The Global Paddling Community

Fresh Talent is a short series of exclusive Playak interviews with young paddlers that we believe you will hear much more about in the next couple of years.

Patrick Camblin - Liquidlogic

Age: 22
Affiliation: Liquidlogic
Lives in: Arnprior, Ontario, Canada

How did you get into kayaking?

My annual family vacation was a canoe trip on the French river. One year I saw a kayaker there and managed to get one soon after… after that I was hooked.

What’s been the best event / trip this year?

The Lyon River Festival was incredible. The event was really well organized and there was just a great vibe (not to mention an awesome wave). After Lyon, the YGP crew headed to Uganda… that place is sick; huge waves + warm water + no lines + good people = awesome trip

What’s your one favourite thing about the paddling lifestyle?

The great people you meet… it seems that no matter where you go, the paddlers you meet are super cool people. I also love the nomadic aspect of it, traveling from one place to another with your best friends, trying to find the best waves on the planet is tough to beat.

In your opinion, who is the best kayaker at the moment and why?

• Steve Fisher – All around he’s hard to beat.
• Rush Sturges – Progressive!
• Marlow Long – Smooth style, and consistently rips harder than anyone.

What do you do when you’re not kayaking?

Chill, party, poker, anything outside… I’ve just finished my 3rd year of a Geology/English Degree at the University of Western Ontario. I’m taking a couple years off to travel and kayak, and then I’ll head back to finish up my degree.

Where’s your next kayaking trip? / Where to from here?

Just making my plans in the next week or two, but it's looking like a round the world trip… Chile (to the coast, find some sick ocean waves to surf), then maybe Brazil but probably back to Uganda, then maybe Indo or New Zealand…

Benedikt Sommerauer - Robson

Age: 18
Affiliation: Robson
Lives in: Reichartshausen, Germany

How did you get into kayaking?

My father took my brother and me whitewater kayaking when I was about ten years old. Since I'm 14 I'm interested in Rodeo kayaking and in 2001 I competed in my first Rodeo. Since 2003 I'm in Team Robson.

What's been the best event / trip this year?

My best event this year were the European championships in Spain. It was a great athmosphere and the competition was also very cool. I became the European Junior Champion and I was very happy about that. The Party was also great (greets to all the Dutchies).

What's your one favourite thing about the paddling lifestyle?

Paddling is more than just a Hobby for me. It's a drug. Doesn't matter if I'm on a big wave, in a small hole or on a cool river. It's always satisfying me. It's also great to meet lots of people from many different countries who come together whith the goal to have fun.

In your opinion, who is the best kayaker at the moment and why?

I think Steve Fisher is one of the guys who deserves this title. He connects high freestyle performance with going extreme. The connection of these two ways of paddling makes him my favorite.

What do you do when you're not kayaking?

I'm a student on the Gymnasium (high school) which I will finish in 2006. In the winter I do snowboarding in the black forest and the alps. I'm also playing the guitar and I sing in a band.

Where's your next kayaking trip? / Where to from here?

I don't know exactly, but I want to go to the Piemont, Italy in spring next year. I really like the countryside there.

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