Indholdsfortegnelse for Winter 2023 i Kayak Session Magazine

EDITO The place is insane. The story is crazy. The adventure extraordinary. When Aniol Serrasolses first saw a photo of waterfalls flowing off the icecap somewhere in the far north, he immediately began dreaming of running them. Who wouldn’t? What not everyone would do though, is actually do it. And even less so, spend three years trying to make a mission happen. How crazy. How beautiful and pure. This place is literally paddling on the moon. And almost as hard to reach. Planes, cargo ships, helicopters. To be sure, a mission like this comes with a large carbon footprint. It’s the epitome of the never-ending conflict in our sport: by pursuing our goals and chasing our dreams, we contribute to damaging the wild and remote nature that calls to us.…

DANE’S WORLD Sometimes, the best days are when you get to introduce people to a new section, whether it’s just another new run or one they have wanted for years. We have all been there at the top of a rapid, ready to show our friends down a new section and utilize one of the most essential skills in kayaking: giving beta. Learning to give good beta is as necessary a skill to dial in as having a solid roll in any type of whitewater. This is because when you lead a group and give beta, you are no longer responsible only for yourself but for the rest of the group. I have run so many rivers with so many different people and have had beta shared in many ways…

FRIEND OF THE FEARLESS Kayak Session, fellow paddlers, and the global whitewater kayaking community, it is with great reluctance and utter bewilderment that I must announce my retirement from whitewater kayaking. This decision comes as a result of a persistent and alarmingly pungent case of foot rot that seems to be growing worse. You may wonder how such an inconspicuous ailment could force a paddler to retire, and I assure you, I share your incredulity. But allow me to elucidate the recent journeys that have brought me to this point. My personal physician, Felicity Creekemore, suspects that my feet have become a repository for toxins known as Persistent Bio-Toxins, PBTs for short. We suspect that I have been hyper-exposed to these malevolent substances from the ultra-toxic bleach of a defunct…

NEWS AND HAPPENINGS PADDLE SPORTS SHOW, STRASBOURG, FRANCE, SEPTEMBER 27TH-29TH, 2023 The Paddle Sports Show returned, bigger and better than ever, in a new location this September. The biggest names in paddlesports gathered in Strasbourg, France, for three days to share innovations and technology while advocating for the future of paddlesports. Meetings (both business and friends) took place alongside conferences on Kids: The Future Market for Paddlesports, the Future of the Stand Up Paddle Market, Evolutions in Fitness Paddling, and Protecting Rivers Together, presented by the Free Rivers Fund and Save the Austari Jökulsá. Last day saw a very progressive discussion with all manufacturers and shops, under the guidance of Bob Timms, on how we can create a virtuous circle to recycle used products involving shops, manufacturers and users. Highlights…

NORTH CHICKAMAUGA CREEK CONSERVANCY UPDATE North Chickamauga Creek Gorge, colloquially known as "North Chick," was first navigated in a kayak during the early 1980s by Roger Scott, Dave Bromell, Rusty Dunbar, and Tom Parsons. The creek starts atop Walden Ridge on the Cumberland Plateau and cuts a path east to reach the Tennessee River. A popular put-in for the run is Cain Creek, which was pioneered by Terry Smith, Ron Stewart, Andy Turner, Brian Fisher, Scott Shoup, and Doug Wellman. Cain Creek contains the steepest section of the run, where the creek descends through the fault line in the sandstone on Walden Ridge creating an action-packed section of whitewater. After Cain Creek confluences with North Chick the run doubles in volume. With miles of quality whitewater, a wide range of…

NEW WAVE Montana has a rich history in American whitewater. With steep creeks, remote canyons, as well as play waves and rivers year-round, the state, nicknamed “the treasure state” has a stout reputation for whitewater love – and talent. Over the years the town of Missoula has produced many of the state’s finest. Following in the footsteps of the Montana greats is 15-year-old Jude Franczyk. MISSOULA IS HOME TO A FAIR FEW WHITEWATER LEGENDS, INCLUDING YOUR UNCLE, WORLD CLASS ACADEMY FOUNDER. TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE MISSOULA WHITEWATER COMMUNITY? We have a great paddling community in Missoula. There are so many people stoked on kayaking. In the spring, everyone in Missoula heads to the Lochsa – I would say 90% of the people at the Lochsa are from…

