Chris Hawkesworth (UK)

2019 Class | Advocate

Through his decades of camerawork and film-making alone, Chris Hawkesworth made a remarkable and pioneering contribution to interest in, and enthusiasm for, whitewater canoeing, kayaking and rafting.

Chris Hawkesworth has been a key mover and shaker within the whitewater world for more than 50 years. Through his decades of camerawork and film-making alone, the breadth and depth of his film contributions covering whitewater canoeing, kayaking and rafting, which ranged from early technique videos to stories of World Championships and of ground breaking expeditions, remain unmatched.

In 1972 he produced “Shooting the Colorado”, shown nationwide on UK television and sold to over 30 countries. The film brought whitewater rafting and expedition whitewater to substantial mainstream audiences for first time, and brought rafting to Europe.

As a “stringer” for the BBC, Chris filmed many major wild water racing and slalom competitions including the World Championships of 1981 (Bala, Wales), which introduced the sport to mainstream audiences. He produced coaching and training films for wild water racing, slalom, disability canoeing; video guides to white water canoeing in Nepal; and a promotional film for the BCU centred on a proposal for the whitewater course in Nottingham. He also established a reference collection of other white water films, currently being transferred from tape to digital media and free-to-view channels.

As a manufacturer, Chris mass-produced what would become an entire era’s near-ubiquitous whitewater helmets, twin-seal spraydecks and specialist whitewater buoyancy aids. He served as a member of British and European Standards Committees, co-founded and chaired the British Canoe Manufacturers Association and contributed substantially to early International Safety Symposia.

As a volunteer in his home region, Chris was the driving force behind the foundation and subsequent development of England’s premier dam-release white water facility at The Washburn. As a staff member within British Canoeing, he has since helped and continues to help shape innumerable other white water plans and has contributed hugely to projects around weir (low head dam) safety.

Other Accomplishments

1978: BBC Film “Paddlers Must Wear Lifejackets” was shown 7 times on BBC TV and won a popular vote as best Blue Peter series film.

1980: Marsyandi River expedition leader and “Raging River of Annapurna” film-maker with a twenty-strong international team. Broadcast by Thames Television.

1967-1994: Founded and led innovative Wild Water Ltd., whose products included whitewater helmets, twin-seal spraydecks, and the first mass-produced buoyancy aids to include a chest harness. Safety innovations ensured gear bearing the Wild Water name became near-universal on British rivers and in over 60 countries. Wild Water Ltd. sponsored many individuals and expeditions around the world.

Dates unknown:

British and European Standards Committees and Chair (for 12 years) of the British Canoe Manufacturers Association.
Yorkshire and Humberside Region of British Canoeing: played a key role in the region acquiring land for river-access at Ripon.
Maneuvers Waterfront Boat Club Founder. Its 800 members include a strong whitewater section.
Co-first descent (with Tony Young) of the River Tryweryn in North Wales, recognizing its potential as a world class slalom, wild water racing, playboating and rafting facility.

1976-96: As Washburn Committee Chair, he established the facility as a premier venue for wild water racing, slalom, freestyle and playboating.

1976-Present: Worked with Yorkshire Water and local enthusiasts to establish England’s finest dam-release white water river at the Washburn (Blubberhouses, North Yorkshire).

1996-2016: As British Canoeing facilities and management staff, Chris brought Symonds Yat Rapids into British Canoeing ownership; designed and brought on small and medium-sized whitewater facilities; helped over 70 clubs and organizations secure grants for improvements; worked closely with the Canal and River Trust and Environment Agency on Weir Safety; and in 2015 steered British Canoeing’s involvement in a Court Case that helped clarify both land and river access status.

Chris Hawkesworth (UK)

Other Accomplishments

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