“Last Thursday, I became the first female ever to paddle the Slave River’s Pony Monster rapid. The first descent was Leif Anderson. The second, Aniol Seresoles.
My attempt was unintentional.
It was also unsuccessful.
I lost my kayak, paddle and two Go-Pros. But I clung on, barely, to the only thing that really matters.
Four months earlier, I had qualified for the US Freestyle Kayak team, and was committed to competing in the World Championships this October in Columbus Georgia. To prepare, Leif and Natalie Anderson, kayakers from 'White Salmon, Washington invited me to their hostel in the Northwest Territories to train.
Although I had been kayaking there for a week before my accident, I hardly knew the river at all.
The Slave is a very large river, at times the Slave stretches a mile and a half from bank to bank, filled with thousands of cumecs that alternate between mass chaos and calm pool. The ferry from one side of the river to the other takes around 30 minutes to an hour. Because of this it is hard to recognize the landmarks needed to differentiate features, rapids, and even channels.
On that fateful day, my 17-year-old friend and I, who also swam after unwittingly following me into the rapid, were stranded on a mid-river island until midnight, clinging to each other for warmth as the rain raided our bodies of a dwindling supply of heat.
Hours earlier, we had planned to paddle a rapid called Molly’s Nipple—similar, in character and in consequence to Lochsa Falls, only much bigger.
But unbeknownst to us, we ran the wrong channel—mistaking an island for the far river-right bank. When I peered over the edge of that rapid, about to drop in, I was shocked, stunned really. My stomach dropped, my throat dried, and the air from my lungs evaporated in an instant. I was only able to scream a few words back at my friend before dropping into the ledge. The ledge is large, a vertical drop of almost 10 feet, but instead of calm water at the bottom, there is whitewater folding back in on itself, over and over again, creating a pit of a hole. Behind the initial hole, is a 2nd hole, the size of a large bus. And behind that, a 3rd hole, again, as deep as the first, and as wide as the 2nd hole.
In that moment, the split second before I dropped in, I knew something was off. A few hours prior, we had been told that the river was slightly higher, but Molly’s Nipple should have the same line, and the same magnitude. This was much, much bigger.
The first hole stopped me, flipped me and instinctually, I knew that my best chance of survival was to pull my skirt and swim. I immediately felt the force of the river thrusting me deep—deeper than I have ever been and for much longer. My lungs convulsed. I resisted. They convulsed again. But I resisted. I was nowhere near the surface; not close to air. So, involuntarily, I sucked in.
With my larynx closed off, the water gushed into my stomach. And I fought for the surface.
When I popped up, I saw my paddling partner, who was also swimming, head out of the water, twisting in an effort to spot me. Later, during the eight hours we were stranded on the island, he told me that he, too, went deep. But he reached the surface 20 seconds before I did. He estimated I was under for a full 60-second count. My GoPro confirmed it was 58 seconds.
As I lay on shore, the memory of the turbulent holes, and hydraulics, still clung to my senses like a relentless phantom. The waves had nearly swallowed me, dragging me beneath their watery depths before relinquishing their grip just in time. My body felt both drained and invigorated, a paradox born from the brink of survival. The sun blazed overhead, casting its golden touch upon the grains of sand that clung to my skin. As I lay there, stranded but alive, I felt a renewed sense of connection to both the untamed power of nature and the fragile resilience of human existence.
Stranded on that river island time seemed to bend and blur. With the initial shock subsiding, we quickly shifted into survival mode, assessing our resources and surroundings. Building a makeshift shelter from fallen branches and leaves, we huddled together, sharing stories and laughter to keep our spirits buoyant and our bodies warm.
The biting cold seemed to seep into our very bones. The wind carried a frigid chill that cut through our makeshift shelter. We huddled together, our breath visible in a misty testament to the harsh conditions. Our damp clothes clung to our bodies like a second skin, our fingers and toes numb despite our attempts to rub some warmth back into them. Every movement was a battle against the shivers that racked our bodies. In those moments, the island's beauty faded as our primary focus became fighting the cold's unyielding grip.
Only when the sky darkened did we see a figure way out in the distance. Leif. We shouted, and blew our whistles, begging him to see us. And he did. When he got to us it was past 11 at night.
In the meantime, Leif, Nick Beavis, and Natalie had been communicating non-stop about our situation. They decided to paddle a dynamic duo in so that we could get out safely.
When they arrived, I was so cold, I lacked the dexterity necessary to remove my wet clothes. With the help of our rescuers, I stripped and warmed my body. We spent the next few hours paddling up eddies, across logs, and through lakes to make it home. At 3 am, we made it home.
On Friday, later in the morning, I kayaked again. But, acutely aware of the river’s power, I avoided all the holes and waves I had played in with ease. I was scared to flip over. Scared to run the harder lines. And scared of the boils. The thought of being trapped in a kayak under the water again made my body seize. The river had always been both a playground and a challenge, a place of exhilaration and growth. But after the accident, the thrill had been replaced by a gripping apprehension. The memory of the lack of oxygen lingered, leaving me hesitant to confront the tumultuous currents that had once been my source of joy. Instead, I sought the safety of the easier lines, steering clear of the harder rapids that once ignited my passion. The following days felt like an eternity spent wrestling with the fear that had taken root within me. It was a battle between my desire to reclaim the river's embrace and the weight of that setback's aftermath. But as time passed, the river's siren call proved irresistible. With newfound determination, I dipped my paddle back into the water, each stroke a testament to my resilience. Slowly, the fear began to recede, replaced by a renewed sense of caution and an understanding that setbacks are but steppingstones on the path to becoming an even stronger kayaker.
We learned a lesson the hard way. I am so thankful it wasn’t the hardest way.”
You can follow more of Eleanor’s paddling adventures on Instagram @eleanor.ruth.knight
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We last chatted with Chev Dixon in 2020 when we were introducing him as part of our Werner Paddles Touring Team. Chev recently wrapped up the Hudson Valley Challenge and had a lot to share with us including how the experience went and how paddling technique can make the difference in long days on the water.
We asked Chev to remind everyone what the Hudson Valley Challenge was:
"The Hudson Valley Challenge was a 300 mile human powered expedition of the Hudson Valley Estuary. The expedition started in NYC with a 13 mile run, the length of Manhattan across the George Washington Bridge, followed by 10 mile hike across the NJ/NY Palisades cliffs. The expedition continued on the Empire State Trail with a 165 mile bike ride to Albany. Once I got to Albany, I sea kayaked 60 miles to Kingston, NY then switched to complete 30 miles of paddle-boarding to Beacon NY. Finally I paddled another two days to the Statue of Liberty with members of the NYC community kayaking."
