Indholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2022 i Kayak Session Magazine

Every few years, a new level is reached in whitewater kayaking. Soon, we think, “Where can we go from here?”We think, “Okay, now things are going to stay at this level for some time,” yet over and over again, we are proven wrong. Even as the current generation pushes the limits, the next is poised to take the sport to the next level. When looking at our Reel World video contest, the most recent progression is evident. The young guns, full of energy, start their progression where their elders left off, at their career climax. Their ambition is clear, and their ability to push the envelope is not even close to coming to an end. For example, Kaelin Friedenson’s freewheels on some of the biggest drops in Mexico this autumn—waterfalls…

GREEN RACE: “THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH.” NORTH CAROLINA, USA, NOVEMBER 2021 The 26th Green River Narrows Race had a lot of records, though not necessarily the one many were hoping to see. Though racers all hoped for a push at the four-minute race lap, what they saw instead may be more encouraging for the sport itself. There were more women (12) and juniors (26) competing than ever before, and it probably would have been the biggest field of racers ever if entries hadn't been capped. On top of that, the junior and women's categories were deeper in skill level and up to the task of racing the Green. The prevalent story of this year's race was the overall quality of the paddlers. There wasn't a final tally on the number…

"YOU CAN BE THE TOUGHEST, MOST RECKLESS KAYAKER THERE IS, BUT CLAIMING THERE IS NOT A MOMENT OF DOUBT AND FEAR AS YOU PUT ON YOUR DRYSUIT AT THIS PARTICULAR PUT-IN WOULD BE A LIE" Stikine… the name is often on my mind. Almost a decade after being introduced to this place, my trips to this remote region have become almost a yearly pilgrimage. I’m not the only bird of passage faithfully migrating north as the river approaches a reasonable level. But for aficionados, as much as for curious first-timers, the recent years have been frustrating. It was as if both the rain and Covid unanimously decided to block kayakers from returning to one of the most iconic expedition Meccas. A return to this sacred river would require many galaxies…

In 2015, I swam at least eight times. I was 24-years-old and wanted to push myself to my limit. I took chances, and sometimes, I had to pay the dues. From getting stuck in huge holes in flooded rivers in Spain to being underwater for 40 seconds in Colombia, every swim was scarier than the last and felt like it could have been the end. By making good calls, being a good swimmer, and having a bit of luck, I made it out of each one. It’s hard to get back at it after a heavy swim, but it’s a very important skill to have. The ability to learn from the experience and to quickly forget how shitty it felt so you can keep pushing requires practice and reflection. The…

"THE KEY LIES IN GETTING THE RIGHT ANGLE AT THE START AND KEEPING YOUR BODY AHEAD OF THE ROTATION WHILE KEEPING CENTERED." One of the better-recognized tricks in freestyle kayaking is the phoenix monkey: a pirouette on the bow followed by a loop. It was the first big trick I learned after the Space Godzilla, and I still love throwing them—especially in steep features. As great as it sounds, it is actually a difficult trick to execute correctly, as ICF rules require the pirouette to stay at 45 degrees, which is very challenging, but we will get to that later! ROTATION - GETTING THE PIROUETTE To do a phoenix monkey, you need to be able to pirouette. So, after mastering your bow stall, it is time to play with rotation…

Priscilla Macy-Cruser was resigned to the possibility of 30 log portages in the first day alone on the North Fork of Silver Creek, a remote, unexplored tributary of the Illinois River in Southern Oregon. Instead, she and her crew found fresh snow, innumerable shadow logs (with enough space for a paddler to pass under), mostly fun read-and-run Class III-IV with a few scouts, a 20-foot waterfall, and a handful of semi-strenuous portages. Suffer-fest averted, Priscilla looks back and calls the North Fork Silver Creek expedition one of her all-time favorite sections of water, although she is adamant that it’s tough to pinpoint a favorite singular river. “Each river trip, the people on that trip and landscape have their own memories, lessons learned, and unique values and callings.” Priscilla has gotten…

