Wow. Is it just us, or was 2024 one hell of a year?
Here in Moscow, our product design team continued to refine and innovate. From PFD fit and design to SUP boards, packrafts and lightweight fishing rafts—not to forget an extensive apparel line—we worked hard to give paddlers of all skill levels and persuasions more options for getting out on the water than ever before.
We shared stories of joy and community, giving voice to the way the river shapes our lives through film and the written word. Our LEAD Ambassadors continued breaking down barriers through events large and small—river clean-ups, PRIDE days, free instruction and community paddles. While the PaddleWays App helped us paddle safer across the United States, our stories gave inspiration that spanned the globe.
As 2024 winds to a close, sit back, relax and join us in toasting another year of hard work, growth, innovation and passion.
Films
Near the River | As porters, Chrispine, Henry, and their teacher, Mukuma Makaye, carry the boats of visiting tourists in and out of the Zambezi Gorge, a roughly 30-minute hike that goes almost straight up. But soon, even this job—and their path upwards—could be gone, submerged under the reservoir of a controversial dam that threatens to displace them from their homes, take away their livelihood and vanish a globally renowned river.
Paddle Tribal Waters Part II: Bring the Salmon Home | In July 2023, the concrete walls of the Copco 2 Dam came tumbling down, the first of four dams slated for demolition on the Klamath River in the largest planned dam removal in United States history. Meanwhile, 16 Indigenous youth were practicing their rolls and ferry glides, honing the skills they’ll need to be the first to paddle the Klamath from source to sea. With the three remaining dams scheduled to come down by January 2025, this dream will soon become a reality, and Paddle Tribal Waters is helping ensure they are ready—one cohort at a time.
Cinque Terre | Historically, the five villages of Cinque Terre—Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso—could only be reached by sea. Today, they are one of Italy’s best-known and most visited locations. Tourists fill the narrow streets in summer, drawn to the azure water and whimsical nature of the brightly colored houses perched along rocky cliffs. Using public transport to reach the sea, Cinque Terre was the perfect place for a self-support sea kayaking trip that escaped the crowds but still let Jens Klatt, Barbara Leider and Ingrid Schlott sample the beauty—and gelato—of the Ligurian Coast.
In the Sava & Under the Sava | Join the fun and the hunt for huchen, also known as Danube salmon. This crew of kayak-activists-turned-river-snorkelers dives deep to better understand the condition of this freshwater world and to help keep the Sava River free-flowing. Shot on location on Slovenia’s longest river, and brought to you in partnership with Balkan River Defence.
LEADing the Way | “Leading the Way” is a film series that celebrates and promotes NRS ambassadors, organizations and projects fostering inclusivity and positive change in the outdoors. In 2024, we headed to Pennsylvania to learn more about Ian Smith & The Watersmith Guild, whose First Waves program combines art and adventure to inspire conservation and provide mentorship for at-risk youth. In Pocatello, Idaho, Russell Davies & PTSD use the river as therapy for US Veterans. And in Deerfield, Massachusetts, we joined Anne Gillard for Pride Day on the River to celebrate the LGBQTIA+ community and welcome them to the outdoors.
Stories
Urban Access, Wild River | Rivers have always run through Jonas Seiler’s life. Moving to Idaho, he was surprised to find that while rivers abounded, easy access and community gathering points did not. Drawing on childhood memories in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and the new Salmon Whitewater Park, Jonas blends personal narrative and small-town history to show how, with the right access and a little man-made help, rivers unite community.
Bad Lines on the Buller | Obsessed with trying to nail the “perfect line” as a trainee guide on the Buller River, Mia Clyatt was understandably confused when her rookie trainer told her she was focusing on the wrong thing. Per Sonny, Mia’s problem wasn’t bad lines. It was a lack of “chill” and an inability to go with the flow.
How to Thrive in the Grand Canyon | Monica Nigon’s dad was more obsessed with figuring out what duffle bag to bring than what life would be like on their upcoming Grand Canyon trip. When Monica tried to talk about the whitewater, her dad wasn’t concerned. After all, there were “only nine rapids on the Colorado River anyway.” Papa Nigon went from overconfident to white-knuckled before the end of Badger, and Monica couldn’t help feel smug. Still, slowly but surely, a Grand Canyon Pro was born.
A Tale of Two Beths | Kayaking has brought NRS Ambassador Beth Morgan some of the best—and worst—days of her life. In this deeply personal piece, Beth reflects on the loss of her best friend and paddling partner, Beth Hume, and her return to the rivers that shaped their relationship.
Confessions of a Self-Proclaimed Trout Bum | Google “What is a trout bum?” and you’ll find this definition: “A trout bum is a term for a dedicated angler, especially one who fly fishes, who fishes whenever and wherever they want, without regard to time, schedule, or responsibilities.” For Gloria Goñi, the life of a “trout bum” goes beyond passion or obsession.
Gear
From ground-breaking innovations like our Orbit Fit Technology™, which revolutionized PFD fit and comfort, to our completely redesigned SUP line-up, we released a wide range of award-winning products. Packrafts and the all-new Approach series of fishing rafts gave hard-core explorers and newbies alike new opportunities for exploration and lightweight adventure. Our Snooze Pads kept us dreaming of the next mission while the Ninja Pro and the Vector PFDs redefined whitewater safety. The Expedition DriDuffle brought the TiZip closure to NRS dry bags, and even our knives got a makeover!
Orbit Fit | Our pre-contoured Orbit Fit System™ revolutionizes how life jackets are made, and how they fit. Rather than forcing a block of flat foam to bend around your body, the Orbit Fit System uses multiple pieces of lightweight closed-cell foam individually cut to precise specifications. These pieces are then layered within the vest to create a flexible, pre-curved shape that effortlessly conforms to your body, enhancing paddling comfort and enjoyment without compromising on performance.
To complement Orbit Fit, we’ve introduced graded sizing to all our new and revised PFDs. The result is a line of PFDs that will fit comfortably and adjust perfectly to your body type.
Snooze Pads | We saw an opportunity to vastly improve upon the current sleep pads on the market, ours included. After intense research, we combined innovative materials and manufacturing processes to create the Snooze Pad: A non-PVC, river-ready line of self-inflating sleeping pads that roll up to a more compact size and provide incredible comfort night after night, season after season, under the stars, on the raft or in the back of the van.
Approach Series Fishing Rafts | An ultra-lightweight watercraft that redefines accessibility, the Approach Raft Series from NRS gives anglers the opportunity to stalk fish others can’t. Whether you’re hiking into a wilderness river or hopping the guardrails into roadside streams, the Approach is as easy to transport as it is to float skinny waters.
Pilot Knife, Co-Pilot Knife & the Thumbs Up™ Sheath | While they say “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” we figured why be satisfied with “good?” Keeping versatility in mind, we completely redesigned our blades for safety-minded performance that goes from your PFD to your pocket. Refined handles, new blade configurations and updated grips give slip-free use on tough fibers. Our low-profile quick-release Thumbs Up Sheath™ stashes fixed blades away securely and releases with a one-handed flick of the thumb.
SUP Boards & IST™ | In 2024, we pushed the evolution of inflatable stand-up paddleboard technology to an entirely new level. Using Integrated Shaping Technology, IST™, each board uses multiple air chambers to create a unique shape, purpose-built for specific paddling styles. A new construction method—Z/Blend Core™—uses an innovative woven, rather than knit, drop stitch core to make our boards 20% stiffer yet 15% lighter than previous NRS stand-up paddleboard designs. And that’s just the start…
