Best known as: Ute

Hometown: Landeck, Austria

Living now: Arlberg, Austria

Discipline: Whitewater

Current boats: Waka Stout or Waka Billy Goat

Shaft of choice:a bit of both is great

Big volume or tight and technical: Big volume 

Favourite paddling spot: the rivers around our home in Austria and Chile

Why should you be on the Peak PS team?: Because I love wearing the kit myself and putting our customers in it. So they fall in love with wearing it and want to buy some for themselves.

What can you bring to the party?: A husband that likes to tell kayaking stories!

How did you get into paddling: I often sat by the river Inn or the Sanna to read a book or study and that’s where I saw kayakers for the first time. From that moment on I knew, that I wanted to try and learn kayaking myself. It took a few years before a handsome English man found his way to Landeck and into my heart who was a kayaker and happy to teach me. After a lot of patience, arguments, tears and swims, we share a ton of great memories on many rivers around the world.

Achievements: 

Honeymoon - Kayak trip on the Zanskar, India - also the first self-support trip with just the two of us

Not giving up on the Chandra, India

First descent of the Lower Uhl river, India

Colca Canyon and Cotahuasi Canyon, Peru

Co-founded Kayak School Arlberg in Austria

What's next... ambitions / plans: Showing more people this wonderful and amazing sport as an instructor at Kayak School Arlberg. Working on my own skills so I can kayak more rivers in Chile.

Do you have any paddlesport qualifications?:

British Canoeing Level 2 Coach - kayak & canoe

British Canoeing Moderate Water Endorsement

British Canoeing Advanced Whitewater Leader

Best things about paddling: Feeling at one with the river and being able to see the world from a different perspective.

Best boating moment: There are loads! One was sitting alone above the last drop of the Siete Tazas - just enjoying the moment and the incredible view. 

Worst boating moment: Ending up in the massive construction site of the damn being built on the Sutlej River in Himachal Pradesh, India and knowing that the amazing gorge we just paddled will soon be flooded and lost forever!

Any other Hobbies: Skiing, ski touring, travelling with a kayak

Ultimate worldwide destination: Austria, Chile, India, Peru

Food: Chocolate, Speck, a nice salad from our garden...

Drink: Lime soda

Music: Changes according to the mood

Movie: Saving Grace

Read: Indien - lockende Ferne

Piece of Peak PS kit: River Wrap 10/12, Freeride Jacket, Semi Pants, Neoskin Socks