Interview:
Peter Tranter
with questions from
James Bebbington
Sal Montgomery
Andrew ‘Jacko’ Jackson
Photos:
Red Bull Media
Bren Orton
Evan Moore
Kalob Grady
Nick Troutman
Rowan James
An interview with… Dane Jackson
The Great Dane
Arguably the best all-around whitewater kayaker on the planet, Dane holds multiple freestyle and whitewater titles and travels the United States and the world in his quest for the ultimate whitewater. When he isn’t staring down into the abyss as he goes over the top of one of the many 100+ feet waterfalls, you’ll find him at Rock Island, Tennessee, or in his RV for more than half of the year, travelling to events and searching for new rivers along the way. His dad of course is, Eric Jackson, for whom Dane says. “My dad has always been there, I would not be where I’m today if not for him.”
So when did you first start kayaking?
I first started kayaking when I was two years old, but really started to progress when I was nine.
What got you hooked on freestyle and WW kayaking?
My Dad was already a pro-kayaker when I was born, having been not just a pro-slalom racer but also a freestyle world champion. So he got me into it right away, whether putting me on his lap or letting me run easier rivers with him growing up. Once I learned to roll it wasn’t long before he started bringing me along on harder rivers from Great Falls, South Silver, Green Narrows. But what was great about freestyle is that by growing up in a recreational vehicle (RV) we were often parked at some of the greatest freestyle features out there, especially in Colorado. So that allowed me to be able to kayak every day, not only with my dad but with some of the best paddlers in the world. So year round I was either going kayaking, watching it in person or on videos, or playing around the river with foam boats (miniature kayaks). It was clear right away what I wanted to do, and it didn’t hurt having my dad being who he was to push me to where I am today.
Sal Montgomery by Karen Wyer
Sal Montgomery by Karen Wyer
Sal Montgomery has four questions…
1. Knowing that you move around a lot through the year, is there somewhere in particular that you see as your regular training ground?
Nowhere that I would consider a ‘training ground’, but there are a few places where I just don’t think I can stay away and not return to at least once a year. The biggest one is the Ottawa River in eastern Ontario, whether it’s the big wave season in the spring or the warm water playboating paradise in summer. In the US with or without competitions it’s hard to imagine a season where I don’t spend a bit of time in Colorado and Idaho, as they are both hard to beat in the summer. Or spending a few weeks in the PNW running drops and getting joy laps on some of the best sections. I can also promise that until the dam is completed it’s unlikely I will miss going to the Zambezi at least once a year. Warm water, epic whitewater, hours of rapids, shuttles already set, it’s about as good as it gets.
2. What would a normal training session involve?
Unless it’s the time leading up to a particular competition or event, I very rarely ever consider most days on the water a training session. I pretty much never say, “The World Championships is this year, I need to start training six months before,” unless I feel like that day is one of the few days I’ll have a similar feature to train in.
What I do is simply just make sure to enjoy each day on the water, while still having some fun by working on different combos, trying to increase how much air I can get, seeing if I can become smoother downriver. However, unless I am training the few weeks before an event, I almost never am thinking to myself I ‘need’ to be able to get more air or ‘need’ to be faster because of something that will happen later on. Instead I just have fun by just seeing what moves I can improve or new things I can learn, or if I can go faster.
Then when something comes up later on, I then can say, “Well this might work here.” But that being said, that doesn’t mean I am lazy or could have gotten here by being satisfied with my skills even a year ago. I am constantly under the impression that no matter how good I get, I can always get better, so that makes it ever easier to motivate to find ways to improve every day on the water.
3. What’s the one favourite piece of camping kit you couldn’t do without?
I’ve accumulated a lot of stuff over the years and because I paddle in a range of environments, that’s hard to say. On a practical level my sleeping system is pretty important to me. The relationship you develop with a good sleeping bag and mat is certainly more important now than when I was younger. I would say my favourite piece of equipment is however, a Kuksa, which is a small wooden mug, hand carved by the Sami of Northern Scandinavia. I got mine from a Sami Camp after rounding Nordkap so has sentimental value too. That and a good camp knife, one that I can use for filleting fish, splitting wood or sparking life into a fire.Is there anywhere in the world that’s got you hooked? Somewhere you want to keep going back to again and again?