What was the most surprising thing about the experience?
"I was surprised by things I saw as well as at how rugged the terrain was. The evolved landscape of the riverbank, with the Catskills in the distance, was eye-opening as I paddled down the Hudson. So was the history, both from the Indigenous peoples and colonists.
I was also amazed at how many islands are in the Hudson River along with how diverse the ecosystem is. Additionally, the cleanliness of the river gave me great hope that people are paying attention to our community and outdoor spaces. I can remember clearly that I picked up 14 pieces of trash — much less litter than I expected to find."
What was the most challenging thing?
"The most challenging part of the challenge was coordinating and making sure logistics weren’t breaking down. In terms of weather, we took a beating on day one. That run was brutal because it was my longest run ever. The hiking trails were muddy and slippery so I was sliding all over the place. It was pouring rain, windy and cold, which made things exciting but very challenging. The weather on day one provided us with all the challenges we trained hard for and more."
Which paddles did you take with you?
"Choosing the right paddle is always a strategic choice and for the Hudson Valley Challenge, I used the Cyprus 210cm straight shaft for kayaking and the Apex 91 for stand up paddle boarding."
How did those paddles assist with the success of your challenge?
"Those paddles assisted with the challenge because they helped me to perform at a high level. In my opinion, the paddles are the top of the line for both disciplines kayak touring and SUP touring. I’m happy I was able to put them to the test by paddling 135 miles in a kayak and 25 miles on SUP.
Moreover, I chose these paddles because I trained with them and I know they would be able to help me maintain good energy levels and give me enough control over my power and technique. The weight, the length, and blade sizes played a huge role. The Cyprus was ideal because of the blade size, it pulled enough water to move me at a steady pace, but also didn’t pull so much that it made me tired. Comparatively, If I had chosen to use the Ikelos, I would’ve struggled more to complete all the kayaking days. This is due to the fact that it would’ve depleted my power and energy faster because of the amount of water it would be pulling. A good way to test this out is to get both paddles, sprint 400 meters and see which one gasses you the most, or creates the most tension in your stroke.
The weight of the blade was perfect because it doesn’t take away from my power and energy. Having a lighter paddle made from Carbon vs plastic helps tremendously with holding paddling technique which minimizes the arms & shoulders fatigue. The length 210cm was perfect because it gave me the freedom to paddle at a low to mid angle when I was cruising and high angle for more cadence when I needed to get out the channel.
Additionally the Apex 91 gave me a similar result as the Cyprus except that I was standing up. It was very light and steady which I felt on every stroke."
When participating in long distance paddling as you did, how does proper paddle technique play a role?
"Proper paddling technique ultimately is the only way to get through long distance paddling and shorter distance as well. Knowing and learning how to really paddle with your entire body is the best way to put yourself in a position to succeed physically and mentally. As fatigue takes its toll, you have to mentally convince yourself to hold proper technique. That is the difference maker between those that quit because of pain and those that finish despite their bodies taking a beating. In my case weighing in at 150 pounds, I had no choice but to paddle the right way. I had to make sure my bigger muscle groups were working at all times and my arm positioning was correct and not straining. That is why I was able to get up five days in a row to paddle the length of the Mahicantuk or Hudson River Estuary. Whether I was sitting in my P&H Cetus or standing on my BadFish Selfie, paddling 30 miles per day at 5.5 Mph pace isn’t easy unless you have a deeper understanding of where the energy is coming from and how to release it back in the water along with outstanding preparation."
"The kayak stroke:
The catch (1), locking the blade of my Cyprus onto the water while pushing on foot pedals is how I generated max energy from the river. Then I drive my hips back to initiate my (2) torso rotation, which maximizes the power generated from the catch phase of the stroke. (3) As my boat glides with my body to the pivot point (where blade entered the water) right about my hips, I release/recover the blade from the water to set up for the next stroke.
The sup stroke:
To catch the water, I squat and reach my blade forward, as far as my flexibility allows me to, then I use my legs, hips and core to push the board forward to the catch point where the blade entered the water. Then release once my body and blade are parallel."
I know day one provided challenging weather, were you paddling on that day?
"Day one was rough and thank goodness I wasn’t paddling. But running 13 miles and hiking 10 in the wind and heavy rain wasn’t ideal either. I’m glad I got day one out the way on land. The on water days were perfect. Nice weather, calm river with super fast currents all throughout."
What do you have planned next?
"Next I plan to continue sharing paddle sports and nature with as many people as possible. After the season, I might travel, paddle and/or do a big hike. We’ll see, but whatever I do it’ll be epic. The Hudson Valley Challenge will return, just a little different from this one."
Thank you Chev for taking the time to chat with us. We know your next adventure will be a great one!
To learn more about the Hudson River Challenge, you can visit: https://www.negusoutdoors.com/hudson-valley-challenge-1
For more about Chev's experience during the Hudson River Challenge, here is an article: https://www.scenichudson.org/viewfinder/get-inspired-what-i-saw-while-powering-300-miles-along-the-hudson/?utm_source=Scenic+Hudson+Subscribers&utm_campaign=2b92dc217d-Viewfinder-Newsletter-July-2022&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_428918b3ef-2b92dc217d-331420344
You can follow Chev's adventures on Instagram @negus_chev and Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/chev.bourban
For more information on the Cyprus Paddle: https://wernerpaddles.com/search?q=cyprus
For more information on the Apex Paddle Series: https://wernerpaddles.com/search?q=apex
]]>"My parents first put me in a topo duo when I was 2 years old! My dad would be in the back with me in the front and my mom would paddle along. When I was 5 I started running rivers in my own boat with my parents. It was always a super fun way to be with my family and my love for it grew very quickly. When I turned 7 I started competing in freestyle and then went on to competing in creek racing when I was 9. I then went on to compete on team USA in canoe and kayak slalom as well as freestyle and I have been a competitive creek racer since a young age."
"The Odachi for sure! I love the forward set blade, it feels like a slalom blade which means you get a lot of power and you get to go really fast because of it!"
"High water north fork Payette river and fantasy falls are my favorite rivers so far!
"Running big falls at high water on the south fork Payette river. The bottom hole is super gnarly and the drops above aren’t small either. It’s by far the highest consequence rapid I’ve run so far so putting down the exact line I wanted felt incredible!"
