World Champion Kayaker
Born in Ontario, Canada, Nick first climbed into a kayak at the age of 13 & from there, it was all systems go. His enthusiasm for the sport grew into an obsession and there’s been no looking back. He has since traveled the world with a kayak in-tow, winning freestyle championships & daring to make descents down some of the planet’s most remote rivers, like the Niagara Gorge on the US & Canadian border. A stretch of river considered to have some of the most powerful current in the world, Nick is one of the few humans one earth who has successfully traversed it’s path.
Constantly embracing the challenges of the sport, he has paved the way for the next generation of whitewater athletes to pursue their passions and take it to the next level. Now living in East Tennessee, Nick will tell you he’s “living the dream”, alongside his wife Emily. They have two adventurous little kids who love the water & together they travel the country looking for that next stretch of river to paddle.
Nick is a world class athlete that has successfully defied the laws of nature from the seat of his kayak & we’re stoked to have him proving our product wherever the next adventure leads. Learn more about what makes him tick in the Q&A below...
What is your profession?
Whitewater Kayaking
Did you always know this is what you would end up doing or was it something you “stumbled into”?
I would say less of stumbled into and something I continually worked towards in hopes to make it something I could do as a profession.
Favorite movie?
Gladiator
Favorite book?
The Alchemist
Most inspiring quote, piece of art, saying, or advice that has impacted the way you live today?
Hmmm... I have many favorite quotes, though one that comes to mind would be the famous speech/ quote about “The Man in the Arena” by Theodore Roosevelt: It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
When you’re not working, what are you doing for fun?
Haha, lots... anything with a flavor of adventure or getting outdoors with my family.
Coolest place you’ve ever traveled?
Hmmm... maybe the Zambezi River over on the boarder of Zambia and Zimbabwe... though honestly I’ve been blessed to have been able to travel the world any see many cool places from the seat of my kayak.
Bucket list destination you haven’t been yet?
New Zealand (though I’ve booked tickets for this fall)
You’re stranded on a deserted island - who is coming with you and why?
I have many questions about this... am I picking someone I want to hangout with or someone to help me survive or help me get rescued or someone to spend the rest of my days with? My gut instinct would be my wife and kids, but if I have the option to keep them from that hardship then I would.
You get to have drinks with anyone (dead or alive) - who are you calling?
George Washington or Alexander Hamilton... a couple of legit bad-asses right there.
What advice would you give an 18-year-old that wants to do what you do?
If you never give up on your dreams you can NOT fail.
Any guilty pleasures?
Dark chocolate.
Favorite wild meat/fish to eat? (i.e. venison, dove, quail, king fish, redfish, etc.) And in what kind of meal do you prepare it/eat it?
Fresh or Smoked Salmon.
What’s your favorite element of Turtebox? (battery life, durability, waterproofness, sound, togetherness, elevating experiences)
That’s another hard one... hmmm... if I have to pick one then I guess I’ll go waterproofness as I wouldn’t be rocking it out by the river otherwise... but sound is a close second as it truly rocks!
How do you use your Turtlebox?
To rock out by the river!
Name the most famous contact in your phone?
Haha... I might have a couple... though I guess the most famous is probably Jimmie Johnson- NASCAR #48
