In this episode of The Whitewater Line, we sit down with Tom Dunphy, Irish whitewater freestyle kayaker, and Matt, team manager for Team Ireland. Together, they take us through the story of freestyle kayaking in Ireland — from the early days on local rivers to international competitions and the growth of the Irish paddling scene.

It’s a chat full of river stories, community vibes, and a look at how far the sport has come (and where it’s heading next). Whether you’ve been in a boat for years or just love a good adventure story, this one’s all about passion, progress, and paddling in Ireland.

Recorded live from the World Championships

Recorded live at the World Freestyle Championships, this episode of The Whitewater Line brings together legendary paddler Eric Jackson and head judge Charlie Brackpool for an unfiltered conversation on the sport’s past, present, and future.

Eric shares stories from his decades at the forefront of whitewater freestyle—how his boat designs reshaped the game, and how his family became inseparable from the sport. Charlie breaks down the judging side: from how judges are trained and graded, to scoring systems, bonus rules, and the role of technology in modern competition.

Together, they pull back the curtain on team culture, behind-the-scenes stories, and where freestyle is headed next. With support from Mason Hargrove, this is a rare chance to hear two of freestyle’s most influential voices trade insights at the very heart of the action.

They’re the first Indian women to compete in freestyle canoe on the world stage — and they’re just getting started. From remote rivers to Germany’s whitewater, Naina Adhikari and Devi Dada are rewriting what’s possible.

As part of the ICF development camp, Naina and Devi represented India at the ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships in Plattling — a historic first. Coming from communities with little exposure to paddle sports, they’ve overcome logistical, cultural, and financial barriers to rise to the international level.

Their journey is one of passion and perseverance, but also purpose: Naina is now leading “Ganga Girls,” a grassroots initiative teaching kayaking to underprivileged girls in India — using the river as a tool for empowerment and change.

This episode is about more than medals. It’s about breaking stereotypes, inspiring a generation, and creating new currents of opportunity.

-Update, Devi Dada has a new freestyle kayak from Spade Kayaks in India. What an amazing result and we also thank Denk Outdoor for supplying fantastic gear for the development camp.