Kayak Session Magazine

The biggest whitewater kayaking magazine in the world. If a photo speaks a thousand words, then Kayak Session is an encyclopedia. Dubbed the ‘National Geographic’ of whitewater kayaking, we collaborate with some of the best photographers and most acclaimed writers in the outdoor industry. Our photo concept is to show stunning images of kayakers in their element. This photos-first idea is coupled with a creative layout and fresh content, sure to inspire our readers with every issue. Kayak Session is the essential reading for whitewater kayakers worldwide.

BOUND BY THE RIVER

GALLERY SHOT

NEWS AND HAPPENINGS • This ongoing column is a place to report on the current news, latest descents, expeditions, people and trends in the whitewater world. The world is indeed a big place but the river connects us all. This column attempts to keep us in touch throughout the world paddling community.

COLLEGIATE WHITEWATER FEST, WASHINGTON, USA, APRIL 2026

NIVE ITSASU KAYAK FESTIVAL, FRENCH BASQUE COUNTRY, FEBRUARY 2026

GALWAY FEST, IRELAND, MARCH 2026

BULLER FESTIVAL, NEW ZEALAND, FEBRUARY 2026

CITROEN EXTREME RACE, NEW ZEALAND, MARCH 2026

PADDLE SOUTH FREESTYLE TOUR, USA, MARCH-APRIL 2026

SMALLS TO THE WALLS CREEK RACE, MAINE, USA, APRIL 2026

MUJERES DE RIO KAYAK RACE, CHILE, NOVEMBER 2025

LITTLE WHITE SALMON RACE, WASHINGTON, USA, APRIL 2026

SCOLTENNA GATHERING, ITALY, APRIL 2026

NORTH FORK FEST, NORTH CAROLINA, USA, MARCH 2026

DESCENDING THE UNKNOWN RIVERS OF GIRONA, CATALONIA, MARCH 2026

FROM ALARA TO MANAVGAT, TURKEY ROAD TRIP, MARCH 2026

RIO MANSO, CHILE, MARCH 2026

A KAYAKING ROAD TRIP ACROSS THE WESTERN BALKANS, APRIL 2026

RARE DESCENT OF THE TAODAIL, SCOTLAND, MARCH 2026

6FT + DESCENT OF THE LITTLE WHITE SALMON, WASHINGTON, USA, MARCH 2026

KAYAKIMÜN PROGRAM, BIOBÍO RIVER, CHILE

SAMANÁ STUDENTS FOR RIVERS CAMP, COLOMBIA

RIO CUERVO High Water and Bushwhacking in Patagonia • In February this year, Eirik Hansen, Adrian Mattern, Dane Jackson, Tom Dollé, David Sodomka, and Kilian Ivelic set out on a six-day expedition in Chilean Patagonia to attempt the first descent of the Río Cuervo. Dropped by helicopter at the source, the crew soon found themselves fighting their way downstream—both on and off the water—through dense jungle. Chilean paddler Kilian Ivelic tells the story of how the team reached the fjord after encountering higher water than expected, turning the expedition into a brutal struggle against quila bamboo, unrunnable rapids, and exhausting portages.

Samaná Fest RACING & ADVOCATING FOR RIVERS IN ANTIOQUIA • In the jungle canyons of Colombia, not far from Medellín, where the Andes break into a dense network of rainforest and whitewater, a festival of a special kind takes place. Created ten years ago by French paddlers Jules Dominé and Maël N'Guyen, the Samaná Fest is a ten-day gathering built around a 40 km Class IV-V marathon, bringing together international paddlers, local communities, artists, and conservationists. Competitive or not, participants join the event to race, celebrate, defend, and raise awareness, and to share the river itself, rafting sections alongside local communities, to help keep the rivers of Antioquia wild.

HISTORIC CONTEST

INFO BOX

Get PERSONAL The rise of private freestyle coaching • Freestyle kayaking has always been a sport built on community, creativity, and time on the water. For decades, paddlers progressed through peer feedback, informal mentorship, and fun sessions at local spots, learning by watching others, repetition, and shared experience. While that culture is still very much alive, private or personal coaching has become an increasingly visible part of the freestyle landscape. In this in-depth report, we...