Hometown: Pucon, Chile

Living now: Pucon, Chile

Discipline(s): Whitewater kayaking, Competitive Rafting, Raft Guiding and Safety Kayaking

What's your story?

My name is Matias! I’m from Pucon, Chile, after a few rafting trips, the whitewater bug had bitten me! I went on to study adventure tourism at our local University, that exposed me to the whitewater world, I then went on to travel as much as I could and try to perfect my kayaking and raft guiding.The river life has given me the opportunity to travel the world, meet incredible people and experience things people couldn’t imagine, from a perspective only us boaters (the privileged ones) can experience!Some of my happiest, proudest, even scariest memories would have to be at the top of a big rapid or at the bottom of a tall drop but I can’t forget to mention the collective accomplishments of my rafting team as well. Achieving back to back golds in Chile’s National Championships in 2018-2019, winning small events all over the place and 4th Place at Rafting World Championships in Turkey.

Quick facts:

Favourite food: Chicken Alfredo And Pasta but trying to go vegetarian! Ha

Favourite drink: COFFEE

Favourite music: anything with a good drum beat

Ultimate paddling destination: Grand Canyon of the Stikine

Motto: when in doubt, always scout. If you feel it, send it!

Advice to newcomers: Patience! climb the ladder one step at a time.