DOCTOR RIVER WHAT'S UP DOC? It is estimated that 75% of the US population is dehydrated, so imagine how dehydrated kayakers are. You might keep a water bottle handy, but are you drinking it? Kayakers tend to drink less than your average athlete by virtue of the fact that they are on the water and may not perceive their thirst or hydration status as easily. WHAT IS DEHYDRATION AND HOW DOES IT HAPPEN? Dehydration occurs when you lose more fluids than you take in. Common causes of dehydration are vigorous exercise, illness, vomiting, diarrhea, blood loss, and simply not drinking enough water or ignoring the thirst response. We are composed of roughly 70% water, and just the regular functioning of our body causes us to continually lose water. These fluid…

REVY PADDLEFEST, REVELSTOKE, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, AUGUST 2023 In August 2023, in Revelstoke, BC, Canada, the Revy Paddle Fest came alive with exhilarating energy. This three-day event, an annual celebration of whitewater kayaking and community spirit held on the stunning Illecillewaet and Columbia rivers, drew over 100 passionate whitewater kayakers from across the globe. The festival catered to paddlers of all skill levels, offering a diverse range of competitions and events, each boasting incredible prizes generously donated by local businesses. One of the festival's highlights was the Advanced Slalom Class IV race on the challenging White Mile rapid of the Illecillewaet River, which attracted hundreds of enthusiastic spectators. The thunderous rush of water and the skillful maneuvers of the kayakers created an electric atmosphere that left spectators in awe. Beyond…

Kayak Session: Dave, what's up? What are you up? Dave Fusilli: I'm watching the Steelers game. I also just bought tickets to Billy Strings in Pittsburgh! (Bren Orton, if you are reading this right now and did not get Billy tickets… I'm not mad. Just disappointed.) Mostly, though, I have been doing sales, distribution, and some media for Pyranha Kayaks. I also help Immersion Research and Shred Ready and rip on the dirt bike while I wait for it to rain here in Washington. KS: You've been with Pyranha for almost your entire career. That's some long-time love. DF: I'm very grateful to be still working with Pyranha. I think the love is mutual; they have done a lot for me, and I think I have done a lot for…

NRS NO PLACE LIKE HOME Another Wednesday afternoon in May, and we all duck out of work a little early as part of our weekly paddling tradition. The two-hour drive to the Bird River, northeast of Winnipeg in the province of Manitoba, Canada, always feels a little daunting. However, the question “is it worth it?” immediately washes away as you round the corner to see your pals parked on the shoulder of Highway 315—a dusty gravel road through the boreal forest. Here at the take-out, we stash a bike, and, with no daylight to waste, race to the put-in. While shouldering our boats, the hiking pace increases as we hear the river in the distance. Though we were here almost every week last summer, it had been nearly a year…

Paddler: Dane Jackson Location: Upper Cherry Creek, California, USA Photographer: Kalob Grady Paddler: Ethan Slight Location: Malad River, Idaho, USA Photographer: John Webster Paddler: James Shimizu Location: 50/50, Ashlu River, BC, Canada Photographer: Sandy MacEwan Location: Tsarap Chu, Zanskar, India Photographer: Kristof Stursa Paddler: Huw Butterworth Location: Oetz River, Austria Photographer: John Haines Paddler: Huw Butterworth Location: Cherry Bomb Gorge, Upper Cherry Creek, California, Usa Photographer: Kalob Grady FOCUS/WORLD CLASS ACADEMY Location: Honey Pot Falls, Valin River, Quebec, Canada Photographer: Max Zuberbuhler Paddler: Jack Juntunen…