Interview: Peter Tranter
Photos: Adriene Levknecht.
Todd Anderson,
Ava Christensen,
Clay Wright,
Mark Hunt,
& Rob Giersh
Adriene Levknecht
One of the most recognisable faces within women’s whitewater paddling, Adriene hails from Grand Rapids, Michigan and started kayaking on the Great Lakes of the region. Decades later, Adriene has racked up a remarkable number of Green Race Championships, amongst many other accomplishments. Take it away Adriene…
A chat with… Adriene Levknecht
Before we start, let our readers know a little about yourselves, your background, etc.
I’m Adriene Levknecht, 13-time Green Race champion, three-time US freestyle kayaking team, and bronze medal winner in the 2013 Freestyle Worlds, all while being a paramedic and now a wildland fire paramedic in the summers.
When did you first start kayaking?
My parents took me paddling when I was five in a sea kayak; I started whitewater at the Nantahala kids camp when I was 11.
What and where was your first competition?
I think I did a competition when I was 16 on Garbourator on Ottawa. Competing 15 years after in the same spot during the 2015 Freestyle Worlds was super cool!
And your first expedition abroad?
2010 I took an extended expedition in Western Australia on the Fitzroy River; we spent 27 days on the water exploring and looking for aboriginal pictographs.
What type of training do you undertake for expeditions?
I try to make sure I am in the best shape I can be. Carrying boats is always the hardest part for me, so just trying to carry loaded boats makes it boring but worth it when the hike isn’t horrible.
You motivate so many paddlers, but who motivates you?
Pretty much all the guys I paddle with motivate me to paddle better and always be positive. I have always loved watching what Mariann Saether did and still does, especially after having kids!
If you could head anywhere in the world to paddle, where would it be, and what appeals about that location?
The world is so big! I would love Indonesia or Taiwan, they are warm, and the water there looks epic. I love anywhere warm to paddle!
What’s the one piece of advice you would give to somebody thinking of packing it all in to become an adventurer?
Do it; take less than you would think – only the essentials. No one cares that you’re wearing pants that haven’t been washed in two months as long as you don’t smell bad. Even then, most of the time, they don’t care if they are your real friends!
When preparing for a multi-day expedition in challenging conditions, what qualities do you look for in a fellow teammate kayaker?
Patience and someone willing to take the time to ensure the team is doing well mentally and physically.
Expeditions or competitions – which gives you the most buzz?
I used to love competing; I then realized I don’t paddle my best in competition, and results don’t make me the person I am.
How do you personally prepare for expeditions – mentally and technically?
I ride bikes and try to paddle as much as possible going up to the expedition. There are loads of hike a bike trails in the SE, which makes the pain of carrying a loaded boat a little bit more bearable.
What is the most significant accomplishment in your career to date?
Thirteen Green Race championships with 18 clean (ish) races in a row is pretty awesome.
If you had to choose one last thing you wanted to achieve within WW paddling before giving it up, what would that be?
It’s never giving it up. I want to paddle until my last living day.
Any fellow paddler you would like to interview and why?
Benny Marr. He’s the most entertaining human in kayaking.
What’s the one river you haven’t paddled that would be on your bucket list?
Fantasy Falls.
What do you do when not kayaking?
I’m a Wildland Fire Paramedic, but I also spend a lot of time searching for the perfect wave while surfing in warm places.
Name just one thing we can do as paddlers to improve our environment.
Pick up any trash you see on the side of the river; I always try to pick up any trash I see.
Here in the UK, a lot of work by British Canoeing is being done to bring more women into the sport; what’s being done in the US, and by whom?
Anna Levesque does so much to get women into paddling by creating a safe environment for learning. There are also loads of women’s paddle days around the US, including the Women’s Paddlefest and the Green River Takeover, for women who are already into it but looking for more women to share the day with.
You’re one of the paddlers of this generation. Which paddlers from the past would you have loved to have paddled with?
I wish I could have paddled with Nikki Kelly during the Seven Rivers expedition; she’s such a hard ass.
Quickfire questions:
If you could paddle with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be?
Morgan Freeman.
Pick two celebrities to be your parents…
Serena Williams and Micheal Phelps.
Which famous person would you most like to see play you in a film?
Lady Gaga.
Are you a bathroom/shower singer, and if so, what do you sing?
Yes… usually Katy Perry.
An ideal night out for you is?
Beers at the local mountain bike bar finished with fancy cocktails and a charcuterie board.
What one luxury item would you take with you on a desert island?
A really nice pillow.
What would I find in your fridge right now?
A lot of alcoholic Spindrift, eggs, bacon, and cheese.
What would you prepare for us if we came to your house for dinner?
A fancy Ramen, like with the baby bok choi, corn, and soft-boiled egg.
What’s the most boring question you are often asked?
This is awkward, but it’s, “How did you get into kayaking.”
If you could be a superhero for one day, what superpower would you choose and why?
Fly. I want to fly through the air like an eagle, with wings, for the day.
Favourite film?
All of the Harry Potter films.
Who are your kayaking buddies?
So many of them!! Corey Volt, Anna Levesque, Snowy Robertson, Andrew Holcombe, and Shane Benedict, to name a few of them.
Any final shout-outs?
I am just thankful for the whole kayaking community and the support we all give each other as the years go on. We are all going through our own stuff and don’t always know about it, but we meet each other where they are and enjoy a day on the water.
Huge thanks, Adriene, for taking the time out.
Heck yes! You’re so welcome!
