Some turning points come quietly.

Others arrive with a little splash… and a borrowed boat.

By 1998, Nim had already spent several years guiding rivers and learning to kayak. He had worked with expedition teams, met mentors, and run big rivers. But competition was still something he had only seen from the edges.

That changed at the Himalayan Rodeo.

A Borrowed Boat and a First Competition

The event was held at Mozingtar on the Trisuli River — a freestyle kayaking competition in the early days of Nepal’s whitewater contest scene. Back then, it was called the Himalayan Rodeo, sponsored by Eskimo Kayaks, before it evolved into the Himalayan Whitewater Challenge, which continues to run to this day.

For Nim, it was his first-ever competition.

There was just one problem.

He didn’t have a kayak of his own.

So he reached out to Charlie dai at Ganesh Kayak Shop in Pokhara — a long-time supplier of rafting and kayaking gear to Nepal’s river community. Charlie agreed to help, sponsoring Nim with the free use of a Pyranha Blade and whatever bits of outfitting they could piece together.

It was a proper freestyle kayak for its time — fast, responsive, and well suited to the event. It meant Nim could show up and compete with the right tools in his very first competition.  

A Surprise Win

Nim entered the rodeo not expecting much — just the chance to try, to learn, and to be part of the competition scene for the first time.

But something clicked.

Move by move, he found his rhythm.

And by the end of the event, Nim had won the competition.

The prize was something almost unimaginable at the time:

a black Eskimo Kendo kayak, along with a full set of outfitting — paddle, PFD, spray deck, and paddle jacket.

For many paddlers, that would be a nice prize.

For Nim, it meant freedom.

Until that moment, every kayaking session meant borrowing, begging, or improvising equipment. Suddenly, he had his own boat — his own tools — a prize that meant he finally had a kayak of his own—an important moment that allowed him to spend more time on the water pursuing his passion.

It wasn’t just a victory.

It was a turning point.

And it was only the beginning of his competition journey.

Still With Him Today

Amazingly, that original black Eskimo Kendo is still around.

Nim kept it all these years. Today, it usually sits on display at his village — a quiet reminder of where his competition journey began.

The photo we’re sharing this week was taken today, with Nim sitting in that very same kayak, nearly three decades later.

Not just a piece of plastic.

A piece of history.

Looking Back From 2026

As Paddle Nepal steps into its 20th year, we’ve been looking back on these early chapters with deep gratitude — and a quiet kind of nostalgia.

Because sometimes, a single moment changes everything.

A borrowed boat.

A first competition.

A kayak that meant freedom.

(To be continued…)

Next week, we’ll share how competition became a bigger part of Nim’s life — and how those early wins began opening doors far beyond Nepal’s rivers.

This reflection is part of Paddle Nepal’s 20-year journey on Nepal’s rivers.