Zack
Mutton
New Zealand
·
Kayaking
Date of birth | 20 March 2000 |
|---|---|
Age | 26 |
Nationality | New Zealand |
Disciplines | Kayak expedition / White Water Kayaking / Kayak Freestyle |
Zack Mutton was always likely to be drawn to a career in water sports, with his dad, Kenny Mutton, having spent his life paddling, racing (he was third in the 1997 World Freestyle Championships and won the European Freestyle Championships in 2000) and designing boats. Zack’s sister, River, also kayaks (and skis) and trains with Zack, so it’s a family affair for the Muttons.
It started early for Zack, who having been introduced to kayaking by his dad, used to sneak out with neighbour George Snook to paddle the nearby Kaituna River. Zack also had four-time World Extreme Kayak Champion Sam Sutton (who now designs boards with Kenny Mutton at Waka Kayaks) as a neighbour growing up – another great role model for an aspiring kayaker. Zack, River and Snook progressed to win national titles in slalom and all three have gone to represent New Zealand at both junior and senior level.
Zack earned his nation’s best-ever result in when finishing fifth at the 2018 World Junior Canoe Slalom Championships and has gone on to compete at senior level in ICF World Cups and World Championships, but it was in freestyle where he made his mark in 2023. Along with River and George Snook, the trio competed in the King of the Alps Extreme Kayaking World Championship in the Passer River in Italy’s South Tyrol, and all three came away with medals. Zack was crowned world champion, just 0.12 seconds ahead of Snook, while River won silver in the women’s K1 event.
Away from the competition side of things, Zack has been exploring the downriver freestyle scene lately, starting at home in Okere Falls, and progressing to Double Drop in Norway and then Great Falls in Washington DC and Tomata 1 in Mexico, where he executed a back freewheel. This is just the beginning for Zack, whose goal is to see how far he can push the limits of kayaking.