The AQ team has always been a tight family. We paddle together and love each other's company.
Part of that family is AQ Instructor Rommel Rivas. Rommel is an absolute joy to be on the water with and is a very talented paddler. Our community is lucky to have him be a part of it.
Without further introduction, please enjoy our 20 Questions interview with Rommel himself!
1. What is your name and what do you paddle?
Rommel Rivas / Whitewater Kayak
2. Where did you grow up?
Gatineau, QC.
3. How long have you been paddling for and how did you get started?
5 years, started through kitchen work at a rafting company on the Ottawa.
4. What is one thing paddling has brought into your life that you would say has changed for the better?
Decision-making under pressure.
5. From your perspective, has spending time outdoors and on the river helped you manage your daily challenges in life and why?
Yes, the clarity of mind I experience on the water is one that I can bring off the river.
6. If you could paddle only one boat or board for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A canoe.
7. What is the longest commute you have ever made for a paddling trip?
12 hours round trip.
8. Where is your favorite place to paddle? Or one that isn't top secret?
Ottawa river.
9. How do you continue to push yourself on the water?
I'm afraid of holes so I like to throw myself in them and hold on for as long as I can.
10. What's the biggest rapid or waterfall that you have run to date?
Biggest waterfall would be Mindbender at around 15 ft I believe.
11. What is your craziest on water experience or thing you have seen while paddling?
I failed to roll a couple times and almost got sucked into a class 4 hole on the Lachine after a long kayaking hiatus.
12. Do you train during the off season or participate in any winter sports?
Cross-country skiing.
13. What and where is your dream paddling trip?
Running the Caqueta in Colombia.
14. Do you or are you involved in and community programs on or off the water?
I work in community outreach in Gatineau, but it has nothing to do with whitewater. It's a local harm reduction program aiming to support people that consume drugs.
15. What is the best advice you would give someone who wants to get into paddling?
Listen to your gut, if someone is pushing you to run a rapid that you don't feel comfortable running, just don't. With time you'll be able to tell what's within your window of tolerance as opposed to what is beyond your skillset.
16. If you could paddle with anyone in the world, past or present, who would it be?
Tyler Bradt or Ben Stookesberry.
17. Is there anything you would change about the sport
People gatekeeping rapids.
18. Over the past few years how have you seen the rivers or lakes change, and what are you doing to try and protect it from an environmental standpoint?
I've been fortunate enough to have paddled relatively clean rivers since I started kayaking. I've been seeing more litter flowing on the Kan and on the Ottawa, so I always try to throw the garbage into my kayak when I'm floating in an eddy.
19. Could you describe the feeling you get when you are on the water?
Release.
20. If you could describe the paddling community in a single word, what would that word be?
Easy-going.
AQ Outdoors Contact
Edmonton: (p) 780 463-4892 (e) info@aquabaticsedmonton.com
Calgary: (p) 403 288-9283 (e) info@aqoutdoors.com
