ABOUT

Just outside Heidelberg, between Mannheim and Speyer, lies the Otterstadt old Rhine arm—a natural offshoot of the Rhine that separates Baden-Württemberg from Rhineland-Palatinate. It was here that Adrian Mattern first picked up a paddle, a moment that marked the beginning of a significant change in the world of whitewater kayaking.

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Adrian recalls being taken on a paddling trip on the Otterstadt old Rhine by his father when he was around 5 or 6 years old, a trip that ended with his father playfully throwing him out of the canoe to teach him how to swim. This event led Adrian to fall in love with paddling the following year. His first kayak, bought for 35 euros on eBay, was made of fiberglass and saw its first waters on the Neckar river.

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Adrian joined a local paddling club, progressed to plastic kayaks, and his passion only grew from there. Dreaming from the age of 12 of achieving more than just finishing another paddling tour and reaching the desired adrenaline level, he was inspired by kayaking videos of his idols, such as Evan Garcia and the Bomb Flow Crew. Today, Adrian counts these former idols among his friends and has collaborated with some, like filmmaker Olaf Obsommer, on projects like the carbon-neutral "Bike 2 Boat."

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Adrian's journey from a casual enthusiast to a leading figure in the global kayaking scene is reminiscent of the classic "rags-to-riches" story, only that he never aimed to become rich—his goal was to become the best kayaker possible. He aspires to continually improve his skills and push the boundaries of what is achievable in kayaking.

Adrian's dedication to the sport has led him through countless adventures and close calls, like his near-death experience at the Wellerbrücke in Austria and his transformative trip to Pucon, Chile, shortly after. This journey was crucial in proving to himself that he could keep up with the best in the sport.

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Financing his passion through jobs in construction and as a bouncer, Adrian managed to support further trips to kayaking hotspots around the world. His perseverance paid off in 2015 when he secured his first sponsorship deal, and by 2019, he was able to fully support himself through kayaking alone, a significant milestone crowned by a sponsorship from Red Bull in 2020.

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Adrian's story is not just about becoming a professional kayaker but also about inspiring the next generation, just as he was inspired. His journey, marked by both personal and professional growth, continues to unfold as he pushes the limits of his sport and his own potential.