Brad Ludden

DOB: 5/8/81

State/Hometown: Vail, CO

Favorite place to paddle/favorite drop: White Nile and/or Lochsa with my Fam

About Me: I have been kayaking since I was nine and professionally since I was 17. I started competing in slalom kayaking and quickly moved to freestyle and then found a love for extreme stuff. I have tried to blend all three over the years by putting together technical lines, throwing in some tricks and doing all of it in a class 5 drop. I have had the fortune of kayaking in over 40 countries and in 2001 found my biggest love when I started First Descents (www.firstdescents.org) an organization that provides free week long kayak and outdoor adventures to young adults (18-39) with cancer.

Playboat: agent

Creekboat: nomad

Favorite Move: mystery move

Favorite Music: all sorts

Must-Have Accessory: iphone

Other Hobbies/Activities: flying, fly fishing, bow hunting, skiing, mountain biking

Professional Accomplishments: 2 world freestyle junior medals, junior national champion, named as one of the top 10 adventure athletes in the world by Outside Magazine

Why you love kayaking: I love the opportunities it provides to be in amazing places around the world with the people you love challenging yourself and enjoying a cold one at the end of each day. Where else can you get that type of experience?