Applicant Info

Rider of the Year

Most outstanding all around performance, Male & Female, in the World of Whitewater Kayaking. The person with the most progressive year, inspiring us all to push past our current belief of what we think is possible. Who motivated you to get out of your comfort zone and see what is truly possible? – Athletes can submit their own Highlight Reel, or you can nominate another Rider. Accolades need to be submitted with nomination. – In the URL field please submit a link to a Google Drive or Dropbox folder, or a WeTransfer link. – Please name your file as such: Lastname/Category.mp4 

Grom of the Year

Male and Female [18 and under] with the most outstanding season in the World of Kayaking. **GROMS born in the year 2004 or later are eligible for the 2023 Whitewater Awards.** – Athletes can submit their own Highlight Reel, or you can nominate another Rider. Accolades need to be submitted with nomination. – In the URL field please submit a link to a Google Drive or Dropbox folder, or a WeTransfer link. – Please name your file as such: Lastname/Category.mp4 

Photographer of the Year

In order to get the beautiful imagery that is seen in Whitewater Kayaking, there is a lot of behind the scenes work, countless environmental factors, and challenges with accessibility. The folks working to show the world what goes on in our community deserve a big shoutout, because without their dedication and talent it would be impossible to describe the places we get to see and marvel at as paddlers. – Photographers, please submit a link to your website or photo gallery OR submit a submit a link to a Google Drive or Dropbox folder, or a WeTransfer link.

Photo of the Year

Taking the perfect snapshot in time deserves to be recognized, and will be named "Photo of the Year" in the World of Kayaking for the 2023 Whitewater Awards. Submit or nominate for Best Photo! – 2 photos may be submitted for Photo of the Year per photographer. – Please submit a high res copy of the image.

Best Line - Waterfall

Waterfalls are all unique in shape, flow, complexity of entrance and/or consequence of run out. We are looking for the smoothest line from the entry, through freefall, and into the landing of the waterfall - the most steeze and style throughout the entire drop. To clarify, to be considered in the "Best Line - Waterfall", there must be vertical freefall. – Riders may submit 3 submissions.  – Try to have edit as close to beginning and end of the drop as possible. be submitted with nomination. – In the URL field please submit a link to a Google Drive or Dropbox folder, or a WeTransfer link. – Please name your file as such: Lastname/Category.mp4 

Best Line - Rapid

Reading whitewater is a skill that grows with hours upon hours of time on the water. When an athlete can mix their ability to read difficult whitewater and align it with a sharpened skill set, pure magic happens. This is the category to highlight the most flowy, on point, and in control run through a difficult rapid. – Riders may submit 3 submissions.  – Try to have edit as close to beginning and end of the drop as possible. be submitted with nomination. – In the URL field please submit a link to a Google Drive or Dropbox folder, or a WeTransfer link. – Please name your file as such: Lastname/Category.mp4 

Best of Freestyle

Showcasing kayaking's biggest and most complex freestyle moves on a wave or in hole. – Riders may submit 3 submissions per category. – Freestyle tricks: please enter 1 trick/combo per submission, and try to have edit as close around the trick as possible. – In the URL field please submit a link to a Google Drive or Dropbox folder, or a WeTransfer link. – Please name your file as such: Lastname/Category.mp4 

Downriver Freestyle

The stoutest combination of skills for the sendiest of characters. Taking freestyle to unscripted features, the only limiting factor in this category is a rider's vision and execution. – Riders may submit 3 submissions per category.  – Try to have edit as close to beginning and end of the drop / trick as possible. – In the URL field please submit a link to a Google Drive or Dropbox folder, or a WeTransfer link. – Please name your file as such: Lastname/Category.mp4 

Honey Badger Award

Honey Badger don’t give a S#@%!! Most gnarly feat of the year, ranging from a world record or first descent to an epic feat of toughness or athleticism unthinkable by the rest of the human population. – Riders may submit 2 submissions per category.  – Try to have edit as close to beginning and end of the feat as possible. – In the URL field please submit a link to a Google Drive or Dropbox folder, or a WeTransfer link. – Please name your file as such: Lastname/Category.mp4 

Best Save

Recognizing the safety skills required to push the limits of kayaking. These skills are the most important in the game, and are often invisible until they are needed the most. Whether on an expedition, during a first descent or on your backyard run - prioritize and sharpen your safety skills, they are invaluable. This category is in recognition of these skills that are not always on display, but are so important when needed. Cheers to the silent heroes. – Please provide a written reason explaining nomination. A Youtube or Vimeo video link can be submitted as well. – In the URL field please submit a link to a Google Drive or Dropbox folder, or a WeTransfer link. – Please name your file as such: Lastname/Category.mp4 

Activist Award

The Whitewater community is stacked full of passionate people fighting for community access, free flowing rivers and a more inclusive/diverse community. The 'Activist of the Year' Award will recognize an individual, group, organization, etc that is/are making a HUGE positive impact on the World of Kayaking. From diversity and inclusion campaigns, to youth clubs to river conservation. Submissions for this category can be video, or written description. Can be self-submitted or nominated. – Please provide a written reason explaining nomination. A Youtube or Vimeo video link can be submitted as well. – In the URL field please submit a link to a Google Drive or Dropbox folder, or a WeTransfer link. – Please name your file as such: Lastname/Category.mp4 

Expedition of the Year

Going to the unexplored corners of planet earth, and pushing the sport to new limits in where kayaking or even being in areas with kayaks takes incredible fortitude. Taking the crazy ideas and making them reality, that is expedition kayaking. – Please provide a written reason explaining nomination. A Youtube or Vimeo video link can be submitted as well. – In the URL field please submit a link to a Google Drive or Dropbox folder, or a WeTransfer link. – Please name your file as such: Lastname/Category.mp4 

Kayak Film of the Year (Short)

Best short film in the World of Kayaking. – Short edit can be up to 7 minutes long. – In the URL field please submit a link to a Google Drive or Dropbox folder, or a WeTransfer link.

Kayak Film of the Year (Long)

Best film in the World of Kayaking. – Must be longer than 7 minutes – Please submit a short teaser if possible, along with full length film. – In the URL field please submit a link to a Google Drive or Dropbox folder, or a WeTransfer link.

Shot of the Year

From the moment the camera starts rolling until the moment it stops, this is to celebrate the best single shot. This is the perfect shot, a series of frames running in an uninterrupted period of time. Inspired by the rapid and insanely sick evolution in the world of film, we realized we needed a category for the talented motion photographers. These are the folks who manage to pack their gear into all the wet and hard to get reach locations so we can entertain ourselves with whitewater from across the globe. From the moment their camera starts rolling until the moment it stops, this is to celebrate the best single shot. - Submit your perfect single shot trimmed from from start to finish. – Videographer may submit 3 submissions per category. – In the URL field please submit a link to a Google Drive or Dropbox folder, or a WeTransfer link. – Please name your file as such: Lastname/Category.mp4