Adrian Mattern — From Heidelberg to the World
The Story
FROM RAGS
TO RIVER
Born in Heidelberg, Adrian first picked up a paddle at age 5 on the Otterstadt old Rhine arm. His first kayak — a fiberglass boat bought for 35 euros on eBay — saw its first waters on the Neckar river.
From those humble beginnings, he built one of the most remarkable careers in extreme kayaking. Financing his expeditions through construction work and as a bouncer, he secured his first sponsorship in 2015. By 2019 he was fully self-supported through kayaking. Red Bull followed in 2020.
"I always take a close look at ideas from other sports and consider whether similar things could be implemented in kayaking. Then I just try it out."
Today Adrian counts former idols among his friends and collaborators — and inspires the next generation of kayakers the same way he was once inspired.
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