Rush Sturges

Filmmaker, Kayaker, Environmental Advocate

I’m a professional whitewater kayaker turned filmmaker and musician who has spent the past two decades using storytelling and adventure to connect people to wild places and the communities that depend on them.

I’m the co-founder of River Roots Productions and my work focuses on the intersection of rivers, climate, and culture. Through these platforms I’ve produced and directed documentaries such as The River Runner, Chasing Niagara, and the upcoming feature Paddle Tribal Waters, which follows Indigenous youth as they train for and complete the first source-to-sea descent of the Klamath River following the largest dam removal project in U.S. history.

As an athlete, I’ve participated in pioneering expeditions on rivers around the world — from the Congo to Norway to Pakistan — and I continue to guide and mentor young paddlers. I’ve also collaborated with nonprofits like Ríos to Rivers to raise money for youth leadership programs centered on water and climate justice.

Storytelling has always been my way of advocating for rivers and the planet. I believe that connecting audiences to the beauty and vulnerability of these places is one of the most powerful ways to inspire action. I’m excited to share this work with POW, and I’m honored to be part of a community of athletes and storytellers using our platforms to protect the places we love.