Paddler: Arthur Bernot Location: Cascade Ruitor, Italy. Hiking in paradise. The Cascade Ruitor is a series of four to five waterfalls in Italy, accumulating over 700 meters of freefall in the space of two kilometers. They are the the tallest waterfalls in Italy and some of the biggest in Europe. In July 2021, French paddlers Mylo Nicholas, Arthur Bernot, and Raphael Urscheler made it their mission to run the four drops below the glacier, located only 100 m before the river drops its famous 700 m. A huge hike in, insane scenery and one lost boat made for an awesome mission. © Mylo Nicholas…

CHERRY BOMB WAVE, WEST VIRGINIA, USA FEBRUARY 2022 The headwaters of the Gauley flow out of the Monongahela Forest around Richwood, WV. These Class II-III+ runs offer dozens of miles of approachable whitewater. However, the Headwaters are easily overlooked by the vast amount of world-class whitewater downstream. For Shane Groves, growing up in the Headwaters alongside his brother was a blessing. At the beginning of the pandemic, Shane and his wife moved back to the Headwaters to have their first child on his family farm. He has again found solace in the Headwaters during big rain events when he would normally be falling down steep creeks around Fayetteville, WV. Instead, cruising miles of scenic Cranberry, discovering quirky play around the Top Gauley, and catching big wave surfs on high water…

THE VÉNÉON VALLEY The Vénéon Valley is a hidden place, a treasure surrounded by glaciers and mountain peaks. Located in the Isère region, only two and a half hours from Lyon, the second biggest city in France, somehow entering the Vénéon feels like stepping into a storybook world. Waterfalls drop from each side of the valley, where blue water flows free and deep. Mountains lie in the distance, goats play on the riverbank, there are delicious local beers and cheeses to enjoy, and best of all, there is a river with sections for all kayakers. The valley lies in the middle of the French Alps, traveling from the Pilatte Glacier to the confluence of the Romanche Valley. The Vénéon is located just next to the Durance Valley, home to the…

As Tahltan people, the Stikine River has long been our lifeline, bringing fish and previously trade from the coast to Telegraph Creek. In the Grand Canyon of the Stikine, where the waters are too turbulent for fish, we have turned to hunting along its steep walls. Now, it’s been inspiring to see those who venture to the canyon’s depths to tackle some of the most challenging whitewater this planet has to offer. With these photos, Jules, Ben, and Todd provide a rare glimpse into this part of our territory. As the Tahltan Nation, we are in the process of developing an ecotourism corporation and will begin purchasing and building more infrastructure and other key assets in our homeland. Looking forward, we plan to diversify our economy in this way and…

"THE REASON WHY BOTH OF US STARTED AND WANT TO CONTINUE PADDLING IS NOT TO PADDLE DIFFICULT RAPIDS OR TO EMBARK ON EPIC TRIPS, IT IS TO EXPERIENCE NEW PLACES AND TO SEEK THE REWARD OF CHALLENGES THAT COME WITH PADDLING OFF THE BEATEN PATH." The past couple of years has reminded many of us that we have to dig deep to navigate situations that are not entirely within our control. It's also reminded me to appreciate what can be gained from facing adversity. I am grateful not to have been as personally impacted by the circumstances of recent times as others have, but I have been dealing with an injury that has changed my day-to-day life. An injury that has, in the past couple of years, progressed to a…

"THIS DESERT RIVER'S FREEDOM WAS TINGED WITH GUILT LIKE THE SILT IN THE COLORADO. IF I WAS HECTOR, I WOULD STILL BE IN JAIL." In 2002 the most tantalizing rumor in California kayaking was the Royal Gorge of the American. The name alone suggested an inherent grandeur bolstered by talk of big waterfalls and spectacular vertical canyons in perfect bedrock succession. But the landowners that surrounded the put-in had reportedly called the sheriff and promised the first team of paddlers that they would press trespassing charges for any subsequent attempts. Was this river really worth the risk of criminal prosecution? Initially, I wasn’t so sure. I was 19 in July of 1998 when I was stopped by the Greeley PD on the way home from a party. I badly failed…