"Sugar snacks! I use dried fruit bars and juice boxes to prevent and treat low blood sugars (I’m Type One Diabetes) when I’m paddling so I always have them on me!"
"I’ve had a hard 2022, my springs started out with an injury and I’ve been sick ever since recovering from that. It’s made me pretty weak so I’m looking forward to my doctors appointment and figuring my health out this year and then going back to my postponed goals next year! Hoping to get on middle kings as well as some other Cali high sierra runs as well as some Canada runs and hopefully some first Ds!"
"I hold the female flow record for big falls SF Payette and Selway Falls Selway River. I was also the 2015 Jr Women’s Freestyle World Champion and have been top ten in both freestyle world championships and slalom world cups several times. I also won 2021 North Fork Championships! I’ve won a few other things, but you should go kayaking instead of sitting on your computer reading about them;)"
"Take baby steps! You’re probably going to receive some pressure at some point to step up your kayaking… it’s not worth it. One of the best things my dad taught me was drill and nail every since ferry, eddy, surf, and boof on an easier section before you make the next step. It’ll help you avoid some scary situations and make your river time better:)"
"I have type one diabetes as well as hypothyroid and celiac disease so all you immune compromised homies out there reach out! Whether you want to vent about your body, need some advice, or just want to say hi I love meeting you all!!!"
]]>Instagram @sagekayakFacebook: Sage Donnelly Athlete
It’s called Stakeout as its really a waiting game, being you never know when exactly the spring melt will occur or what days the flows will be an any specific levels. So like any gamble we drove up and hoped for the best. Luckily enough for, I seemed to have lucked out yet again on river levels. Somehow I always seem to luck out with river levels, that or maybe I’m less picky and grateful when any of the big river waves come in.
This Spring I rolled into the Ottawa Valley just in time for some Big Bus and Gladiator. They are two of the biggest and more intimidating waves on the Ottawa River.
Big Bus came in first and was a decent warm up for what was to come. The irony is few people would ever call surfing Big Bus a warm up, though after one day of surfing it the levels continued to rise and the Gladiator wave came in. Gladiator wave is the largest river wave on the Ottawa and one of the biggest waves I’ve ever surfed. It also happens to be the most intimidating wave as not only is it massive and extremely fast and powerful, though it is in the middle of the Coliseum rapid and located right behind it is the “ledge” an almost river-wide ledge hole, and something I don’t want to mess with.
We got about 4 days of surfing on Gladiator, though most of the time it was just myself, Dane Jackson, Ben Marr, Luke Pomeroy and Joel Kowalski. It is one of those waves that most people don’t session for long, and even myself, I am still super intimidated every time that I drop in to surf it. I was stoked to get some massive tricks out there, though the highlight of the week was watching Dane get some crazy combos including a wild 5 trick combo. He was definitely blowing my mind, and seems to be on a whole other level on these waves. For Dane and I, the Double Diamond seems to be the paddle of choice for freestyle and big waves. I honestly find this the most versatile paddle for most conditions out on the river.
A plethora of worries and doubts bombarded my mind in the months leading up to the Colorado Tour, which is a series of four plus competitions across the state. I have participated in the entire Colorado Tour since the age of 10, which also happened to be the year where my parents and I hit the road full time in our Winnebago View. Ever since my first competition circuit, the month we spent each year traveling around the state of Colorado and visiting as many rivers and competitions, alongside many of my nomadic kayaking friends, was always the highlight of my year.
One of my favorite parts about traveling is coming back to my favorite destinations and getting the opportunity to reflect on my growth since the last time I had been there. I really enjoyed that aspect of the Colorado Tour because I got to reflect emotionally as well as athletically. It was always satisfying to come back and have a stronger competition mindset or get higher scores than the year before. Last year, because of the pandemic, I didn’t get to compete and I was really scared to come back. Because…
What would competing look like after a pandemic?
Would I still be good at it?
Would I still like it?
What happens if I don’t like it?
And to my delight, coming back to competition after a year off felt no different, and maybe even more fun and exciting, because I had unknowingly missed it so much. Not only did I get to reflect on one year of growth, I got to reflect on two years of hard work. In addition to competing, I also volunteered to organize all of the freestyle events for Paddlefest, the first competition of the season located in Buena Vista, Colorado. Organizing the freestyle events was something I had never done before. Instead of focusing on what tricks I would try in the competition, I was more focused on finding judges and creating start lists, which, incidentally, was a pleasant distraction that surprisingly helped my performance on the water.
In the freestyle competition, I went head to head with 3x World Champion kayaker and my mentor, Emily Jackson. She has always been the pinnacle of freestyle kayaking in the USA and has inspired a lot of the motivation for my own freestyle progression. In finals, each paddler gets three, 60 second long rides where they get the opportunity to throw as many arial, acrobatic tricks as possible, with each trick having its own unique point value. How to win? Get as many points on the scoresheet as possible. With each ride, Emily and I were fighting for the gold. I’d top her score by 30 points, and then she’d top my score by 50 points, and we continued increasing our scores with each ride. This made for an exciting finals, with Emily coming out on top and a close second finish on my part. The Colorado Tour was already off to an amazing start!
The Animas River Days event in Durango, Colorado was our next stop! Not only was this my next competition, but it was also the 2021 USA Freestyle Kayak National Championships! When we first arrived in Durango, the weather had just started to get warm and the snowmelt was just beginning to fill the river. My first training session was in a small, gentle, and challenging wave and all the athletes struggled to get any tricks. However, as the weather got warmer with each day that passed, the river rose higher and higher, creating a bigger, more retentive, and more intimidating hydraulic wave. While the tricks were easier because of the retentive nature of the feature, I struggled to overcome my fears of the wave and actually try my moves. But day after day, I got braver and more comfortable in the feature and by the time of the competition, I was feeling confident in the wave and was able to secure my third US Junior Women’s National title!
Next stop was the GoPro Mountain Games, the most prestigious event of the entire Colorado Tour. The river we compete on is called Gore Creek and is notoriously challenging with ever changing water levels. Each day, and frankly, each training session was completely different. Unlike most of the other competitions, the GoPro Games has three rounds of competition to decide the freestyle champion. The feature never felt the same for any of the rounds, yet they were all equally as energetic and challenging!
