10 MINS WITH: Nouria Newman

Red Bull-sponsored kayaker Nouria Newman made her ultimate week-long voyage of self-discovery, travelling alone with only her kayak for company for seven days. She survived an accident en route to the finish, 375km later.

Tackling the treacherous rivers of Leh, she kayaked down a trio of rivers: the Tsarap, Zanskar and Indus, often in dangerous conditions and glacial waters, and slept by the riverside each night.

Nouria Newman poses for a portrait at the Nubra Valley in the Himalayas, India on August 20, 2018

How did the expedition come about?

I never planned to go to northern India; I originally flew to India for the Malabar River Fest. Because of the floods and administrative difficulties, it proved impossible. That is when I decided to stay longer and head north to achieve my goal.

Nouria Newman seen at the Nubra Valley in the Himalayas, India on August 20, 2018

How big a challenge was the water? How serious was the accident?

The Zanskar had an enormous amount of water and, when I reached the Indus, well, it was really huge. On the second day, I arrived in a bit fast, I told myself “come on, go for it” but I missed a small move, it put me off and I got stuck in a pocket of water. This is the worst-case scenario in my sport. Once you’re there, you don’t have a ton of options. I tried to jump on a rock but I slipped and fell into the water pocket and felt myself being pulled to the bottom of it under a rock. Eventually, I reached the surface again but I had to swim the whole rapid to catch my kayak. Had I lost it, it would have been all over because I was alone.

Nouria Newman performs in glacial water of a creek at the Nubra Valley in the Himalayas, India on August 21, 2018

How do you prepare for a moment like that and cope with it?

I’ve done a whole lot of expeditions over the past two years and on each one I’ve gained experience. But it’s very different each time, things always happen and you’re not necessarily ready for them. There are tough times; you need to get your head down, not think too much, not stop even if it hurts as nobody is going to come and rescue you. It’s a bit like a video game when you lose a life. At the time, you think: “I lost a life, I was lucky’.

Nouria Newman teaches local children while exploring the lower Indus river in the Himalayas, India on August 18, 2018

What was it like when you finally reached the finish?

I felt a lot of relief. It was a strong experience and I realised that maybe I prefer to go with friends. It’s not just for the safety aspect when things get really tough but also for the cool moments in the big rapids when you want to share it with someone else. I don’t know if I want to go for another solo trip. When I got out of it, I thought “never again”. Now, I am not so sure.