The Global Paddling Community

Interview with top female paddler Mariann Saether

You come from Norway, one of the supreme destinations for whitewater kayaking. How would you describe your country to somebody who was never up there?

Spectacular scenery, waterfalls everywhere, steep creeks, midnight sun, best hot dogs in the world....(pølse!)

During the last 2 years you became a well-known paddler due to good competition results and being in movies like Norgasmo or Valhalla. In the videos you take some "crazy lines", pushing the limits of female paddling. How did you experience this time?

It was all just a matter of having fun with good friends. Along that line some big stuff got run, and some big hits got taken. It is all a part of it, and it is a just a matter of feeling good at the right time...

You were on a spring tour through Europe this year. Where did that tour take you?

We first headed to Italy after a quick stop in Nussdorf to visit Ingrid, Ollie, Jens and Olaf, and they took us down some interesting stuff, like the Wellebrucke course. We went to Slovenia and of course I love the Soca, don`t we all? Italy had the steep stuff and we ran some good stuff around the Val Sesia before entering the Teva Extreme Mountain games. That was the best competition I have ever been to! Then the Lyon River Festival, where we were all catching air, at least before the competition... And of course, after a little tour through Tyrol, we were back in Graz, ready to get trashed.....Good Fun!

When u started paddling what was your motivation?

I wanted to control a new element, but today I try to flow with it instead. I had very good friends who encouraged me from my first paddle strokes, thanks a lot guys!

What attracted you to go out there and play in the rather cold water of the Sjoadalen?

I just loved being in a flowing river, and I loved the excitement of the class three rapids. Nothing like learning something new!

Who were your role-models then and nowadays?

A few girls back home were paddling at the time, like Anett, the owner of the Kajakk center, and Ine, one of our best river guides ever, and of course, Ragne and Kristin who competed at the worlds in New Zealand. Back then I wanted to be just as good as them, and I respected them for being themselves in a male dominated sport. Today, they are still my heroes for being out in the river, still doing what they love. I hope I can be inspiring for others, like these girls have inspired me.

Any major projects up your sleeve?

I'm trying to get together a trip to BC in the fall, beside from that I will return to Chile this fall to buy a piece of land...

Where do you see yourself in 5 years as a paddler and in "normal life"?

Hm...tricky. I think normal life and paddling is going hand in hand for me, so I will for sure be out on the river, but maybe also having a little business running....

You work pretty close with your sponsors. Do you have any influence on their future products?

All my sponsors are happy to get feedback, not just from me, but from the all the paddlers out there. If anyone ever has any comments on a piece of gear I am wearing, don`t be afraid to tell me - I can help getting the info to the right people!

What changes would you like to see to move our sport forward?

Only big air competitions on huge features. Maybe a world circuit with just a few events, with invited paddlers. That is how we can push the sport. And maybe an extreme race circuit. There is nothing like watching head to head races!

Who has the strongest influence on you and who would you like to thank?

The people who gave me the push in the back at the right time and always supported me: All my friends in Sjoa, Anett, Jodi at Kavu, Mike in Dagger, Kara and John in Immersion Research, Anne Karine in Vertikal Hemsedal. My boyfriend Morten for always letting me make my own choices and for always having a throwbag ready... Flemming for always being positive and my parents for letting me find my own way.

Interview by Simon Hirter, July 2003.

The photos on this page are courtesy of: Graham Genge, Dan Armstrong, Dan Armstrong, Seth Warren.