The flows on the first round were difficult for me, and I didn’t put up the fight or the score that I had hoped. However, during round two, also known as semi-finals, I had another intense head to head with Emily Jackson. In a semi-finals, each athlete gets two 60 second rides to score as many points possible. Their best ride counts and the top five athletes progress to the finals. In our first rides, I was in the lead by 100 points with the possibility of moving onto finals sitting in first place. However, on the second round, Emily Jackson beat my previous score by another 100 points with a really strong performance, resulting in her heading into finals in first place!
By finals, all the athletes were sore and tired but the competition wasn’t over yet! During finals, all the athletes get three 60 second rides with their best one counting. Emily’s first ride was strong but I was a mere 30 points behind sitting in second place. During the next round, Emily put down an even stronger ride, sitting her in first place and topping my highest score of all three rides by over 200 points, leaving me with a second place finish! This experience at the GoPro Mountain Games was amazing, and it was so nice to be able to preform some of the higher scoring moves in the feature, that I didn’t know how to do the last time I was in Vail. Throughout the whole experience, the crowds, the cameras, and the stricter judging had me reminiscing on my experience at the 2019 Freestyle Kayak World Championships in Sort, Spain and made me even more excited for World Championships to come!
While a blast, the GoPro Mountain Games was not the last competition! We still had the iconic FibArk in Salida, Colorado left! FibArk is one of the oldest whitewater festivals in America, and the feature in Salida is, hands down, one of the best in the entire country. While it might not be as big as the other events, I might have been looking forward to this competition the most, with the prospects of high scoring rides and preforming tricks I had only learned this winter.
The prelims were a jam session format. During a jam session, the heat of athletes are given a pre-determined amount of time (for example 20 minutes), and a start order which they must maintain throughout the competition. Once the time starts, the athletes enter the feature in succession, one after the next, throwing as many tricks as possible on each ride for the duration of the heat. Once the time is up, all of their tricks they completed throughout the entire heat are totaled for their final score. This format isn’t common but is a fun opportunity to try riskier and higher scoring tricks.
During the jam session prelims, I scored over 1,000 points…which was a first for me. The freestyle finals were a traditional finals format, with three 60 second rides. During the third ride, I stepped up my game and preformed my personal highest score of 790 points in a traditional competition format, and ended up winning the entire freestyle event. While there weren’t as many other athletes, this was a really fun weekend of seeing what’s possible and pushing my newer tricks to the next level in competition. Moving forward, I hope to break the 1,000 point barrier in a traditional finals format…hopefully next year!
All in all, I had an amazing Colorado Tour, and am so grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to travel around in our Winnebago and compete in so many different events from such a young age. Because of my experiences in so many different rivers and competitions, I was able to develop a fiery passion for freestyle kayaking that has fueled my progress up until this point. Looking forward, I have one more big competition left, the U.S. Team Trials where if I can podium in the Jr. Women’s class, I will have the opportunity to represent the USA in the Freestyle Kayaking World Championships in Nottingham, England in the summer of 2022. With the constant uncertainty of the pandemic, it has still yet to be announced when or where Team Trials will be held but I’m continuing my training and I’m already looking forward to the next competition season.]]>
When crossing our Great Lakes I look for conditions where the winds are in the single digits and the lake is expected to be relatively calm. Having been watching long-term weather forecasts, Tuesday suddenly opens up and meets all my predefined ‘go’ parameters. I can’t pass up this window of good weather. I think to myself, “What a great way to celebrate my birthday and my final Great Lakes crossing. I will never forget what I did on my 60th!”
THE NIGHT BEFORE
With every Lake Michigan crossing, I visit Wisconsin’s Point Beach State Forest the night before to take in the view and get my game face on. With the moderate winds having not yet pushed through, I take a little more time watching the white-caps crash on shore. It is a healthy reminder to never take the power of our Great Lakes for granted. Before I leave, more than once, I get on my knees to give prayer and ask for safe passage.
Certain it will be my last, this trip is all about taking in the views and enjoying the journey. I don’t give much thought of setting a personal record for speed. To celebrate this grand finale, I bring with me the partial remains of my parents. I think, “How special it will be to share this grand adventure with mom and dad.”
It will make for interesting conversation along the way as I imagine my mother’s disapproval and dad’s apprehension. “Well, on this trip, there isn’t much they can say or do,” I tell myself jokingly
THE MORNING COMES QUICKLY
It is a restless night with the thought of the next day looming over me. At just past 4 AM, the best I can do is shift my weight while I imagine there being a chance for a little more sleep. At about 4:30 AM I give in to my excitement and begin to prepare for launch.
The forecast was correct, cloudy with a chance for rain. This morning there are no bright colors from a rising sun and the sound of rain hitting my car tells me it’s going to be a cold, wet start. I walk the beach and look over the horizon for clues about the day. As expected, the lake is calm and the sky is solid gray as far as I can see.
With the threat of rain, it is best I dress warmly to avoid having to fend off a cold wet chill. I will be wearing my 1.5 ml neoprene top and pants, and 3.0 ml booties. I was hoping to wear a lighter top as the temperature is expected to reach the low-to-mid 70s. I am a little worried as I know how hot I get when wearing my wetsuit and paddling tens of thousands of strokes when it’s warm, and having to manage the unpredictability of the lake.
IT'S A LAUNCH
With my bright, red, open sea kayak packed and partial remains of my mother and father carefully placed under my seat, I launch at 6:10 AM onto Lake Michigan and what I expect will be my last Great Lakes crossing.
A minute later, having passed through the lake’s tricky shallows and crashing waves, I stop to pause. I think to myself, “How lucky am I to have the opportunity and good health to set out and achieve something that no one else has ever done before. I can make claim as being the ‘first ever.’”
I take a deep breath, look above and give thanks, then tell mom and dad, “Let’s go!” As expected, their response is less than enthusiastic. Mom is not happy. LOL.
NNE WINDS CHALLENGE MY SENSE OF DIRECTION
The trip goes much as expected. The only surprise is my being challenged by NNE winds for the first time, and an unrelenting lake that pushes me north and well off course. With the only thought being to enjoy this last grand adventure, I simply focus on keeping my kayak upright and pointed SSE 104º.
Because of the overcast conditions and the lake taking on the colors of the sky, for quite awhile there is nothing to view but a blanket of monochromatic gray. I find myself often staring at my compass as there is little else to hold my interest.
Keeping to plan, every hour I stop to rest, drink and snack, to avoid dehydration and fend off fatigue. Over the first two hours I am making rapid progress. At 8:15 AM it begins to rain and the temperature quickly drops. I worry, “Will I face the same type of pounding deluge with strong gusts of wind as I experienced in Michigan two weeks ago?”
