets the Cup and big prizes.

What about playspots in and around Moscow...
There are only two playspots that are not too far from Moscow - the hole on the Matrosy Village (1001 km) and Hohlohole in the Ukraine, the suburb of Kharkov City (840 km). And one is available during spring floods (only one wave): The Msta River (483 km).

Tell us something about the "Baon Adrenaline Race 2004"
Here is some history of the Adrenaline Race - http://extreme.whitewater.ru/history/enhistory.html . By the way, this is the only river running contest in my country. That's why it's very prestigious to win a prize there. Only the best riders compete every year on the Caucasus rivers - we run a difficult section for the best time. My run of the final section that year was voted the most beautiful one.

During the Adrenaline Race 2004 - The Gonachhir River, The Rammstein section

Your favorite move?
I like loops above all else.

What do you think about the evolution of our sport?
In Russia, river running has made a big step during the last two years. The number of paddlers is increasing every year. Many of them paddle in Europe with good European kayakers.

What does your training plan look like?
I have about 5 trainings per week (winter season: pool sessions and football). In my free time I try to work :)

Last summer you organized a big Russian-American expedition weeks in August. Please tell us a bit more about it.
That was great! Twelve kayakers from several Russian cities along with their American friends composed the expedition team. During this time the team paddled all of the most difficult classic Altay rivers. Me and my Russian friends learned a lot from and with our American friends - really good paddlers.

Altay Expedition, August 2005

Also I saw all the Altay - one of the most beautiful places in the world. And we ran all the difficult rivers there - that was a great opportunity to test our strengths.

Altay scenery

What were you main difficulties during the expedition?
The main difficulties was around organization (logistics, management of a large international group, etc), not around the the paddling.

And where will the next expedition take you?
Only plans, plans... In spring - Hungary and Italy. In the beginning of the summer - Caucasus with its best rivers and the next BAON Extreme Race. After that - Norway's best waterfalls. And at the end of the summer - another Altay expedition, there are some cool rivers we didn't run. I want to make another international expedition, but I don't know with whom yet.

What were THE expedition of your life?
Russian-American Caucasus-Syans-Altay Expedition 2005. The article on Playak is only about its last part - Altay. And besides that, what are your long-term projects? I want to integrate Russian kayaking to the world one.

What's your favorite thing about the paddling lifestyle?
The everyday challenge on the river.

Dalaman, Turkey

Any suggestions for those who want to start kayaking?
Get a boat, get a paddle, get other gear, sit in the boat and run a class IV section. If you still like it after all rescue works - you will be good paddler :) Be persistent and don't give up.

Thanks Alex and keep organizing such great expeditions!

Text - Luis Pedro Abreu.
Photos - Gary Tepfer (Altay) + Konstantin (Doctor) Vasin + Alex Seliverstov.