Jared Meehan Interview

What’s your favorite spot/location to be active?

My local rivers that flow after it has rained are amongst the best I have paddled. I learned to paddle on these rivers, and after traveling and kayaking around the world it’s still nice to come home and paddle the originals. 

How do you prepare for a project/contest?

Spending time in my kayak is most important for me. After spending a few months paddling every day, your kayak becomes an extension of yourself. For racing or paddling a dangerous rivers, there is nothing more important that knowing your gear and exactly what you can do in it.

What are your biggest accomplishments?

I am proud of my film making awards. Olaf and I have put together a few films from our expeditions which have been well received. My biggest competing accomplishments competing go back to my days of slalom racing and achieving number one on our national team for a number of years. I have also taken out a few titles extreme racing over the years. 

What are your next goals related to your sport?

I am helping put together an event/tv show this year called the Battle of New Zealand. It is a progressive race in which we travel the country and race on the most spectacular pieces of whitewater. It will be performance in critical locations. To me that is what it means to be an outdoor athlete pushing the boundaries.

Who do you look up to, who motivates you?

My mum, she is a legend. Always has some good advice.