Around 10:10 AM the wind picks up, but remains within my desired range. When I pause, I am surprised by how quickly my kayak spins around and points nearly due north. It seems odd as the wind is still coming from the NNE. I don’t give it much thought, but I am puzzled.
MY PACE IS QUICKER THAN I THINK
When I stop to rest at 11:10 AM I pull up MapQuest to get a reading of my location. I notice that I am much further along than I thought. If I continue at this pace, I should reach the imaginary Wisconsin and Michigan state line after paddling only six hours. At this pace I will make it across in a record 12 hours!
I can’t help but get excited and pick up my pace.
FATIGUE SOON SETS IN
With the high humidity, my core heating up, and strain on my arms, I am forced to pull back and give up any thought of a record pace. I take a reading of my position and discover I am well off course. If I continue in this direction I will land 16 miles too far north and in Manistee.
To adjust for being so far off course and tired, I reset my compass reading to SSE 120º and focus on; improving my stroke, moving my source of power to my abs, and relaxing my grip on my paddle. I am thinking I will finish sometime after 14 hours and just before sunset.
MY SPIRIT IS LIFTED
At around 2 PM the thick gray sky begins to breakup. The bright shades of blue are a welcomed change and the distant cloud bank along Michigan’s shore gives me a sense of optimism. Instead of focusing on my compass, I select a distinct shape in the clouds to set direction and take in the panoramic views of this awesome, beautiful Great Lake.
It is this that draws me back to crossing our Great Lakes, the beauty, serenity, solitude, grand adventure, sense of accomplishment, and the closeness I feel to others and God.
With my spirit lifted, I look up to give thanks again for remarkable day and life. I imagine seeing the faces of family and dear friends, as I know they’re watching and wondering. I continue talking to mom and dad. Mom remains unhappy and dad continues trying to deflect any responsibility. I can’t help but smile.
I look around and am in awe of the breathtaking view. I am surrounded by an endless, awesome, open sea. It's spectacular, and I wish others could experience what I see.
CHASING A POSSIBLE PERSONAL BEST
It’s time to pause, refresh, and take a reading on MapQuest. Having slowed my pace, I wonder how much my progress has been effected. To my surprise, it appears I haven’t lost any time at all. I estimate my distance and begin thinking I may come close to matching my personal best time of 13.25 hours, maybe even beat it.
Before I get too excited I search for any sign of Michigan, my home state. The first sight is often the sand dunes just south of Big Sable Lighthouse. When I see them I know I’m about four hours out. Sadly, I don’t see any sign of Michigan the time, I suspect the sand dunes are hidden by low hanging clouds.
With a little sense of optimism I pick up my pace.
THE FIRST SIGHT OF MICHIGAN
A little later I spot the discernible color of Michigan’s sandy shoreline. Instinctively, I give out a loud shout of joy, then look up and call on my life-long best friend Jack for encouragement, then my brother for even more support.
With my thoughts on those above, I imagine the faces of and begin talking to my grandparents, and long-time friend and personal confidant Pamela. Sadly, she also died this past year and just a couple of weeks after my best friend Jack.
With support of family and friends above, and mom and dad with me, my spirits are lifted and energy strengthens. Feeling hopeful and checking my watch for time, I am now almost certain I have a chance of setting a new personal best for speed.
PUSHED TO NEAR FATIGUE
Having paddled for more than 10 hours on this hot and humid day, I have worked up a heavy sweat and drank over 120 ounces of water. With the occasional cramping of my abs, I know I haven’t been drinking enough. I dip into the lake to fill up another bottle with Pure Michigan water.
There are other warning signs that I have pushed myself to the limit.
I struggle with basic math as I try calculating distance and time, to estimate my ETA. With the change in time zones, it adds another layer of complexity that’s challenging me. I know I shouldn’t have, but I traded out a couple of scheduled heavy meals with quick snacks. I thought I could get away with it and at the time the thought of consuming warm food didn’t set well.
I am now being punished with a diminished capacity to think clearly.
BIG SABLE LIGHTHOUSE IS IN SIGHT
At about twelve miles out I expect to see Ludington’s black and white striped Big Sable Lighthouse. While I am surrounded by an incredible lake view that I may never see again, I can’t help but keep my eyes lock toward shore in hopes of seeing Big Sable.
Then, aways in front of me I spot a small, gray, vertical landmark. Just as quickly it disappears. Certain it‘s Big Sable I keep looking toward its approximate location. It momentarily appears, then disappears again. I tell myself, ”There is nothing else of this shape along this section of Michigan’s shoreline. It must be Big Sable.”
With a laser focus on the area ahead, I spot this distinctive shape again and am able to confirm, it’s Big Sable! I let out a shout of joy and pump my fist. The finish is in sight.
It is close to 6 PM ET. My progress is much better than I thought, far better in fact.
PUSHING FOR A NEW PERSONAL BEST
On my final Lake Michigan crossing and 60th birthday, I am now determined to finish with a personal best time. Before I begin my two-hour sprint, I take my mandatory break to generously hydrate and have a hearty snack. With a focus on working my abs, keeping a relaxed grip, and taking long deep breaths, it’s a go!
While pushing as hard as I can, I scan the shoreline north and south looking for Great Lakes freighters that I may have to navigate around. It is the first Lake Michigan crossing where I haven’t seen any freighters. While it’s a relief to not have to worry, I miss seeing them.
An hour later I take my last mandatory break. It’s a bit shorter this time as I am trying to squeeze out every minute. It’s difficult to estimate distance on the lake, but I am still thinking of a sub 13-hour time. I dig deeper, push harder, then call out above for support. Every minute Big Sable appears larger. While there remains incredible lake views to take in, I am super focused on Big Sable and setting a new record time.
Coming from a WNW direction and with Big Sable just in front of me, I glance down at my watch. It is clear, I won’t be finishing before 8 PM ET. I am disappointed and reset my goal to finish before 8:10 PM, the 13-hour mark. I dig deeper, and sadly this too slips by.
THE FINAL STRETCH
As I continue my sprint toward Big Sable, I watch the path of the fishing boat coming from my right. So fatigued, I struggle to determine if we each maintain our course, will we collide?
We’re so close, the captain and I have made eye contact. His fishing lines are out and I am racing to finish my Lake Michigan crossing. I know he has the right of way, but I am determined. I am hopeful and think there may not be a need for either of us to change speed or direction.
I am wrong.
