Kilian Ivelic, Male Paddler of the Year – 2025 Paddlers Awards Winners
We’re super excited to announce Kilian Ivelic as the 2025 Male Paddler of the Year!
Wherever you live in the world, there is a good chance you crossed paths with Kilian at some point this year. He paddled in so many different locations that it is hard to imagine how one person could do more in a single season. The Chilean paddler kicked things off at home, sending left, right, and center on all the drops and big-water runs Chile has to offer, including tricks off classic waterfalls. He spent his spring in the Pacific Northwest of the USA, ticking off classics like the Little White and the Truss, charging big drops such as Metlako, Toketee, and the Hamma-Hamma, and lining up for the Little White race. From there, he headed to Europe, stacking runs across Italy and Switzerland. Kilian put down laps on the Sesia, Egua, Sermenza, Sermenzino, Strona, Soana, and Ribo, then stepped things up with high-water runs on the San Bernardino and the Verzasca. He traveled on to Norway, logging vertical days around Sogndal before settling into the classics around Voss, with some downriver freestyle on Jordal and Myrk, laps on Money Drop, and a big-water run of Flemming’s Drop. He capped his time up north with three first descents, including the Kvenna. After that, Kilian flew to India for the Malabar Festival, before shifting gears again with an expedition to Madagascar, charging big volume down the Mangoro and Mananparanta. And as if that were not enough, he continued on to Central Asia, exploring the Oygaying in Uzbekistan, followed by the Obechingou and Muksu in Tajikistan. Kilian is now ending the year back home in Pucón, adding more vertical miles and downriver freestyle to an already staggering season. North and South America, Asia, Europe, Africa. Four continents paddled. Hardcore expeditions. Multiple first descents. Freestyle off waterfalls. Nearly 300 days spent on the water. Qué bueno, Kilian.
Jury: Clay Wright (USA), Savannah Westeinde (Canada), Dave Fusilli (USA), Lucien Schreiber (France), John Haines (Wales), Agata Sobieraj (Poland), Kalob Grady (Canada), Quim Fontané Maso (Catalonia), Philippe Doux (France), Sandra De Ugarte (Peru), Bartosz Czauderna (Poland), Ben Campbell (UK), Huw Butterworth (Wales), Anna Bruno (USA), Casey Bryant Jones (Canada), Tara Blair (USA), Beatrice Alducci (Italy), Shannon Finch (USA), Aaron Pruzan (USA), Benny Marr (Canada).
Check out the 2025 Paddlers Awards finalists here.
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