Like I mentioned before, the Zambezi is one of the greatest rivers in the world. I truly believe every kayaker in the world should try to experience the Zambezi because it is incredible in every way. It’s just joy kayaking every day for hours in the hot sun, warm water, with some of the most fun big water. But it’s not like you are scared day to day, it’s just epic kayaking. Then on top of that besides being in one of the coolest gorges in the world, if you stay at a location like Jolly Boys, it’s easy to organize a shuttle to and from the river every day. Food is amazing and cheap, life is made easy with shuttles, and you get to get more than enough paddling every day. It’s just paradise in every way. A little cherry on top is it might be one of the best rivers of all time to experience with a slicey stern boat, then you are really winning.
4. Is there a paddling destination you’ve visited recently that you think will become popular in the future?
I hate to triple it up but I really hope that more people start setting their sights on the Zambezi. It will be dammed in the near future as it’s essentially already underway, though they might get slight delays and such it’s more than likely going to happen at some point. So whether you are a class 3 boater or a class 5 boater, the Zambezi will go to the top of your list of favourite places to kayak, I almost guarantee it. I hope many people go and experience it soon, because you most definitely won’t only visit it once. Besides that I do feel that Hilo, Hawaii is one of the most fun places to spend some time which no one ever does. It’s warm, when it’s sunny you can still kayak and hit the coast or whatever it is. But once that rain comes, it has dozens of drops from small to huge to hit, depending on what you’re into. Wether for bomb laps or big drops, it’s of my favourite places to kayak these days.
James Bebbington
James Bebbington
Fellow world champion James ‘Pringle’ Bebbington has three to ask…
1. As the best competitor I know by far, what tips would you give paddlers who wish to compete either in racing or freestyle?
Well, thanks for that dude. One main thing I would say is even if you are training for an upcoming event or just trying to improve, make sure you are enjoying yourself. There is no point to any of it if it’s not something you are enjoying, so avoid getting frustrated if certain things aren’t improving as fast as you would like.
However, also don’t underestimate how much you can improve every day on the water. Even if you are running something you have done a million times, or surfing a feature you feel like you have figured out. There are always ways to improve whether trying new combos, or trying harder lines, getting creative. Whatever it may be, I have found I improve the most and learn new things when I can mess around, rather than when I am super nervous.
2. How do you personally prepare for competitions – mentally and technically?
The main thing I would say is I try to sculpt my freestyle routine or race line based on the feature or course in front of me, rather than just assuming that whatever my technique was at another location, will fit in nicely. By doing that, in a way I feel like I adapt my style based on the challenges that I have to work with whether its a new feature or a new course. So that has helped me be able to compete well in all types of features and race courses, because I always feel that however good I was before, I still have ways to improve based on the current event.
3. How do you balance your time creeking/freestyle – is it just whichever you feel most excited to do or do you have specific goals your aiming at?
At the moment my focus is to try and explore, as well as running bigger drops while I am at my current best skill level for things like that. While always finding time for freestyle because freestyle not only is one of my favourite things, but it will always also benefit all aspects of my kayaking. I balance the two by simply deciding where I would be the most fired up to kayak at that point and time. Generally the way that works is after a little while of running big drops, or doing big things, I am ready to go and relax with some freestyle, or joy kayaking. As well as vice versa, once I have spent some time doing joy kayaking and freestyle, I am ready to get scared again, and hit some big drops.
Andrew ‘Jacko’ Jackson
Andrew ‘Jacko’ Jackson
Andrew ‘Jacko’ Jackson has a couple of questions…
1. You’re clearly one of the paddlers of this generation. Which paddlers from the past would you have loved to have paddled with?
I have been fortunate to kayak with so many incredible paddlers over so many years, and I draw inspiration from so many paddlers. So it is hard to pick one as everyone is so influential in different ways. But if I had to pick a paddler that I would love to paddle with in their prime, I think Scott Lindgren would be a solid choice. He has done so many expeditions all over the world, as well as been a part of discovering some of the greatest gems we know today. So I think it would be cool to get a chance to paddle with him and see how he did things back when he was at the peak of his exploring, and get to be a part of what he was doing. Luckily he is still crushing, and I have been lucky to get some days on the water with him, but I would love to have more.