I lean forward, dig deeper, paddle a little quicker, doing all that I can to muster additional speed. I can tell it’s not going to enough. While keeping an eye on the captain and his boat, I make a slight turn north to create additional separation. It is still not enough. The captain makes a slight course correction toward shore, enough to be certain that we don’t collide.
Too tired to think about anything other than my finishing quickly, I sheepishly give him a quick nod and smile, then push forward toward Big Sable. With every paddle she grows incrementally in size. How I love this lighthouse!
A GRAND FINISH
At 8:18 PM ET, I complete my fifth and final Lake Michigan crossing in 13 hours and 8 minutes. This is 17 minutes better than my prior best time. Having just completed my goal of being the first to complete an in-season three-peat, I am feeling prideful, relieved, and content.
As I glide toward shore, where I plan to set camp for the night, I make a final sprint to drive my kayak up on the sandy beach. As I near, I can tell the beach’s slope is much steeper than I thought. I can tell it will be too risky to safely exit. Too late to change course, I plow forward to only confirm.
Lodged on the beach, I assess my options. Too tired to paddle the short distance to my right where there is clearly a much better area to exit the lake, I decide to back paddle, turn my kayak sideways, and let the lake gently push me parallel against the shore.
Although I know this is not the best option, as it does nothing to eliminate the steep slope and my likely spilling into the lake, I continue on anyway.
With my kayak pushed sideways up against the beach and paddle stuck deeply into the sand acting as a brace, I attempt my exit. With my aching stiff body and kayak perilously positioned on edge, I know my fate. Too tired or too stubborn to change, I begin my exit. As expected, before I’m even able to remove both legs from under the cockpit, I find myself flailing into cold Lake Michigan.
Naturally, the first thing I do is quickly stand up and look around to see if anyone saw my weak attempt at a landing and even more pathetic spill. No one saw me. My fragile ego remains intact as no one will ever know.
With Big Sable Lighthouse behind me and just over the grassy hill, I take a deep breath and take in what I just accomplished. I will never forget how I finished my final Great Lakes crossing and what I did on my 60th birthday. It was an amazing, record setting, grand finale.
THERE REMAINS ONE MORE THING TO DO IT’S A TEARFUL FAREWELL
The next evening, on a breezy Wednesday night with light rain, under the cover of an umbrella I walk the half mile pier leading to Ludington’s North Breakwater Light. With my parents’ ashes in my hand, it will be a solemn moment.
I approach the breakwater light, the rain has lifted and all that remains is a cool summer breeze. I make my way to the other side of the light where I am alone. I look over the horizon and take in the incredible view and vastness of Lake Michigan.
I look down and watch the clear, dark water crash against the pier. As I think about what I just accomplished, the lake’s strength and power shakes me to my core. I take a step back and catch my breath. After collecting my nerves, I look up and give thanks for having safely made it across this incredible lake five times and made seven Great Lakes crossings in total. I can’t help but think, “How lucky am I?”
As I give prayer the tears begin to flow. With no one around I begin to share my thoughts out loud. With a gentle toss, I release my parents’ ashes into the lake. I watch Lake Michigan’s powerful, crashing waves accept them with a surprising gentle ease. As the waves churn and ashes slowly disperse, my tears freely flow down my cheeks.
I stand there still, unaware of anyone or anything around me, and watch until their ashes disappear. All I see is the reflection of light coming from the setting sun above. I tell them I love them, and once again say good-bye.
___________________________
Since I began paddling just over five years ago, I have logged over 5,500 miles. The distance paddled is equivalent to that from the Twin Cities to Japan. If you reference Hawaii, you would have to travel another 1,500 miles.
If you would like to read more about my Great Lakes crossings and other grand adventures, please visit: www.thenorthlandadventurer.com. I hope my stories and photography inspire adventure in you.
Mike Stout aka The Lake Rider
msplmn02@gmail.com
(952) 239-3943
I’ve been gardening for years but using seaweed as a fertilizer was new to me. I was first inspired to start collecting seaweed on our kayaking day trips after watching a garden series based in Ireland, similar to our Pacific Northwest climate. One by one after each trip, I would top dress my 10+ raised beds then cover with plastic for the winter. Come spring, all the seaweed was nicely broken down and easy to work into the soil. We’re now in the heat of summer and my veggies and flowers are bigger than ever before!
I’ve been asked many times, so what about the salt? I haven’t noticed or read about any adverse effects. In fact, the salt seems to be a bonus for fending off pesky slugs that are known to devour crops in the night. If you’re worried about a salt overload, a quick rinse in freshwater should do the trick.
If you’d like to try using seaweed in your garden, learn about local harvesting laws and restrictions. In Washington state, a license is required along with daily limits and location restrictions. I remember the day my license arrived in the mail. I felt like an official mermaid!
My kayaking friends used to tease that I would be too busy in the garden to kayak. Now I get to combine my passions and garden while I kayak! There are many online resources to get you started. So go ahead, give it a try, and don’t forget to launch without your harvesting sack on your next kayaking adventure.]]>
If someone were to ask me what I look forward to the most about overnight sea kayak touring in the Pacific Northwest, I’d have to say:
1: Breathtaking scenery
2: Incredible marine life and…
3: Phenomenal FOOD!
Yes, what is going to fuel me through the days and miles of paddling and on particularly challenging days what is the thing I can look forward to as I push through the sometimes endless miles? Since moving from my home in the Mid-West, I have become beyond spoiled with the abundance of available seafood available to us on our kayaking journeys. No granola bars or premade boxed meal tightly packed in the hatches of my kayak can compare to the flavors of the ocean.
Manilla and varnish clams boiled to perfection. No salt or seasoning needed!
Foraging for food has become a part of both our day and overnight tours whether we’re cooking on the bar-b-que in our backyard or over the campfire. It’s a good feeling knowing we don’t have to go hungry if a bear decides to take off with our food cache and it adds an exciting element to any length of journey allowing you to develop an intimacy with the land as you return time and time again to harvest the ocean’s delicacies.
Michelle stoking the coals for freshly caught fire roasted salmon wrapped in bull kelp.
Werner Paddles Cyprus AKA crab scooper with athlete Jason Learned
Crab, oysters, and muscles, OH MY!
Somewhat unappealing, yet succulently sweet sea urchin.
Before you decide to begin foraging, there are a few things to keep in mind. Always obtain proper permits and licenses for the area you’ll be in. Pay close attention to advisories and beach closures due to potential rising toxicity levels. Practice good stewardship and harvest sustainably ensuring more to come for future generations. Finally, use guidebooks and consult locals as resources for collecting and preparing food, or better yet, go with someone with foraging knowledge to avoid an unpleasant experience.