DURANCE FESTIVAL 2022, JULY 30-31ST Mark your calendars: The 2022 Durance Festival will take place this summer, July 30/31st. Get ready to have more fun than ever before. This year the menu features the now-classic Guil Gorge Chrono creek race on the Chateau Queyras Gorge, heaps of clinics (Waterfall Freeride, River SUP, Girl Power, Safety, Packrafting), an exhibitor's village with tons of gear to try, a SUP Race, an open-air cinema in the evening, and Sunday's La Grande Descent stoke float. Not to mention the famous second-hand market and an intermediate event, the Lower Guil Rallyl There is something for everyone, so bring your friends and family, and come enjoy. For more info, visit www.durancefestival.com PADDLE SPORTS SHOW 2022, SEPT 28-30TH, LYON (FRANCE) The Paddle Sports Show second edition, which…

SALE OF SDS LUMBER COMPANY COMPLETE, WA, USA, NOVEMBER 2021 Three entities with strong Northwest ties and deep expertise in timberlands, forest conservation, and mill operations have acquired portions of SDS Lumber Company and SDS Co, LLC. The unique consortium, comprised of Seattle-based Silver Creek Capital's Fund, Twin Creeks Timber, LLC,The Conservation Fund, and Carson,Washington-based WKO, Inc., designed and put forth a purchase solution for the SDS Lumber Company and SDS Co, LLC that continues sustainable timber harvesting and mill operations while providing a path for the forestlands to be permanently conserved in the future for wildlife, recreation, and community benefits.The transaction includes over 96,080 acres of timberlands with environmental and community importance near the Columbia River in Washington and Oregon. Of particular interest to the whitewater paddling community are…

"THE MORE TIME I CAN SPEND GETTING TO KNOW A FEATURE, THE BETTER, BUT MINDSET IS EVERYTHING." This summer, after a year-long delay, the ICF Freestyle World Championships will take place in Nottingham, UK. Often referred to in the kayak community as “Worlds,” this competition is the culmination of years of training and preparation by athletes from around the globe. To compete on the world stage, athletes must first qualify for their national team. Junior athletes must be or turn between the ages of 15 and 18 in the year the World Championships are held, giving most two, and some, only one coveted chance at the Junior World Champion title. I caught up with Tim Rees, a favorite for the junior podium. At the age of 16, Tim is turning…

IN THIS CASE, PAIN DEFINITELY MEANS NO GAIN AND USUALLY STEPS BACKWARD. LISTENING TO YOUR BODY AND NOT FORCING THINGS CAN SAVE MONTHS OF RECOVERY. Tendonitis and tendinosis. There has been a lot of confusion over the difference between these two conditions – even healthcare practitioners may be confused. Tendinosis is often diagnosed as tendonitis and thus is not properly managed, leading to a long, hard road back to recovery. Here is the good news: You can recover fully from both tendinosis and tendonitis. The key? The proper amount of rest, among other things! This column has covered the subject before, but as paddlers in any stage of your paddling career, you will encounter one or more types of tendinosis and tendonitis. The common types of tendinosis and tendonitis impact…

PYRANHA | SCORCH X A monster truck in front and a Ferrari in the back. Dave Fusilli had been dreaming of this boat for a few years and hounding the Pyranha design team almost as long; the concept was refined for the regular Scorch size range, whilst the X offers the raw, unadulterated, boundary-smashing X-perience for the connoisseur. LENGTH: 302 CM/9'11 | WIDTH: 64.5 CM/25.4" | WEIGHT: 24.5 KG/54 LB | MAX. CAP.: 115 KG/254 LB | MATERIAL: MZ3 (HDPE) | COLORS: FIRE ANT . SMOKING GECKO | SIZES: ONE SIZE PYRANHA.COM PEAK PS | RIVER WRAP The next level of PFD for whitewater kayakers: a front entry system with the storage, safety, and comfort of a vest. Winner of Product of the Year at Paddle Expo, the River Wrap’s…