Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
“... I used to live the dream, and chase rivers all over the world.”
After a canyoning accident left guide and expert kayaker Brent 'Yak' Vandam a paraplegic, paddling the rivers that once defined his life suddenly felt impossible. But when packrafting appeared—offering a new way to get back on the water—Yak was all in.
In the thundering rapids of the Upper Buller Gorge on New Zealand’s South Island, Yak puts himself and his craft to the test. More than just a boat, the packraft represents possibility: a versatile tool helping expand who gets to run rivers, and how.
Don't miss RiverBound, a powerful story of passion and potential that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the simple joy of paddling your own boat.
Featuring:
Brent 'Yak' Vandam Deane Parker, Tina Grove, Jared Capey, Corine Pontbriand,
DOP- Dylan Gerschwitz
Producer- Deane Parker
With thanks to:
NRS, Further Faster, Alpacka Raft, Aqua Bound paddles, Lumix NZ, Packrafting Queenstown, Blue Duck Packrafting, Riverside Campground—Murchison
“... I used to live the dream, and chase rivers all over the world.”
After a canyoning accident left guide and expert kayaker Brent 'Yak' Vandam a paraplegic, paddling the rivers that once defined his life suddenly felt impossible. But when packrafting appeared—offering a new way to get back on the water—Yak was all in.
In the thundering rapids of the Upper Buller Gorge on New Zealand’s South Island, Yak puts himself and his craft to the test. More than just a boat, the packraft represents possibility: a versatile tool helping expand who gets to run rivers, and how.
Don't miss RiverBound, a powerful story of passion and potential that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the simple joy of paddling your own boat.
Featuring:
Brent 'Yak' Vandam Deane Parker, Tina Grove, Jared Capey, Corine Pontbriand,
DOP- Dylan Gerschwitz
Producer- Deane Parker
With thanks to:
NRS, Further Faster, Alpacka Raft, Aqua Bound paddles, Lumix NZ, Packrafting Queenstown, Blue Duck Packrafting, Riverside Campground—Murchison