Mmmm…bull kelp! Michelle’s favorite.
Photo credits: Michelle and Jason Learned
Locations:
Broken Group/Deer Group Vancouver Island: BC, Canada
Toleak Point: WA Coast
Deception Pass: WA
]]>Our recent China trip came together almost like a dreamed reality. So, let me first take you back a couple years to when I saw a photo of the Detain waterfalls and immediately knew I wanted to run them, and would love to get the first decent. I started putting in some real research an quickly realized that this incredible series of waterfalls was on the boarder of China and Vietnam, and was extremely unlikely to ever get the permission needed from both governments to be able to run this waterfall. After continuing to dig, and ever propose this project to some media and brands I continued to get shutdown. I decided to put this dream project on the back burner and decided to instead pursue other projects and dreams.
Fast forward 5-years later and I get an email out of the blue to come join a waterfall project in China for a TV show. I immediately was intrigued and accepted the invitation. I then invited Dane to come along as well. After a couple weeks of emails with our Chinese affiliates a glitch came up that they needed to change location. I was asked if we thought the Detain waterfalls would work, of which I was immediately excited about, though I also knew it had issues of it’s own with permission. Somehow within only a couple days they had received the green light to allow us to run the waterfalls and film the first decent.
My mind was blown, and I didn’t know exactly how they pulled it off, but I wasn’t going to sit by and miss this dream opportunity.
So Dane and I got our visas set, organized a couple kayaks from our Chinese distributor, and packed some gear to head to the land of Kung Fu.
Once in China we drove 3 hours from our final destination to the Detian waterfall valley. This concluded our 52 hours of travel to get to this area, which we also pretty much didn’t sleep during due to the 12 hour flip flop of time change. Our first real cultural experience was our breakfast noodles….yum. Hands down the breakfast noodles have been my favorite food in all of China. Once we finished our breakfast noodles, both Dane and I were pretty keen to check out the waterfalls that we had traveled so far to see. So we jumped on the bus with our full production company and went to the falls. The waterfalls were a big scale tourist site, with serval viewing platforms and boat tours, etc. It is pretty much the Chinese equivalent to Niagara falls, which made it seem even crazier that we somehow got the permission to kayak there. Dane and I were given the go ahead and approval to jump the fences and give the falls a full scout. Our only limitations was the simple fact that in absolutely no terms were we able to touch ground on Vietnamese land, which pretty much just meant “stay on river left at all times.” The waterfalls had serval different spouts and falls, some clean drops and others cascading onto shallow rock. There was one gorgeous looking 80+ footer that looked clean, but we were immediately shut down on the idea as it was on the Vietnam side. The water levels were also a bit low and dropping, which limited our line choice. We quickly realized that the TV show that we were filming was pretty much like a full on reality TV show, as Dane and I constantly had a camera in our faces.
After scouting and picking out our lines on the Detain waterfalls series, Dane and I felt ready. Though we had to wait for permission to run the drop, so we decided with the TV crew to check out another nearby drop for a bit of a warm up. The first drop we checked out was a 40-50ft drop, though it was too low volume and just barely flowing over the waterfall at all. We quickly realized that that we were in China during the sry season and most of the rivers were running at low flows. Luckily for us there was another nearby series called the “waterfalls of love” which was a triple drop sequence that had enough water for us. The waterfalls of love consisted of a 50ft drop followed by a wide 20ft rolling drop and then a final 6ft boof. Dane and I were stoked to find some water and were thrilled to finally get in our boats. Coming up to the first 50ft drop we got out for a quick scout and then felt ready to go. Dane went first and I watched from the lip. It seemed to me that Dane had a great line, though quickly I realized that Dane had hurt his shoulder upon impact. After making some hand signals I realized that Dane was ok, though possibly injured. Still up at the top I decided to continue on and drop the waterfall. I lined up the lip, ran the entry and hit my line just as I wanted. It felt perfect, though was still a bit of a bitter sweet joy as I knew that Dane was a bit injured. After talking with Dane at the bottom he told me that he was ok, just pretty sore and possibly tore a muscle. We together ran the next rolling drop and final boof to end off our first day in the water.
Once back at the hotel we started make plans for the next day, and the first decent of the Detain Waterfalls. After some discussions, Dane decided to make a plan in the morning depending on how he was feeling.
The next morning we got up and had breakfast and coffee while making our final plans for the day. Dane’s shoulder was still bothering him so he decided to take a rest day and help with safety and shoot photos while I would drop into the Detain waterfalls and attempt the first descent. So we drove into the park and I started to gear up. While getting ready we met up with the local super star Han Geng. Han Geng is a famous Chinese pop star who also wanted to learn to kayak, though first up was the waterfall descent. After getting gearing up I started the hike to the top and put into my kayak. I was on my own, as safety was left at the bottom and Dane was up on the balcony shooting photos. The line I had picked started off with a 8ft boof which was super fun. Next up was a 25fter, though the original line we had been looking at landed right beside an undercut and I decided I would jump this drop while on my own.
Next up was the main bottom 40ft drop and pinnacle of the Detain sequence. I goofed into the eddy, gave the high sign to our film crew and drone operators and peeled out into the current. I rolled over the edge and lined up the slight kicker part way down. The line was to hit the kicker to avoid the undercut cave behind and to the right of the drop. I hit the kicker perfectly tried to tuck up tight and landed softly. I was stoked and shouted out in celebration with our local Chinese paddlers. I then did a couple quick interviews with our TV crew before focusing the rest of the afternoon on teaching Han Geng how to paddle. He was a quick learner and picked up on the stoked and receipts quickly, even though we had a bit of a language barrier with his little English. We ended the day with a unique local meal that consisted of a lot of bugs. I was told that the meal was made only for VIP guests and they were so honored to share it with us. I wasn’t sure if that was true or just a ploy to get me to eat the bugs, though I felt obliged to try them anyways. Let’s just say I wasn’t the biggest fan of the bugs.
Though some of them (like the dragonflies), were ok, others (like the bees) were really hard to keep down. After our cultural meal we went to bed with the plans to hit up Detain one last time the following day along with Dane.
