Interview – Patrick ‘Paddy’ Camblin
by Colin Irvine
Article published in magazine, June 2005.

Freestyle kayaking has hit an exciting phase, with dynamic aerial moves driving the sport into a new era. At the forefront of this aerial revolution is Patrick Camblin - a 22 year old Canadian with Irish parents and a healthy appetite for going BIG. ‘Gamblin’ Camblin is the current Big Air World Champion, a fully professional kayaker and loves a bit of poker.

With a string of competition wins to his name, Camblin represents the kayaking new school - a true big wave specialist. I caught up with young Paddy on a recent visit to find his roots on our emerald isle and discovered an athlete with a ‘can-do’ attitude, some interesting views on the future of the sport… and a great fondness for the Guinness...

What interested you in the sport?
I guess the thing that interested me the most was the freedom and independence of it. In kayaking, all of the decision-making and subsequent success or failure on a big rapid is your own; if you miss a line or can’t do a trick there is nobody to blame but yourself. Similarly, if you make a tough line or stick a big move its because you were on your game. This personal responsibility for failure or success had a huge appeal.

How did you go from being a wee sprog on the Ottawa to one of the biggest names in the sport?
I was lucky to spend a lot of time on world class features with a tight crew of lads on the Ottawa (the island boyz). Because we were all starting at the same level we pushed each other hard to keep progressing; someone would learn a new move and the others would scramble to keep up. I grew up just 30 mins from the river so I quickly got hooked on big waves. Each summer we would pack our tents and head to an island on the Ottawa and just camp out for a couple months, boating every day.

Is kayaking making you rich? Just how much of a professional kayaker are you?
Well its definitely not making me rich, but it is earning me enough to get by and take a few super sweet trips a year without having to work another job.

It seems like a rough world out there amongst the pros – everyone competing fiercely for media exposure.
There are definitely a lot of people competing for a limited amount of money. The kayakers that are making a real living are doing it through sponsorships with non-kayaking specific companies. Kayaking is a photo friendly sport and the image driven nature of it appeals to other industries. I don’t think kayaking will ever be in the mainstream enough to support a solid wage for all ‘pros’ though.

Why didn’t you try out for the Canadian team this year?
Mainly because of the feature the worlds are being held on.

What’s wrong with Penrith?
Penrith… hmmm. Well I guess there is nothing wrong with Penrith. What’s wrong is that it’s being used as the site to feature and decide the world’s best. 80% of the new moves from the last 3 years can’t be done there. The event lacks the air, speed and dynamics that most kayakers have come to associate with the pinnacle of their sport.

How would you change the structure of the world championships?
If kayaking is ever going to reach a new level, there are a few pivotal changes that need to occur.
First, get rid of some classes. Open canoeing is very limiting when it comes to surfing and is still far behind – chuck it. For the squirt boaters, a different event with a non-compromised venue is needed. No offence intended, but the level of skill showcased at the moment does not warrant an international competition for junior women. If they are especially talented – put them in with the seniors.

The junior men are little rippers. Their level of athleticism definitely merits an international competition, but again streamlining will help the sport. If the world’s best is 17 years old, why not let him compete in the senior category. Let the worlds best compete against each other once and for all.

Fewer competitors should compete. There should be an international standard to reach the worlds. As it is, many countries send unqualified paddlers to the worlds… while other countries have to leave extremely well qualified paddlers at home. While it makes for a great international flavour to the competition it is not the world’s best competing.

Finally, hold the event on a great feature. Bring the event to wherever is necessary to allow paddlers showcase their arsenal of big air tricks. This will likely mean bringing the event somewhere rural or remote. Fewer spectators will be able to attend but who cares? At least if its held somewhere cool (Buseater / Slave / White Nile / Dries of the New / Lyon) someone like ESPN might be stoked to buy the footage and show the world how cool kayaking can be… instead of misleading a few hundred spectators into thinking it’s lame.



Freestyle kayaking has hit an exciting phase – with the emphasis now on big air rather than infinite ends – where is it going next?
The freestyle end of things will definitely continue into the air for awhile, linked wave moves are now a reality and this opens up another realm of possibilities. I think boat designs will start getting a bit bigger again, with more emphasis on speed and carving ability, while still trying to find a balance with the bounce factor.

Tell me a bit about YGP.
YGP is basically a big group of really tight friends that travel / paddle / party together and film the best water the sport has to offer along the way.

With most top athletes, heavy partying is hugely damaging to their training schedule. With you lads it seems to be PART of your routine. Is the boozy, hedonistic river culture at odds with the serious competition scene?
I think the difference with YGP is that we aren’t out there for fame, fortune or glory but more to maintain a lifestyle. For us, that lifestyle doesn’t include a 6am morning jog, windsprints or a training log. I don’t think we are at odds with the serious competitors. I just think we are looking for something different.

For the serious competitors it is events like the worlds (even in Penrith) that drive them. For me, it’s the excitement I get when I’m driving up to the river and I know that Buseater could be in. Big waves are what drive my passion for the sport. I think that for a lot of us it’s the lifestyle aspect that is so appealing – the travelling, the friendships and the awesome rivers you get to paddle along the way.



Do you actually train, or do you just go boating? Have you ever had a strict training plan to follow?
I definitely don’t train in the traditional sense. For me, my training consists of a bit of weight lifting / running if the Canadian winter is taking its toll. Otherwise, it’s just out on the river, paddling with my buddies, trying new tricks for fun.

What is your favourite river?
I’ll have to say the White Nile for river running –it’s definitely hard to get bored there. However nothing comes close to Buseater on the Ottawa as far as big wave stuff goes. It’s so fast, dynamic and huge. Plus it’s only 40 minutes from my front door!

Is it true you were a member of failed Canadian boy band Y-Knot???
That was a long time ago.

Patrick Camblin – thank you very much.