Category archives for Kayaking
Saving the Colorado, America’s Most Endangered River – Video + Interview with Pete McBride
Posted by Emily Nuchols on April 17, 2013 When we think of the Colorado River, we think of its power and its beauty, running from the rugged peaks of the Rocky Mountains and twisting, turning, and splashing through seven western states and two countries. The Colorado River carved the Grand Canyon—a symbol as iconic to the United States as the bald eagle or…
“Walk on Water” Film: Greg Mallory Finds Kayaking After a Life-Altering Accident
Posted by Mary Anne Potts on March 14, 2013 Walk on Water from NRS Films on Vimeo.
A skiing accident left Greg Mallory paralyzed. And though he lost the use of his legs, he did not lose his sense of adventure. Greg found new life on the river in kayaking—and the loyal friends who help him do it. He also returned to skiing and has competed in the Paraolympics twice. Right now…
Four Women Kayakers Prepare for “Nobody’s River” Source-to-Sea Expedition
Posted by Emily Nuchols on March 6, 2013 
“The Amur River is a vivid reminder of the rich biodiversity an untamed river can support. We are excited to support this brave team of Young Explorers grantees in exploring this important ecosystem, in true National Geographic fashion.” —Rebecca Martin, Executive Director of National Geographic’s Expeditions Council In May, four women will embark on a…
Wizard’s Eye Film: Kayaker Tyler Bradt Prepares for 5-Year Circumnaviagtion
Posted by Mary Anne Potts on February 4, 2013 
THE WIZARD’S EYE EXPEDITION from Wizard’s Eye on Vimeo. Kayaker-adventurer Tyler Bradt is about to set sail for five years. Course unknown. With a revolving crew of artists and adventurers aboard the Wizard’s Eye, Tyler will explore life as it comes. And knowing Tyler, it’s going to be an adventure beyond anything we could dream…
Getting the Shot: Tim Kemple on Shooting Kayaking in New Ways
Posted by Sarah Polger on January 15, 2013 
Adventure photographer Tim Kemple often finds himself dangling from a rope, scaling a mountain, and photographing hard to reach spots around the world. In the fall of 2012, Kemple and filmmakers Anson Fogel, Skip Armstrong, and Blake Hendrix headed into the Mexican jungle with extreme kayakers Erik Boomer, Tyler Bradt, and Galen Volckhausen to capture…
Cascada Film Preview: World-Class Kayakers and Climbers Take on Mexico
Posted by Mary Anne Potts on January 7, 2013 
CASCADA – THE TEASER from NRS Films on Vimeo. For their upcoming film Cascada, extreme kayakers Erik Boomer, Tyler Bradt, and Galen Volckhausen teamed up with climbers/filmmakers Tim Kemple, Anson Fogel, Blake Hendrix, and Skip Armstrong to hunt the remote Mexican jungle for the perfect waterfall … and the perfect shot. It’s pretty sweet when…
Grand Canyon Float #6: Piloting Whitewater
Posted by Andy Maser on October 15, 2012 
Keep it straight and square up for the big hits! Often times, piloting a fully loaded, monstrous raft through Grand Canyon whitewater is as simple as that. Our craft are far from hot rods—they measure in at 16 or 18 feet long, are fully loaded, and are powered by a single oarsman. To make it…
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In the information age it’s difficult to imagine isolated locations where cell phone service and common electrical sockets are non-existent. Yet deep in the base of the Grand Canyon neither exists, however technology does not entirely fail us. Over the years scientists have managed to manipulate light in clever ways, which allows us to transmit…
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A week has passed as we continue to meander our way deeper into the Grand Canyon of the Colorado. Our river life has now become routine. Strapping gear down, boiling the dishwater, and diving into the cold Colorado River to cool down consume our days. Our team has collective experiences spanning the corners of the…
Grand Canyon Float #2 – The Beginning of a Grand Adventure
Posted by Andy Maser on September 26, 2012 
The first time I remember on a river when I was nine. Halfway through my first lesson I’d talked my instructor out of her hot-rod kayak and set out in search of the toughest beginner whitewater in sight. My dad loves to tell that story. Since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to kayak competitively, embark…
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When I think of classic adventure here at home in the U.S., I think of climbing El Cap and rafting the Grand Canyon. They’re accessible and doable to many, but they are still pure adventure to the core—the kind of experience most all of us are looking for. This is the first live post from…
Behind the Shot: Photographer Jordan Manley’s Tyrolean Traverse Kayaking Shoot
Posted by Sarah Polger on September 14, 2012 
See more photos like these in our Extreme Photo of the Week gallery From remote skiing to extreme climbing, photographer Jordan Manley is always up for a challenge. To shoot kayaker John Irvine paddling Seymour Canyon in British Columbia, Canada, Manley knew he wanted to photograph the action from above the river. It took two…
3 Adventurers Kayak the Sea of Cortez – Photos
Posted by Mary Anne Potts on August 27, 2012 
