Interview: Peter TranterPhotos: Gav Barker, Peak PS, Gradient and Water, Leif Anderson, Tyler Bradt, Jack Ledworth, Adam Sampson & Bartosz CaudernaA chat with Gav BarkerGav is one of the most recognisable faces on the Freestyle circuit and a seasoned WW kayaker. He has been passionate about paddlesports, both coaching and competing for the majority of his life. Hes been a Great Britain Freestyle Kayaking Team member for 14 years and a triple British Champion. Gav is an accomplished river kayaker with experience guiding and coaching in locations all over the world. Through his coaching, he aims to create an enjoyable and safe environment where all paddlesports enthusiasts can have fun and thrive on the river. Take it away, GavBefore we start Gav, let our readers know a little about yourself, your family, your background, etc.Well, I was brought up in North Manchester and got into kayaking through Bury Canoe and Kayak Club when I was 12. That really was the start of a lifelong journey with kayaking and paddlesports. Its shaped the work I do, where I live, and pretty much every holiday and trip Ive been on! Ive been competing on the GB Freestyle team for 15 years now and love travelling to compete. I have a passion for river running and being out in natural and remote places. I run a coaching business, Gav Barker Coaching, offering bespoke paddlesports coaching and safety courses.What got you hooked on freestyle and whitewater kayaking?There isnt one moment I look on and think thats what got me hooked; its just been a journey that Ive never wanted to end and always wanted to progress in. In my early days of kayaking on the mighty River Irwell in North Manchester, we had a great group of friends and playboating was the thing to dowhen I was 15, Pop-Outs and Tail Squirts in my Acrobat 270 were the radical moves of the time.Over the next ten years, boat design moved on drastically, and playboating became freestyle; it was a really exciting time for the sport. Id moved to Bangor, North Wales, for University and was freestyling and river running whenever I could, much to the detriment of my degree. During those years, probably when I was in my late teens, I knew Id be kayaking for the rest of my life.Tell us about the spots you tend to paddle the most frequently where are your favourites?Im based in Nottingham now, so I paddle at Holme Pierrepont most frequently. Thats where Ive done the majority of my freestyle training. It is one of the best venues in the world for learning hole boating, but its also very underrated for half-slicing and white water progression. All the eddy lines are deep, and there are loads of holes and waves that you can use in different ways to progress your paddling.My favourite spots are an endless list of features Ive paddled around the world. Thats what I love about kayaking travelling to random places in new countries to find a feature, invariably meeting up with someone you know and having great sessions on the water together. Each place is unique and gives you something new to learn.Over the years, which freestyle competition has left a lasting impression?There have been so many competitions! The part of competition that stays in my memory the most isnt specific rides or results; its usually specific sessions during training a combination of factors come together to make it one of the best sessions of your life.Off the top of my head I remember sessions in Plattling, at Garburator, in Sort and in Galway where a special combination of friends, weather, location, and expression on the water come together to make an unforgettable session. This isnt limited to competition; if I think more broadly, I can remember countless sessions across the UK and worldwide where a special combination has come together to make unforgettable moments.What is your favourite freestyle move?Thats a difficult one, and it depends on the feature. But if it goes huge, clean, and lands hard, then its going to be pretty enjoyable!What is the hardest freestyle move?Freestyle has progressed to the point where moves are combined and linked together to make new moves, so the hardest move really is down to your imagination. My hardest move is probably the Back & Cheese (back loop Maczilla-godzilla-Loop), which is a quad combo. There are some five-move combos Ive thought of but havent managed to do yet!If you had to choose one last thing you wanted to achieve within WW paddling before giving it up, what would that be?It would be never to give up. Ive always wanted to live to 100, and I want to be still ripping a kayak around as close to that as I can get! Whos the oldest person still looping? Whos the oldest person to run a waterfall of any size? Whos that well-old guy showing the kids up at the local freestyle spot?? I plan for that to be me!Is there anywhere in the world that you want to keep going back repeatedly?Yes, quite a lot, but a few have managed to make me go back again and again.Back in the day, Uganda was an amazing place to kayak, with world-class waves, big-volume rapids, and paddlers from all across the globe visiting to get their winter sun. That had me going back many times.These days, I love to spend winters at Aventurec in Veracruz, Mexico. Veracruz has great whitewater from Grades 2-5, some of which are world-renowned runs. On top of this, there are loads of waterfalls to scout, consider, and eventually run. The atmosphere at Aventurec is amazing, and the local rivers and waterfalls provide a lot of opportunity for progression, so I plan to keep spending upcoming winters there.Trips are being run from Aventurec, and onsite guides are available, so anyone interested in a winter kayaking trip can get in touch to learn more.Apart from freestyle and river running are there any other areas of paddling you would like to explore?Ive always thought Id get into surf kayaking at some point in my life. I do own a surf