Nouria Newman, one of the best French kayakers of her generation, has been racing down some of the most spectacular rapids on the planet. In a discipline where every move counts and the slightest mistake can be fatal, she demonstrates uncommon boldness and mastery of her kayak. Her adventures are chronicled in a mini-series broadcast on Red Bull.
From slalom to extreme kayaking
Nouria Newman, from the small hamlet of Villaret-du-Nial near Lac de Tignes, is one of the leading figures in extreme kayaking. Initially a slalom champion, she reinvented herself as an intrepid explorer, tackling some of the world's most fearsome torrents. Her career began with resounding successes such as a silver medal at the 2013 World Slalom Championships in Prague and a team gold medal in 2014 at Deep Creek Lake, USA. These victories mark the start of a journey that takes her from the podiums to freer adventures far from traditional competitions.
In 2014, she achieved an unprecedented feat: solo descent of the Grand Canyon de la Stikine, a class V/V+ torrent among the most difficult and dangerous in the world. She traverses the famous Site Zed, first descended by American Ben Marr in 2012: a feat that puts her name at the top of the discipline.
Technical mastery and mental resilience
Whitewater kayaking is a direct confrontation with unpredictable elements: powerful currents, submerged rocks and vertiginous waterfalls. For Nouria, each descent requires meticulous preparation and adapted equipment, as well as mental resilience in the face of situations that can become critical in an instant.
The kayaker is renowned not only for her technique, but also for her ability to push her limits. Her adventures often take her to remote areas where the slightest mistake can mean isolation or worse.
An immersive series: White Water Kayaking with Nouria Newman
Red Bull highlights the kayaker's performance in a documentary mini-seriesl entitled White Water Kayaking with Nouria Newman. Each episode explores a new challenge and offers a privileged insight into his adventures.
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Episode 1 (2018) : In 2018, while trekking in the Himalayas, she descends the icy waters of the Tsarap and Zanskar rivers alone for over 350 km. She gets stuck in a siphon, but manages to retrieve her equipment and continue on her way. Dangers, such as sudden variations in water flow, punctuate this expedition, marked by Nouria's tenacity in the face of the unexpected.
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Episode 2 (2019) : Accompanied by Ben Stookesberry and Erik Boomer, Nouria Newman participates in the Patagonia Triple Crown a series of world-first descents on Patagonia's unexplored rivers.
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Episode 3 (2023) : With her partner Aniol Serrasolses, Nouria tackles the tumultuous rapids of the Rio Blanco in Patagonia.
From dizzying falls to inspiring actions
On February 4, 2020, Nouria crossed the Saut du Doubs, a 27-metre drop, a few months after it was first descended by a team of French kayakers.
In 2021, she became the first woman to descend a 30.50-metre waterfall in Ecuador, on the Pucuno Waterfall.
In the documentary Wild Waters released in 2022, Nouria Newman deconstructs preconceived ideas: '' The danger lies in the limits we impose on ourselves, or which are imposed on us by social construction. a graduate of Sciences Po, she wrote a sociology dissertation on women's relationship to risk. Her analysis was unequivocal: from an early age, boys are encouraged to confront danger, while girls are deliberately protected from such situations. Nouria Newman's commitment is thus rooted in this desire to defy convention and dare to venture into the unknown.
These impressive feats are complemented by altruistic actions: between 2013 and 2019, she teaches kayaking to children in Morocco, Argentina and Iran, in collaboration with the International Kayak Federation. Between technical prowess and personal commitment, Nouria inspires a new generation of adventurers.
Having traveled the world's rivers, Nouria Newman has no hesitation in raising awareness of the need to preserve threatened waterways. Waste collection, videos to denounce certain abuses, and lobbying equipment manufacturers: we do everything we can to raise public awareness of the need to protect these fragile ecosystems.
