New Zealand filmmaker Kelsey Thompson recently released a web series called “Balance” about three characters who make their outdoor lives a priority rather than something they get to enjoy from time to time. In essence, the series is about “working class heroes–people who don’t earn a living from their sport but still understand the importance of extracurricular activity,” Thompson says on his website.

The three characters are a kayaker, a mountain biker, and a snowboarder, and in the episode below kayaker Blair Trotman talks about what his sport means to him. “I just love kayaking because it gives me an adventure that I haven’t found anywhere else,” he said in the movie. “It makes me feel good. It makes me feel alive every time I get on the river. … It puts me in places where very few other people get to go. It’s shown me a way to live that I really enjoy.”

To see what else he has to say about the sport and his personal story, including how he struggled with regimented life in the military, click here or click play below.