whitewater kayak
Condit Dam Explosion
10.27.2011
Washington’s White Salmon River is free from 95 years shackled by a concrete wall. Watch this video of the hole PacifiCorp blasted yesterday through the base of the 125-foot Condit Dam, beginning the projected 10-month removal process of restoring the river’s free flow.
Running Brazil’s Rio Mambucaba
10.21.2011
U.S. expedition kayaking extraordinaires Ben Stookesberry and Chris Korbulic, along with Brazilian heavy-hitter Pedro Oliva, a member of the first attempted descent of the Rio Mambucaba, document their recent paddling and canyoneering descent of this stout jungle river tucked away from the twin megalopolis population centers of Southeastern Brazil.
Countdown for Condit: T-minus two weeks
10.11.2011
The excitement of restoring Washington’s free-flowing White Salmon River is reaching fever pitch. On October 26, a hole will be blasted in the base of the 95-year-old, 125-foot Condit Dam, and Northwestern Reservoir will drain in a matter of hours. The explosion will mark the beginning of a regionally and nationally significant river restoration effort.
Running Brazil’s Rio Mambucaba
10.11.2011
I knew I had forgotten something when coming to Brazil. I realized what it was—to learn Portuguese—when I tried to ask how long the drive would be. Thanks to my book, Beginning Portuguese, which I’d glanced at on the plane, I could at least ask our driver where the laundromat was and count to 999 as his Land Rover bounced up the long, insanely bumpy driveway to his farm, Fazenda Bonito.
A new classic for New England?
10.07.2011
The first weekend in October provided devoted Yankee kayakers of the Northeast quite the harvest. A flow study on the Green River near Morrisville, Vermont, showed the potential for a high-quality Class IV-V run—one that might even mean water during the summertime, a rarity in these parts.
Results: World Championships of Surf Kayaking
10.07.2011
The World Championships of Surf Kayaking wrapped up Thursday, with the awards ceremonies slated for tonight at the Village Beach Club in Nags Head, N.C. The Basques captured the team title on Wednesday, and Basque rider Edu Etxeberria won the men’s long boat title yesterday with Chris Hobson of Northern Ireland winning the men’s short boat title.
Pondering the Future at Surf Kayaking Worlds
10.05.2011
NAGS HEAD, N.C. — Urko Erasquin, a competitor from the Basque Country, has mostly praise for this year’s World Championships. The surf has been excellent, the organization smooth, and the competition first-rate. But the first thing he has to say about the event is this: “I was a little bit upset because there was not many people.” His concern is echoed by many others at the Worlds this year.
Currents TV: First Descents
10.04.2011
This summer ended with First Descents coming to Canada for the first time. The decade-old, ever-expanding nonprofit uses kayaking to clear the heads of people who escaped a deadly disease, and helps them navigate chutes and boulders to the next stage of their lives. By all accounts, it’s a powerful program for campers, volunteers and staff in this burgeoning phenomenon within the paddling community.
Surf Kayaking Worlds Fitting Right Into Nags Head
10.04.2011
Outside a grocery store in Nags Head, N.C., a man is talking on the phone with his wife. “They’re surfing in kayaks down here!” he says. “No, both men and women do it. The women are just as good as the men!” Indeed, the town of Nags Head, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, is stirring with interest in the ongoing World Championships of Surf Kayaking.
Kiwi Sam Sutton Repeats at Adidas Sickline
10.03.2011
Sam Sutton from Rotorua in New Zealand impressively demonstrated Saturday that he is still the fastest extreme paddler in the world. At the fifth edition of the adidas Sickline Extreme Kayak World Championship in Tirol’s Ötztal Valley, the 23-year-old Sutton defended his title with a new course record of 55.84 seconds…
Gatherings: Feather River Festival
10.03.2011
Over 400 whitewater boaters crawled out of remote creeks, deep canyons, and office spaces to converge on an abandoned Forest Service campsite, Sept. 23-25, in the California’s High Sierra to celebrate—heartily—the American Whitewater-negotiated release of the North Fork of the Feather River. The Chico Paddleheads club organized the 21st annual Feather River Festival…
On Tap: 4th Annual Sickline Championship
09.29.2011
On Monday afternoon, kayaker and filmmaker Rush Sturges was hanging out in Sea-Tac’s international terminal waiting to board a flight through to Munich, Germany. He’d already checked two kayaks—one creek boat, one play boat (“Not cheap,” he sighed)—and he was unclear exactly when he’d return.
GMA: ‘Daredevil Kayaker Conquers Massive Waterfall’
09.28.2011
Kayaker Jesse Coombs and photographer Lucas Gilman teamed up in March 2011 to run, and document, Cooombs’ drop of Oregon’s foreboding, 96-foot Aibiqua Falls. On Saturday, the duo appeared as guests on Good Morning America to discuss the, um, “daredevil drop.” It’s worth another look.
Riders on the Storm
09.26.2011
Despite hurricane-related challenges, World Championships of Surf Kayaking on tap for Outer Banks
Letter from Stookesberry
09.19.2011
Finally, after two weeks of extended meetings and film showings in Brazil, the real objective of our trip to Brazil is directly infront of us. I know what you must be thinking and, no, Carnival is still five months out. For Chris Korbulic, Pedro Oliva and I, the real point of our annual reunion in Brazil has always been based on the next big river descent.
Updated: Video – Yellow Creek, 3rd Descent
09.13.2011
f the Internet is one huge smörgåsbord of people’s lives, plus Yahoo! celeb news and other super important stuff, then I suppose it’s OK to just post this little video here. Sure, I can’t tell you much about it, like where Yellow Creek is (my best guess is California). But it’s a tasty dish amid said smörgåsbord ala mundane…
26th annual Canoe & Kayak Industry Awards Announced
09.13.2011
The mood was electric and the music acoustic at the 2011 Paddlesports Industry Party in Salt Lake City on Aug. 5. Athletes, legends and industry employees flooded the venue for free food, beer, networking and the 26th annual Canoe & Kayak Industry Awards.
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