8/17/1998
White Water K1
Czech Republic 🇨🇿
Michal Kuthan TEXT IS MISSING
Where, when and how or why did you start paddling?
Almost every boater in Bohemia is familiar with the Vavřinec stream. Well, when I was 10 years old, I managed to swim the first kilometer 4 times. There was snow on the shore and I was so cold that it was impossible for me to put on a sprayer. At that moment I thought that this would never happen again. Fortunately, already in the car on the way home, I knew it wasn't the last time I'd sit in a kayak and it took a while but eventually I got back to paddling and around the age of fifteen I was completely absorbed by it
What do you enjoy about paddling?
Dressing in smelly wet rags is definitely not. 😄 But the community, the sharing of experiences and that when you go down a difficult rapid, a waterfall or an abandoned canyon and see your friends smiling from ear to ear. That's when I always think it's worth a little discomfort...
Who has been the biggest influence on you throughout your career?
Especially the people I had the opportunity to paddle with. I've never been the type to watch all the videos and favorite kayakers. People like Vory, Dan Princ with Kuba Jaroš, Kuba Šedivý, Chouťas, or maybe in my early days Viktor Korecký and then the guys from the Prague section Bošán helped me a lot, and now Eda Skalický is a great partner for me, who has always motivated me. I kept telling myself that some scumbag from Brno couldn't drive that much better than me. 😄 It was just on that journey and I hope there will be a lot of people with whom I can spend my time and who will be an inspiration for me in many aspects.
Which part of the training do you enjoy the most and which part do you dislike?
To this day, I don't understand people who voluntarily drown in a cylinder and call it freestyle kayaking... On rivers, this ability is often very useful, but it's just not for me. But the feeling when a person flies at full speed through wild river rapids to the limit of their physical capabilities, only to slow down in a calm lagoon and exhale surrounded by magnificent nature. This is the moment when training is definitely worth it!
Which river is your favorite and why?
It's hard to name one specific river, but I always love coming back to Norway's Sjoa River, which offers everything a kayaker could want. Or the Colombian classic Suarez or Samana, these are God's big water rivers.
Who do you think is the best kayaker in the world?
I don't think there is any best kayaker. But if I have to name someone, I think that Dane Jackson is probably the most versatile kayaker at the moment.
What are your plans for the future?
Who knows? Doing what I enjoy. The goal is probably not to spend as many days as possible on the river at all costs, but rather I would like to focus on exploring and traveling with a kayak to more distant destinations. I am currently attracted to Central Asia.
What do you like to do when you're not paddling?
Mostly, I still hang around sports. Cycling, cross-country skiing, climbing, backpacking... just what you can do in the mountains. At the same time, I am completing my master's degree at a film school. So I spend a lot of time editing and creating audiovisual materials.
Which IG profile do you think is worth following?
Well, definitely the Hiko one ... But I also really like watching Joe Rea-Dickins . An English kayaker who has many first descents in Megahlaya and is now working on a new guidebook to England, where it will hopefully be possible to see our photos from the trips with Eda and Pavel.
What are your favorite videos?