2. You’re a multiple champion in freestyle… what two or three things would you like to see evolve with this discipline?
I would like to start seeing variations in the style of competitions. We can always have the traditional freestyle that we know. However, I think it would be cool to find different styles, find ways to reward different aspects like style or fluidity. Rather than someone barely nailing a trick being rewarded the same as someone that laces it.
Back to mine…
What’s it like to stare into the abyss, as you tip over the lip of a 100-foot waterfall?
It’s cliche but everything kind of slows down a bit, and it’s a surreal moment of being at that exact moment where it’s the split second that you get to determine how your line is going to go. But in the end it’s an incredible view as you come over the horizon and you just see chaos below you, but you still have the focus to hit your line.
Have you ever feared a particular river or waterfall?
Almost every day on the water, or anything that has consequence. I always find it helps to be a little nervous or scared because that lets me know I understand there is risk in whatever it is I am doing. But by knowing that and still deciding to run it based on my confidence to hit a line, it allows me to paddle at my best more often.
Some may de surprised to know you have hearing difficulties – has that ever been a disadvantage?
Talking to people when it’s dark, yes. But on the water it has almost given me an advantage due to the fact I can read lips. So whenever someone is far away and most people wouldn’t be able to hear what the person is trying to tell us, like when scouting a rapid. I can read their lips and convey that information to the group.
When preparing for a multi-day expedition in challenging conditions – what are the qualities you look for in a fellow team mate kayaker?
I always try to stick to paddling with people that not only are ready for whatever we are planning on doing. But more importantly work well together when scouting, doing safety, or helping out when things go wrong. Knowing that I can trust their decision to run certain things, as well as their decisions off the water, as well as vice versa, makes the dynamic much better.
Any fellow paddler you would like to interview and why?
Honestly it would probably be Rush Sturges, as he does all three things I love and aspire to do. Kayak, shoot epic content and create music. Don’t think there are many people that have that triple threat.
Quickies
If you could paddle with anyone in the world dead or alive who would it be?
Maybe Ryan Reynolds, that would probably be a glorious day. Him as Deadpool would be a bonus.
Pick two celebrities to be your parents…
Pretty stoked on mine.
Which famous person would you most like to see play you in a film?
Tom Holland would probably crush that biopic.
Are you a bathroom/shower singer and if so what do you sing?
Eminem, Logic, Post Malone. I would say I am less of a shower singer and more of a behind the wheel singer though.
Facebook, Instagram or Twitter?
Instagram.
An ideal night out for you is?
Any that includes whiskey on the rocks and good people.
What one luxury item would you take with you on a desert island?
Surfboard, might as well have some fun.
What would I find in your fridge right now?
My mini fridge is empty except maybe a couple beers. But luckily cause I am home my Mom keeps our fridge loaded with just about anything you can think of.
If we came to your house for dinner, what would you prepare for us?
Our first course would be hot pockets followed by easy mac. Nah I would probably say some form of stir fry, or a good rice meal.
What’s the most boring question you are often asked?
Are we flipping on purpose, or can we get back up if we do.
If you could be a superhero for one day, what superpower would you choose and why?
Teleportation. I mean you would never miss a drop or wave in it’s prime.
Favourite sport’s team?
The one where they throw the ball, I dunno I don’t watch much sports really.
Favourite film?
I am a movie fanatic so it’s hard to pick a favourite. I’ll watch anything from Tarantino any day, but if I had to pick one from him it’s Reservoir Dogs.
Who are your kayaking buddies?
I have lots of friends I love to shred with all over the world, as well as my family. These days I mainly travel places with our crew SEND, creating content along the way.
What three words would you use to describe you?
I, Like, Kayaking. That or Energetic, Stoked, Grateful.
Any final shout outs?
Thanks for the opportunity to chat, thanks to those that like the stuff I do, and I look forward to getting back on the water with everyone soon!