kayak and have been on a couple of trips with it, but one day, Id like to really get into it. I love being in the sea and the feeling surfing gives; with my current skills, it should be an area of kayaking I could progress in relatively quickly.You do like your waterfalls; what in particular attracts you to them?Waterfalls are a part of kayaking that still needs me to progress. Being based in Mexico over the winter months gives me a great opportunity to work on this, improving my technique, slowly pushing my comfort zone, and running some drops that I was never sure Id feel confident enough to do.Waterfalls are much more technical than people might realise, and all of the techniques to get it right need to happen in just a few secondsThe feeling of being able to control yourself while falling is really quite addictive.Have you ever feared any river or waterfall?Yes, often! With scarier rapids and drops, I generally only go when Im confident theres a high percentage chance that Ill make the line and look good. This can often mean portaging the first time Im there and scouting. Then, when Ive had good time to process the rapid, if I feel confident with the line, it becomes something that I want to do, and the fear or nerves turn into confidence in my ability to nail the line.Ive found that strategies and processes that I use for competition can be very useful on the river when something seems scary. For example, I might go through my warm-up process before starting the river so I know my bodys ready to react how it needs to. I might go through a mental rehearsal before running a rapid to help remove any distractions and focus on the task at hand.Coaching plays a big part in your kayaking life who are you training for now, and for which competition?Yes, it does now. Ive started Gav Barker Coaching, which is my main work. Im involved with the GB Freestyle coaching setup, and in the run-up to the World Championships in mid-June, Im coaching a group of freestyle athletes to help them get as prepared as possible.In addition, I offer bespoke whitewater and freestyle coaching to individuals and groups anywhere in the UK and, obviously, through the winter in Mexico. Check out gavbarkercoaching.com and get in touch if you want to find out more.Whats the one river you havent paddled that would be on your bucket list?The top of my bucket list at the moment isnt one river its Norway. Ive never been, and there are a whole bunch of rivers and rapids that I really want to paddle. Hopefully, Ill get there in 2026!Has anyone in the sporting/paddling world influenced you?Over the years, numerous paddlers and sports athletes have inspired me. It really is a long list, whether it be down to their attitude, work ethic, commitment to paddling, or style.I watch a whole range of sports and often find myself inspired by older athletes who are still going strong and have managed to stay at the top of their game!Whats in the pipeline for the next 12 months?Well, the next few months are geared toward coaching and training for the Freestyle World Championships in Platting, Germany.Then, a summer in the UK, coaching and spending time in Notts, North Wales and Scotland. The British Championships and Eurocup in Nottingham in September. The GB Selection in October for the European Championships in Finland in 2026Then, back to Mexico in November for a winter of river boating, coaching and guiding! What one piece of advice do you give to young paddlersjust starting out in freestyle?The most important thing when youre starting out is to keep having fun. Just play around with features and do whatever you enjoy and feels good. Develop your own style. When youre comfortable playing around and going over features, then start playing with recognised moves.Quickfire questions:If you could paddle with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be?It would probably be Kurt Cobain. I mean, Im not sure how into paddling hed be, but itd be fun.If your kayak had a name, what would it be?While I do love every one of my kayaks, and I like to think that if I look after them, theyll look after me, IMO, naming them is a step too far!If you could only paddle to one musical tracks beat, what track would you choose?Hmm, thats a difficult one. Theres so much to choose from. Right now, Im kind of feeling a bit of Bloc Party again. I reckon Blue Light would get me into a good flow!Favourite social media platform?Argh, I hate social media; Im so bad at using it! But Ill say Instagram because thats where I post the most! Give me a follow @realgbWhat is an ideal night out for you?Its probably a night in with friendsBBQ, music, a few drinks, maybe some games if we need to keep entertainedthat kind of thing!What one luxury item would you take with you on a desert island?I am very fond of my mocha pot at the momenteven on a desert island, Id need coffee to get moving!What would I find in your fridge right now?Annoyingly, probably that were out of milk!What would you prepare for us if we came to your house for dinner?If I were trying to impress you, it would definitely be fish-based, perfectly cooked, and with a crispy skin. If not, youre getting fajitas!If you could be a superhero for one day, what superpower would you choose and why?Id be able to stop time, and then I could sleep for as long as I like and not be late!What is your favourite sports team?Theres only one sports team Manchester City!(A fine choice Ed)Who are your paddlesport buddies?Thats a long list. One of the best things about kayaking is that you get buddies all over the world, and as long as youre still paddling, youre bound to keep bumping into them!Any final shout-outs?Yep, big shoutout to the friends and companies that have supported me over the years: Peak PS, VE Paddles and Prijon Kayaks.Huge thanks, Gav, for all of your help on this and for taking time out of your busy schedule we really appreciate it.