The next day was our final hurrah for Detain, and Dane still hadn’t run the falls, so it wasn’t a surprise that he was super keen to run the waterfalls regardless of his shoulder. He said it felt much better with the rest, though I know he was going to paddle either way. We had travelled too far, and knew this could quick possibly be the only time we could ever even get permission to run the this waterfall. With this in mind Dane decided to also attempt the second of the three tiers (the one I jumped around the day before), as he knew this might be our only after attempt. So this time Dane and I reversed our rolls, as I hiked in and ran safety for Dane on the first two drops. He styled them with ease and I then ran around to watch Dane drop the third and final of the waterfalls. While Dane was in-between the second and third drop a crew of armed military men came our of the jungle on the Vietnamese side calling for Dane to come to shore. He couldn’t tell what they were saying, though with the simple strict advice we had, which was to NEVER touch the Vietnamese shore, Dane decided to pass on the armed men and drop off the falls. Again, Dane made it look effortless and sold me on the idea of going again only after the armed police and military seemed to have left the scene. I gave Dane a quick high five and congrats, I grabbed my boat and went back to the top for one last run at the series of drops, this time trying for all three in a row. Once at the top I lined up a new view on the top 8ft boof that would set me up for the second 25ft drop. I rolled off the edge and stomped down my bow for a super soft landing of the low volume drop. Next up was the boof into the eddy and off the main drop. I quickly could notice a difference of water levels from the day before I realized our little bit of water was decreasing and the levels were dropping. I continued on, and just like the day before, I gave the high sign, put in my mouth guard and dropped over the edge. Again I was able to hit the kicker ledge at just the right angle to stay vertical but out infant of the landing and away from the cave. I was stoked. I had successfully dropped the first decent the day prior and then gone back to do it again with Dane. We were both thrilled about the drop and stoked to see our new friend Gang Han at the bottom of the drop waiting for us. We were all stoked and give off several high fives as our film crew documented our level of stoke. We went back to our hotel to finish off our evening with an epic sunset, some cold beers, and tons of great Chinese dishes. There were still some bugs on the menu though this time it was the noodles and veggies that caught my appetite.
On our final day consisted of some more filming and interviews, some hiking around and then a drive back to the main city. The irony of our waterfall descent was that only after finishing kayaking did we hear news that the Vietnamese government had retracted their allowance and no longer wanted us to paddle the drop. Though luckily for us, we were already done. Once at the airport we said our goodbyes to our production crew and all our new friends. Dane and I grabbed one last delicious Chinese meal, the hot pot, which is like a Chinese fondue of sorts, and then we started our 2-days of flight to get back home.
All in all it was an incredible trip, and a dream come true to see the Detain waterfalls in person and beyond words to get to be the first people to paddle the waterfalls. I would love to go back and attempt some of the drops on the Vietnamese side, though between our super fortunate opportunity and the simple fact that Vietnam no longer wanted us there, I’m guessing that might not happen anytime soon. I guess for now I’ll just stick with the memories I have from this incredible trip.
Check out Nick's video at the below link,
]]>WERNER PADDLES: We welcome Chev Dixon to the Werner Paddles Touring Team. Chev thanks for chatting with us. How long have you been paddling?
CHEV DIXON: Sure! Thanks for bringing me on board… I have been paddling for 10 years.
WP: Where did you grow up at and where did you learn to paddle?
CD: I grew up in Jamaica where I spilt my time between the capital Kingston and a parish in the mountains called Trelawney. I’m still learning how to paddle although my first exposure was in Yonkers, NY on the Hudson River in 2009.
WP: It looks like you get a lot of folks on the water who live in the big city. Could you explain your mission to share the natural experience with your students?
CD: Yes, through the Hudson River Riders program I get to help people get out on the river and explore. My mission is to help as many underserved people as possible to get the opportunity to paddle. I want my students to understand that nature is for all of us and it is absolutely necessary for them to have that experience. It is good for the mind body and spirit.
Photo by Chuck Grimmett IG @cagrimmett
WP: About how many folks have you shared paddling with over the past year?
CD: Roughly 1200 people over the past year. Through Hudson River Riders and my travels last year, I had many opportunities to share the sport. My favorite was teaching kayaking in Soufriere, Dominica to the local youth. They were really curious children eager to try something new.
Photo by Lynda Shenkman IG @Kayakerlynda
WP: What is your favorite discipline within paddling? And your favorite paddle and paddle powered craft for that job?
CD: I am definitely a sea kayaker dabbling between Greenland and Euro style paddling. I enjoy using Greenland paddles for rolling and the Werner Cyprus for touring. When I’m instructing I switch between the Cyprus and the Ikelos to demonstrate finesse and power. I switch the boats up a lot because different boats behave differently, but for day to day paddling, I like my Boreal Ellesmere.
WP: Do you see the club and boathouse model as something that could be more widespread in the US to help expose more to quality boats and gear for kayak touring and standup?
CD: Yes definitely, I think the boat club model helps because people get access to a variety of paddles and boats to learn the fundamentals without owning them. This experience will also help paddlers decide on which boat and paddles to choose.
Photo by Lynda Shenkman IG @Kayakerlynda
WP: What do you have planned for 2020 with your paddling goals and travels?
CD: This year I want to paddle in Dominica again and take a few more west coast trips. My main goal is to continue fighting for diversity in paddle sports. Provide more opportunity for black and brown people to get outside and experience the peace the water offers. Majority of the people in paddle sports are white and as a result, communities of color get overlooked. Not saying we need to take access away from white people, but there should be better efforts of inclusion and access for others as well. For example, if a boathouse or club in a neighborhood where the majority are people of color, then the boathouse should reflect that community.
WP: What genre of paddling have you wished to try that you haven’t been able to sample yet?
CD: I haven’t canoed much, so that’s where I need to get more experience. Now that I have a dog I want to canoe more for an easier fit for both of us.
Photo by Chuck Grimmett IG @cagrimmett
WP: We have seen that you care a lot about our environment and choices that impact the future of our world, could you tell us about your views and actions around sustainability?
CD: Yes indeed, I believe I came from the earth so it is my duty to do everything to serve and protect it. Sustainability starts with the self, so individually, we have the power to take control of our impact. Also, collectively we have to become sustainable people in order to have a greater impact. Spend more time in nature and incorporate activities that inspire people to be more conscious about the earth. We also have to empower each other so that we have strong leaders with the ability to covey information in an unbiased, simple and effective way. The word sustainability means something different for everyone and we have to share information in a language that others can understand.
WP: Great to have you on the team and we are glad your out there spreading the message about how fun paddling can be, and how wonderful it is to adventure in the outdoors!
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