About Nikki Kelly:

• Where I live: Forest Place Rotorua New Zealand. My partner Stevie and I have recently finished building a small house that will later convert into a garage/sleep out when we build the large version on top. The small mortgage gives us freedom to enjoy the out door mecca that we live in. We have world class single track across the road in the red wood forest, 20 something lakes surrounding, the famous Kaituna river 15 minute drive and the ocean surf another 30 minutes.
• Where I'm from: South Island New Zealand (bye-bye sheep and cows)

How I got started in kayaking: At age 16, I won a high school outdoor education scholarship to train as a raft guide with local company, Rangitata Rafts. I worked as a rafting guide until I was 20, then the kayak took over my life. I had the desire to get closer to the water so I jumped in a kayak while raft guiding on the south fork of the American River and it was instant love. A turning point for me was following the raft season in California. I worked in Costa Rica as a photo boater. For three months, I was photographing on continuous grade four rivers. I was thrilled with the energy of the water and the culture. I remember feeling very comfortable and assured--so so alive. Kayaking seemed the end-all-be-all, nothing else mattered.

Notable Achievements:

• Motherhood
• World Rafting Champion 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003
• Teva Mountain Games Competitor 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 USA
• Completed the '7 Rivers Expedition' 2004, USA
• First female descent of the Stikine River, British Colombia
• Countless first river descents
• Reno Freestyle Festival 2nd place 2004, 2006 3 rd 2007
• Ford Gorge Games Extreme Kayak Champion 2002, USA
• World's Fittest Woman Contest 2003, Hong Kong, 2nd place

Athletic goals: To be fit for long distance Waka Arma. Average races are 27 – 33 km and can take 3 to 4 hours of non stop paddling. It's grueling, but the most efficient way for me to keep fit and strong.

Inspiration: Really, I am just much happier when outside doing something active, that’s my inspiration, self centered ah... Can't stand being myself when I've been cooped up, my mind tells me the world is caving down on me.

Life/Sport Philosophy: There’s so much, my mind can go round in circles with this question, end of the day life is short, find out what buzzes you out, let the little things go, don’t do it if you don’t want to – say no.

Favorite spot to do my sport: West Coast South Island New Zealand, and California USA

Favorite Girls4Sport wear: Capri pants

What I do when I’m not in the water: Work, drink espresso coffee, (come to New Zealand... lots of yummy cafes.) Play fight with my cat. Spend time with my boyfriend, talk shit.

My job: Massage therapist; also tourism guide in New Zealand.

Education: Currently studying "Sport Studies" through University of Otago, by distance learning

Interesting/unusual facts about me: Not sure if I want to reveal the unusual... I own a house and just spent two and half hours mowing the lawn. I cut my hair short. I have a cat called Baby, and she is the apple of my eye. I'm also a new mom to my son Sam.

Most recent update: America is treating us well.  We're road tripping till the end of June and right now have made it to Coloma, enjoying the sun and the river.  Sam is more like a little boy than a baby, so interactive and healthy.  I take each day in stride, Sam is fitting in with what I do, that way he will learn all the fun things in life rather than sitting in side all day and living safe. With me competing, focusing on the river and doing well it is only possible because Stevie, Sam’s dad, is such a natural father. I am very cruisy and I feel completely at ease when Sam is with his father. It is difficult because I think constantly about Sam and feeding him if I am on the river for too long. So there are funny things going through my head other than the rapid at hand, such as “I have got to get down so I can feed my baby.”  All my 20s I’ve been solely focused on kayaking and what Nikki wants to do. Now it is a more about sharing my life.  I feel much fulfilled.

High water in Vail made the Teva Games a lot of fun, although I felt like I was playing catch up the first few days, flying in so close to competition.  I came in 2nd at the Home Stake Race, 5th in the freestyle, 1st in Gore Creek Race and 3rd in the 8 ball.   Days following the games the Teva crew cruised in Glenwood Springs doing laps on Barrel Springs and surfing the wave in the township, a little photo and filming.   Surfed with Dan Gavere on his stand up board. It looked amazing and after talking to him about it I’m convinced its my new off season training.  I live amongst 20 plus lakes and only 20 minutes from the beach. 

Most memorable trips:

• 7 Rivers Expedition
  "The forefathers of river kayaking are true explorers. I tried capturing a piece of their spirit whilst kayaking in the Sierra mountains of California. Living out of my Huka for 52 days and nights, I packed pad, sleeping bag, food and safety equipment. I hauled that boat all over the hills, to put on and paddle the worlds most pristine and challenging rivers. This was the 7 Rivers Expedition, and we were the first crew to paddle the seven greatest multi day rivers consecutively in one season. This will always be the pinnacle of my career." Check out the 7 Rivers Expedition movie - a Tdub production, distributed by LVM. Read more: http://www.bliss-stick.com/team/stories/CaliforniaDreaming

• Russia's Siberian Lake Baykal Region
  Summer 2005, four outstanding female North Face athletes embarked on 21-day expedition into some of the most remote, and least understood, areas of Russia's Siberian Lake Baykal region. Their goal was to climb mountains that have never been climbed, run rivers that have never been run and document places that have never been explored. In so doing they raised money, and awareness, for the drastically under funded Russian Central Children's Hospital in Moscow. http://www.thenorthface.com/na/expeditions/expeditions-2005-russia.html

More updates:
www.riverangels.com