ABOUT
It’s been over 30 years since I first sat in a kayak at Ljubljana’s kayak and canoe club, and I still remember that day well. I feel lucky that I discovered this sport at an early age as it’s since been my biggest passion, which provided me with an infinite pool of experiences and life lessons. I could say that rivers enchanted me, and I am happy about that.
I’ve done many years of slalom and wildwater racing, I’ve gone through a phase of loving to get thrashed around in a playboat, but challenging whitewater missions with good friends are what makes me feel alive.
Friends are a huge reason why I insist on keeping my life centred around kayaking and rafting. Whitewater family must be one of the most loving and all-inclusive communities. It is easy to make long-lasting connections with like-minded individuals worldwide through kayaking and rafting, and you’ll often see expert paddlers encouraging and helping newcomers that they meet on the river.
I’ve loved instructing ever since I first started teaching kids at our local club while still a student. Throughout my career as an instructor, I also found my love for whitewater rafting. I find it incredibly fun to make a team of inexperienced paddlers enjoy the benefits of more challenging whitewater on their first go.
In 2019 I started the Kobarid Kayak School project. After many years of moving around the world, and chasing summers, I wanted to use my experiences and vision to create a business where I can transfer my enthusiasm for rivers to other people. And no better place to do it than in one of my favourite places in the world - Kobarid, just next to the river that has mesmerized me with its mystic beauty and rapids since I was a keen kid paddler. The Soča River is one of the best rivers in the world for learning how to whitewater kayak. So while I understand that kayaking isn’t everyone’s “thing”, I promise that I mean it when I tell my clients, who are about to sit in a kayak for their first time, that my goal is to make them enthusiastic about whitewater kayaking as well.
Andraž Krpič