The pace of progression for young kayakers is skyrocketing. Thanks to programs like Keeners, Yaku Churi, World Class Kayak Academy and Paddle Tribal Waters, a new generation of whitewater athletes is emerging with next-level skills. Keep an eye on these five up-and-coming whitewater kayakers, 18 years old and under, as they continue to hone their skills.
Top five up-and-coming whitewater athletes you should be watching
Tupac Andi
Age: 12 | Hometown: Ichiurku, Ecuador
Hailing from a small village in Ecuador, Tupac is only 12 years old and has already competed in the class V Jondachi Race—the first kid to ever do so. He kayaks with the Yaku Churi program, which is a free kayak school for Indigenous youth located on the banks of the Upper Rio Napo. Yaku Churi means “children of the river” in the native Kichwa language, and the school goes well beyond teaching kayaking. Run by legendary Ecuadorian paddler Diego Robles, the Yaku Churi program also provides the students with lessons in conservation, carpentry, raft guiding, reading and writing. Tupac has been kayaking for just over a year and is already “a solid class V paddler,” according to coach Diego.
“He wants to become a professional kayaker. He is taking the advocacy seriously to become a leader in river conservation,” says Diego.
Makinley Kate Hargrove
Age: 17 | @makinleykate | Hometown: Phenix City, Alabama
Makinley Kate is already one of the best freestyle kayakers of all time. She was the 2023 Junior World Champion, the 2022 2x Junior World Cup Champion, and the 2022 Junior World Championship bronze medalist, and she holds the world record for the highest score ever recorded by a junior woman in the sport of freestyle kayaking. She surfs waves taller than a bus and consistently throws airscrews and pan-ams big enough to be spotted from space.
“One of my goals for the future is to hopefully inspire more younger women to get into the sport I truly love.”
Jude Franczyk
Age: 16 | @judefranczyk | Hometown: Missoula, Montana
It feels weird to label Jude as up-and-coming, considering he has already run some of the world’s most challenging whitewater. At 14, he paddled the Little White Salmon and the Box Canyon of the Clark’s Fork of the Yellowstone. At 15, he traveled with his kayak to Chile and ran the 50-foot Demshitz waterfall and the entire Futaleufú River. And just this past spring, at age 16, he had a perfect line off the 80-foot Toketee Falls, then took the win at the Bigfork Whitewater Festival in the pro men’s division, besting many of his idols.
“I think being on a beautiful river surrounded by good people is really the only time where I feel complete.”
Ruby Rain Williams
Age: 18 | @rubyrainwilliams | Hometown: Happy Camp, California
“Ayukii– (Hello), Nanithvuy uum (my name is) Ruby Williams.” Ruby is a Quartz Valley tribal member and a Karuk person. She grew up on the banks of the Klamath River, which, up until this past year, had multiple dams impeding the river’s flow and the salmon’s migration path. Ruby kayaks with Paddle Tribal Waters, a program that teaches Indigenous youth to whitewater kayak. On June 12, she and the other youth members began a 310-mile, monthlong descent of the newly free-flowing Klamath River, with the aim of becoming the first to paddle the restored river from source to sea.
“One of my biggest goals is to earn my instructor certification so I can teach more kids who look like me how to kayak.”
Jackie Kimmel
Age: 17 | @jackie_kimmel_ | Hometown: Cabin John, Maryland
Coming from an impressive family of whitewater kayakers, Jackie has paddled more rivers than most 30-year-olds who have dedicated their lives to the sport. She grew up spending her summers on the Ottawa River, kayaking with the Ottawa Kayak School’s Keeners program while her parents surfed Garb and Minibus. She then spent three years traveling the world with World Class Kayak Academy. She has paddled in Ecuador, Chile, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Canada, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland and all over the United States, and her strength on the water is a clear mark of her experience.
“My favorite and proudest memories from kayaking aren’t even from my achievements—they’re from watching my friends hit a milestone in their journey.”
This article was published in Issue 74 of Paddling Magazine. Tupac Andi in action. | Feature photo: Diego Robles
