Nick Zawadzki – Co-Founder, Engineer, Waterman & the Soul of Hydrus. May you Rest in Peace Brother.

Nick Zawadzki wasn’t just the co-founder of Hydrus—he was its soul. An engineer with boundless imagination, a craftsman who saw beyond convention, and a lifelong adventurer with river water in his veins, Nick helped build Hydrus into what it is today: a company rooted in resilience, innovation, and heart.

From the first sketches in the garage to the game-changing materials still used in every board, Nick’s fingerprints are everywhere. He co-invented Armalight Hard Boards and Armalight Air inflatables, designs that reflect his obsession with strength, performance, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on the water. He wasn’t in it for attention—he was in it for the craft.

Nick’s personality was as unforgettable as his designs. He could be grumpy 10% of the time, but for the other 90%, he was electric—bouncing off the walls with ideas, enthusiasm, and jokes that left everyone laughing. He was the guy you called when you needed help—the one who showed up with tools, a plan, and an open heart. He lived fully and gave generously.

In 2021, while paddling the Payette River—a place that held so many shared memories—Nick tragically passed away in a river accident. It was sudden, devastating, and life-altering. But even in his absence, Nick’s presence hasn’t faded. If anything, it’s stronger than ever.

His spirit lives in every board we shape. In the grit of every whitewater run. In the balance found during a sunrise paddle. In every person who picks up a paddle to reconnect—with themselves, with nature, with each other. And most tangibly, in our simple but powerful mantra: Paddle Like Nick.

To “Paddle Like Nick” isn’t just about paddling—it’s a way of living. It means showing up with everything you’ve got. It means being humble, bold, helpful, creative, and kind. It means finding joy in movement, peace in nature, and meaning in craft. It means being the kind of person who builds things that last—and who makes the people around them better just by being there.

Nick’s legacy is not just in what he built, but in why he built it. He believed in paddleboarding not just as a sport, but as a transformative tool—one that heals, strengthens, connects, and empowers. And that belief still drives everything we do at Hydrus.

We paddle forward in his honor.

🌀 Paddle Like Nick

We’ve placed this motto on boards and gear as a tribute to his life—and as a reminder to live fully, love fiercely, and paddle with purpose. Nick’s legacy is our compass.