KELSEY THOMPSON FILMMAKER
C A N A D A
Kelsey Thompson has made the transition from professional paddler to full-time filmmaker. “I started shooting video of myself paddling to
help improve my technique for competition,” says Thompson. As time went on though, he spent more time on shore shooting his friends kayaking, and soon Thompson discovered that it was the filming itself he had passion for. “When I started shooting cool sticks and leaves I knew something had changed.” A former Canadian Freestyle Champion, Thomp-
son’s work-to-play ratio has shifted. Though com- petitive kayaking has taken the back burner, pad- dling is an integral part of his nine-to-five. “I shoot and edit films of all kinds, but 90 per-
cent of the content is paddling related,” says Thompson. “I pretty much always paddle when I work.” His job as an independent filmmaker is a dream
come true. “Over the years I’ve learned to love shooting video as much as paddling. I’d say that’s what I like most about my job, the fact that I ac- tually enjoy doing it!”
WISDOM FROM THE WORKFORCE
THOMPSON A lot of people associate work-life balance with sacrifice but if I have to work an eight-hour day I almost always have time to do something before or afterwards. For me it comes down to motivation—I just need to get up and do it!
WISDOM FROM THE WORKFORCE
MANSFIELD Find a job that allows you to paddle frequently and doesn’t stress you out too much. Set goals for yourself; I find it easier to go to work if I have trips I’m saving for.
NICOLE US A
MANSFIELD SERVER
After a day of whitewater in the Pacific Northwest, Nicole Mansfield isn’t sitting back enjoying a cold one—she’s serving them. The hours and flexibility of slinging beer and serv- ing tables at a brewpub in White Salmon, Washington, allows Mansfield to kayak com- petitively. “I try to make it to most of the local com-
petitions,” Mansfield says, “but as a trade-off, I usually miss the after party.” The evening hours of beer pouring fit per-
fectly around her paddling plans. “I have a full day for kayaking, skiing, hik-
ing or whatever else before showing up for dinner service at 5 p.m.” One of the toughest parts of her daily
aquatic to terrestrial transformation is telling customers how she got her newest collection of stitches, Mansfield says. “Explaining how I split my forehead open ‘rafting’ Metlako [a nearby waterfall] gets old.”
36 | RAPID
PHOTO: TOMMY HOOD
PHOTO: COURTESY EMILY LUSSIN
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