Last January, extreme kayakers Tyler Bradt and Erik Boomer and polar explorer/adventure extraordinaire Sarah McNair-Landry set out to navigate 450 kilometers across the Sea of Cortez. Utilizing the prevailing northerly winds, they sailed their kayaks as much as possible, paddling through calms, waiting out storms, and interacting with the abundant (and sometimes territorial) wildlife along…
Kayaker Ben Marr Paddles With Fire – Must-Watch Video
Posted by Mary Anne Potts on June 25, 2012 
OF SOULS + WATER: THE SHAPESHIFTER from NRS Films on Vimeo. Meet legendary whitewater kayaker Ben Marr as he paddles the upper reaches of Quebec, pushing to new levels. And just wait until you seem him do it river surfing with a flare in the dark. Filmed in exquisite high definition by FORGE Motion Pictures, Of…
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If you know anything about mountain folk, you know that when ski season ends, we start thinking about what’s next. The fact is, we get just plain itchy sitting around on our butts during so-called “mud season,” waiting for the high country trails to clear and the rivers to swell from snowmelt. Enter PaddleFest, an…
When my husband and I went to Kauai last September, the one thing we really wanted to do was kayak the Na Pali Coast. It’s touted as one of National Geographic’s 100 Best American Adventures. And with good reason. Picture paddling 17 pristine miles of Kauai’s rugged and breathtaking northwestern shore. We envisioned sparkling blue…
Kayaker Erik Boomer Sails Over a Waterfall in Snowy Oregon – Stunning Photos
Posted by Mary Anne Potts on March 12, 2012 
Adventure: What were you thinking at this moment? Erik Boomer: This is the moment where I hold my position and close my eyes as I anticipate the impact. All the work is done at this point, it is just time to enjoy the feeling of free fall. Tim Kemple: I thinking, oh crap, don’t…
Adventurers of the Year on the Future of Adventure in Nepal
Posted by Mary Anne Potts on March 1, 2012 
On Tuesday we announced our People’s Choice Adventurers of the Year and the news made the front page of every newspaper in Nepal. Out of twelve outstanding candidates, the popular vote went to Sano Babu Sunuwar and Lakpa Tsheri Sherpa. In the spring of 2011, the Nepali duo climbed Everest, paraglided down (and set a new…
Meet the People’s Choice Adventurers of the Year!
Posted by Mary Anne Potts on February 28, 2012 “Without adventure you are not feeling real life.” – Sano Babu Sunuwar The votes—nearly 72,000 of them—are in, and we are honored to announce that Sano Babu Sunuwar and Lakpa Tsheri Sherpa are the 2012 People’s Choice Adventurers of the Year. Their Ultimate Descent expedition to climb Everest, paraglide down, and paddle to the sea…
Videos: Stuff Outdoors People Say, Bro – Which is Your Favorite?
Posted by Mary Anne Potts on January 17, 2012 We gotta give these guys points for creativity and keep a straight face—all in good fun and great for a laugh. Which is your favorite? It's a tie between the skiing and climbing for us. Skiing Climbing Shit Climbers Say from Louder Than 11 on Vimeo. Kayaking Snowboarding
Your Adventure Civic Duty: Vote for the People’s Choice Adventurer of the Year (Last Call)
Posted by Mary Anne Potts on January 13, 2012 We are down to just a few days left to vote once a day for your favorite Adventurer of the Year. On January 18 at midnight, we will have a new People's Choice Adventurer of the Year. We'd be thrilled if any of the twelve nominees won. So far the race has been tight! It's…
Ten Days Left to Vote For the People’s Choice Adventurer of the Year! VIDEO
Posted by Mary Anne Potts on January 9, 2012 Here's to living adventurously. And voting for the People's Choice Adventurer of the Year. There are just ten days left to cast your vote once a day. Voting ends January 18, 2012, at midnight. Vote Now! http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/adventurers-of-the-year/2012/vote/ You can also read interviews and see photos of each candidate. We'd like to give special thanks to…
Adventurers of the Year 2012: Kayakers Jon Turk and Erik Boomer
Posted by Mary Anne Potts on November 17, 2011 Over the next two weeks we will introduce each of the new Adventurers of the Year here on our blog. Be sure to cast your vote every day for the People's Choice Award. See photos of all the Adventurers of the Year! “What do you do when a polar bear charges you? We found yelling colorful language was…
What It Feels Like to Kayak Over a Really Big Waterfall
Posted by Mary Anne Potts on September 29, 2011 Very few mortals will ever willingly plunge over a waterfall. And that's a good thing. Even the best of the professional kayakers suffer serious injuries when they descend waterfalls. Tyler Bradt, the current world-record holder for dropping 186-feet over Washington's Palouse Falls (seen in the video above), just broke his back on the current viral…
Fringe Elements Skills: Kayaking – Surviving a Whirlpool
Posted by Mary Anne Potts on April 28, 2011 By Fitz Cahall, Video still by Byran Smith. Fringe Elements Extreme Adventure Videos: Watch Now >> “The most intimidating feature for any swimmer, is real swirly, really deep whirlpools,” says professional kayaker and guide Paul Kuthe. “They have a tendency to hold you under water for a long time.” To exploratory kayakers such as Kuthe,…
