The Story
From the banks of the Pacuare to the world stage
Diego Solano Campos grew up in Turrialba, Costa Rica, on the banks of the Pacuare and Reventazón — two of the most famous whitewater rivers on earth. They were his backyard, his classroom, and his first competitors.
He came up through freestyle kayaking, taking his first national titles as a teenager. Through the 2012–2016 Olympic cycle he raced slalom for Costa Rica's national canoeing team, including the 2014 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in the USA. From there he moved to what he loves most: extreme and steep-creek racing, boatercross against the world's best, and first descents of rivers no one had run before.
He is also co-founder of the Chirripó Steep Creek Race, which has since become the AWP Pan-American Championships.
Beyond competition, Diego works as a kayak guide, leading paddlers of all levels down some of the most remote jungle rivers in Costa Rica.
Today he holds No. 31 in the global ranking of the Association of Whitewater Professionals (AWP), and is preparing to represent Costa Rica at the Oetz Trophy — the 2026 World Championships — in Oetz, Austria, 17–20 September.
