Jasper Polak
Full name: Jasper Hugo Polak
Nickname: JPAIN
Since: April 5th, 1988
From: Rijswijk, The Netherlands
Height: 182cm
Weight: 75 kilos
Kayaking since: 2003
Disciplines: Creeking, slalom, freestyle
Other activities: Running, skiing, climbing, photography, studying, traveling
Countries paddled: 19 and counting…
Most people say I’m unlucky when telling them I’m a whitewater kayaker coming from the Netherlands. I think they are wrong.
I started paddling with canoe polo at the age of 15 and I was instantly hooked. Paddling slalom year round on flat water and at the local whitewater park and working in the gym allows me to charge hard whenever I get the chance to travel to a great new river. Apart from being a competitive slalom kayaker, I believe the best way of exploring and pushing the limits of our sport is by doing what we love most, travel to great places and share unique experiences with close friends. Combining the creeking and slalom paddling with teaching kayaking, photography and being one of ICF’s chief judges of freestyle gives a unique and broad view on the sport and allows me to travel all over the globe.
It is a new challenge every year to combine all the traveling with my ‘normal life’ as a student in the Netherlands. Fortunately the VU University is pretty flexible and supportive. At work I get to move my working hours around as much as I could wish for in order to let me travel and do what I love most. Paddling.
Some people deserve a link here, for one reason or another
First off, I owe a big thanks to all my sponsors for helping me out with whatever I need.
- Holland’s finest kayak outfitter Kanoshop.nl provides me with all the boats and equipment I need.
- Arc’teryx designs and builds superior outdoor apparel and gear, keeping me warm on the river and dry on shore.
- Both the freeride and slalom gear from Sandiline keeps me dry and looking slick on the river.
- FiveTen is the industry leader in climbing shoes, and have put all their knowledge and sticky rubber into the sickest creeking shoe out there, the Canyoneer.
- As part of the VU university, drill sergeant Frank at the VU sports centre keeps me fit throughout the year.
Secondly, these people are just plain cool.
- Traveling all over Europe with Raoul sure has had it’s influence, be it good or bad.
- One of the greatest influences on my paddling technique is defiantly Robert, my slalom training buddy.
- Pimp Micke for being a bad-ass photographer and shuttle bunny!