The UK’s Bren Orton is a professional kayaker who is known for his distinct freestyle tricks on huge waves and hucking waterfalls all over the world. Part of a content creation collective called SEND and a co-organizer of Unleashed, a big water competition held in Quebec, he whipped up a YouTube video of his exploits of his more than 300 days kayaking in 2022, calling it both “the best and worst year of my life.”
Paddling Life catches up with Bren Orton for his take on the year and his vid:
PL: Why was it the best and worst year of your life?
Orton: My biggest goal in kayaking is to be the smoothest, sickest kayaker that I can be and last year I felt really good on the water. I kayaked as much as I could, worked as hard as I could and was rewarded. I had zero injuries, a bunch of big sends, some new tricks all wrapped up into almost 300 days of kayaking, it was my best year on the water yet. Personally, for various reasons, it was also the worst year of my life. Losing the young buck Robert Egglestone was my lowest point. I wasn’t on the river or even in the same country that day but I came home to all of the lights still on in my house and a broken Adrian Mattern sat at the kitchen table at 2 a.m. It just didn’t feel fair to us, we spent all season with Robbie and we truly loved the kid, felt like he was the next thing in the sport and that he was so far ahead with his decision making for his age. Life can be so very cruel some times.
PL: Do you think promoting extreme runs leads others to try them?
Orton: I can’t deny that I have been inspired by other people charging hard and have certainly been inspired to do the same. I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I think it’s bad when people don’t appreciate the levels to this sport and just how long it takes to be in control on some of these rivers. Let alone how much time it takes to be able to fix things when they go wrong on some of these rivers. When I look at the worst accidents from last year, very few of them where from bad decision making, bravado or lack of skill. It was so often good people going out and doing good things and coming away with the worst possible outcome.
PL: What were some of your favorite runs of the year?
Orton: The Manavgat Tiver in Turkey surpassed every expectation! I also love the Brandenburg River, and I had a sick top to bottom on the Raundalen in Norway with a huge crew. And the Gaula (also in Norway) was just plain crazy.
PL: What boat are you in these days?
Orton: I swap backwards and forwards between pretty much the entire Pyranha range. My top picks are the Scorch L, Ripper II L and Fire Cracker Medium.
PL: Any big paddling plans for ’23?
Orton: Oh yes! Dane is having his midlife crisis a decade ahead of schedule and much of my year will be supporting and sending with him and our crew.
PL: You going to be competing again?
Orton: I doubt it. I just want to be the smoothest and sickest kayaker I can be. I don’t give a fack about results or medals. It’s all about the movements and the moments working with water in your kayak!
PL: What’s your take on the state of whitewater kayaking today?
Orton: Same same but different. I wish NGB’S would focus more on inclusivity, diversity and just plain getting people into kayaks than attaching themselves to a high performing individual. I wish companies would invest more in up and comers. I wish we would all come together in a more cohesive way to fight against hydro projects throughout the world. But mostly, I’m pretty happy, lots of exciting stuff happening in the industry, I bump into lot of nice people on the river, new faces continue to pop up and so, yeah mostly things are pretty good.
Watch Video Here:
A Few Comments on his Vid:
“Incredible edit, you keep pushing the bar higher in kayaking as much as your videos, huge respect bro, let’s see what 2023 has in store…”
“You chose the life of extreme adventure, both thrill and burden. We’re all grateful you’ve documented that journey and inspired so many, not just to the extremes, but more simply, to get OUT. With many years yet to live, we hope you find a path through the challenges that follow. You’ve given so much to those close to you and many more you’ve never met. You owe us nothing, but for yourself… find peace.”
“One of the best edits I have seen. Keep sending and keep sharing brother! The world needs the inspiration. In every life, there will come the time when we stare the cruelty of this life directly in the eye. Coming out the other side, you will be a different person. Wiser, more empathetic, more compassionate, and hopefully, more purposeful. Loss and grief are unavoidable parts of this life. Growth in these moments is up to us. In the process sorting through all of this, never forget – You were born for this. Cant wait to continue following your journey. Onward!”
Follow Bren on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/bren.orton/