Kayak Session Issue 98 - Print Edition

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Table of Contents KS 98, SUMMER 2026

MISSION: RÍO 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 deep 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, turning the expedition into a brutal struggle against quila bamboo, unrunnable rapids, and exhausting portages.

EVENT: SAMANÁ FEST – RACING & ADVOCATING FOR RIVERS IN ANTIOQUIA

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 to help keep the rivers of Antioquia wild.

EXPLOREGET PERSONAL - THE RISE OF PRIVATE FREESTYLE COACHING 

Freestyle kayaking has always been a sport built on community, creativity, and time on the water. 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 explore how what was once an occasional resource has become a tool for all.

INTERVIEW: CHRISTINA KOSSIS  

Despite a late start, Christina Kossis has spent the past decade traveling the globe and running some of the world’s hardest rivers. And when she's not paddling, she still reads the river from high above, working as a bridge safety inspection engineer across the United States. A low-key paddler rarely seen on social media, she is an inspiration for staying close to rivers and people, traveling widely, and balancing work with kayaking.

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