PADDLER 19 https :// www . instagram . com / nourianewman
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Nouria dropping the Aldeyjarfoss Waterfall , Iceland , 2020 . Photo : David Arnaud / Red Bull Content Pool
WHAT ’ S THE MOST ENJOYABLE ENCOUNTER WITH WILDLIFE THAT YOU ’ VE HAD WHILST PADDLING ?
I paddled past a brown or black bear on a solo first descent in British Colombia . I was very scared to have a bear encounter on that trip . I was on a bushwhack portage two days before and figured I should keep the bear spray handy , just in case . The security lock got caught in a branch , and I managed to Mace myself . So when I saw the bear and paddled past him , I was very scared , but the bear just really didn ’ t care about me ! It was such a relief .
You ’ re clearly one of the finest paddlers of this or any other generation . Which paddlers from the past would you have loved to have paddled with ? Rob Lesser . He is a legend but also super supportive of the new generations . I always have an amazing time meeting him again at North Fork and would love to paddle with him one day .
If you had to choose one last thing you wanted to achieve within WW paddling before giving it up , what would that be ? Nothing . I don ’ t want to give it up !
Have you ever been scared , and if not – what would it take ? I am always scared . If you aren ’ t scared running rivers , something is wrong with you !
What projects are you currently working on ? I often work on several projects simultaneously , so I have a few things going on at the moment . I have just
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finished my French kayak coach degree , so that ’ s a good one to have out of the way , and I can now teach kayaking legally . We are also working on a documentary about our recent trip to Pakistan .
Any fellow paddler you would like to interview and why ? Someone I don ’ t know , so I can be sure to learn a few things ! I would go for Dave Manby because he has been to many places I am interested in .
What ’ s the one river you haven ’ t paddled that would be on your bucket list ? There are many rivers I ’ d love to paddle , and I definitely don ’ t do lists .
What do you do when not kayaking ? I try to spend time in the mountains and otherwise emails , accounting , project pitches , eating cheese , and spending time with people I love .
PADDLER 19 https :// www . instagram . com / nourianewman