The PaddlerUK magazine September 2015 issue 4 | Page 12
PADDLERUK 12
W
here and when was your first
paddle and competition?
My first competition was a youth freestyle, now
called (YounGuns), which took place in
Llangollen, North Wales.
What got you hooked on freestyle?
Just the fact that it was so different, an amazing
gut feeling every time I got on the water! Still to
this day.
What are the advantages of being a
Team Kokatat paddler?
Photo by Antony Edmonds http://aephotos.co.uk
Most of all, having the opportunity to paddle on
the same team as so many of my idols! Everyone
on this team is an incredible individual. I looked
up to so many of them, watching them on
YouTube when I was younger, so paddling with
them now is so surreal. Also the team that
makes it all happen over at Kokatat, are the
sweetest people you will ever meet! I can’t thank
Kokatat and the staff enough for their support
over the years!
Tell us about the spots you tend to
paddle the most frequent in the UK.
Where are your favourites?
Before we start – just let our readers know a little
about you, your family, background, etc.
Hi, I’m Brandon Hepburn. I have just turned 20 years old and
been apart of Team GB Kayak freestyle for the last five years. I
started kayaking when I was 11-years old and never looked
back! My mum and myself moved to Hurley without knowing
anything about kayaking at all. Mum wanted to get a boat to
use on the river, as we were right there and I was thinking
something cool like a motorboat! But no… mum went and
brought two ‘Necky Jives’ – not what I had in mind a kayak!
Since then I got involved with the youth events in the UK, and
the rest as they say, is history
Hurley and HPP for me. I love Hurley, as that’s
where home is for me and I have met lifetime
friends there. They have taught me so much and
made my paddling lifestyle a joy! HPP is where
every paddler loves; it runs 365 days a year, with
some of the best holes on the planet! I feel I can
speak for most paddlers in the UK and say that
HPP is second home for us all!.