Big Splashes and Big Crashes

[ARzach]

I believe there was a fair amount of debate related to spinal injury and big drops back when everyone was following T. Bradt's record awhile back. I ran across this interesting write-up from Tyler on Dagger's website:

http://www.teamdagger.com/profiles/blog ... e-paddling" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It has sparked some interesting debate about everything from risk-assessment, to insurance coverage at the Professional Level of our sport over on the Northeast Paddler's Message Board:

http://www.npmb.com/cms2/e107_plugins/f ... php?170055" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I know there are not that many big-drop experts here in AR, but there are a few I would wager. As someone who tends to prefer big drops to technical rapids, Disclaimer: I am not a "big-drop afficionado" or expert as I am nowhere near the level of paddling many of you are, I am curious what folks out there have to say.

This story reminds me of a conversation Matt Taylor and I had regarding one of our local heros, a well respected and highly talented boater and pioneer of many steepies in AR. The gist of our conversation was "the reason this (not-to-be-named b/c he doesn't seem to relish too much attention ) person is still consistently out there firing up amazingly quality runs, is because he has been smart enough to walk when it doesn't feel right, or when the risk is higher than the reward." Don't get me wrong, this guy has ran some big, big stuff, and taken his lickings :shock:, but shows no signs of slowing down at 40 +/- years old. It's a lesson I've been processing and taking to heart over the last couple of years, because I hope to be able to paddle quality class IV-V- whitewater well into the years that many of my age-group will be opting for rocking-chairs instead of waterfalls.

[ARzach]

In reviewing what I said, I'd like to point out that I didn't intend to imply that 40 +/- years old was in anyway close to time for most folks to be choosing "rocking chairs over waterfalls." It is just a time when it becomes evident who will/will not be out there firing up whitewater for another 20 or so years...

Just clarifying, so as not to rattle any old-guy cages



--Zach W.

[RomanLA]

Thanks for posting! I can tell you being a 40+/- year old paddler definitely gives you a different view of things. When you're scouting something at the top of your abilities, things like a wife and kids depending on you being able to work pop into your head. With that said, I'm chomping at the bit for another shot at the waterfall I portaged last year...don't tell my wife! lol

[RandyJ]

In reviewing what I said, I'd like to point out that I didn't intend to imply that 40 +/- years old was in anyway close to time for most folks to be choosing "rocking chairs over waterfalls." It is just a time when it becomes evident who will/will not be out there firing up whitewater for another 20 or so years...

Just clarifying, so as not to rattle any old-guy cages



--Zach W.

I'm 53 and I'm coming to kick your punk _ss. </kidding>

Hope I can still fire up the IV-IV+ stuff at least the rest of this decade...long as the eyesight and reflexes are there.

Haven't read the article yet...marked for later.

[Heath]

In reviewing what I said, I'd like to point out that I didn't intend to imply that 40 +/- years old was in anyway close to time for most folks to be choosing "rocking chairs over waterfalls." It is just a time when it becomes evident who will/will not be out there firing up whitewater for another 20 or so years...

Just clarifying, so as not to rattle any old-guy cages



--Zach W.

I'm 53 and I'm coming to kick your punk _ss. </kidding>

Hope I can still fire up the IV-IV+ stuff at least the rest of this decade...long as the eyesight and reflexes are there.

Haven't read the article yet...marked for later.

you sir are exempt from the age rule
I will have to agree with roman on the wife, kids, and being able to take care of them. I have walked a few rapids that I would have probly given a shot had it not been for them. in return i can say They have helped keep me safe

its really funny to watch a good group of paddlers pick a hard run apart. there are so many different styles and likes/dislikes that eventully most rapids get run, maybe not by everyone in the group but by somebody.

its also cool to see someone you wouldnt expect to step up and run something, simply because there haveing a good day on the river.

[Eric Esche]

Do it while you can.

I'm 59 and counting - and the count right now is 45% remaining heart function, 5 bad discs they do not want to operate on, and a knee they say needs total replacement soon. Cardiologist is doing a stress test next Friday to clear me for surgery. Quit playing boat ball 2 years ago, haven't been in my Skreem in a year, and now gladly tandem open more than I solo open and have run nothing in last two years over a fair II maybe a III, but still get out 100+ days/nights a year if you count sea kayak on the lake and opens on scenic rivers.

Doctors say it is nothing I've done, other than pick the wrong parents and live too long, and then throw in that I'm in better shape and more active than most folks would be with same conditions. I know that, but it doesn't make it any easier.

Anyhow, be safe, use good judgement, but do it now if you want to ever do it, and it is worth the risk and you have the skill. And get someone to take your picture or a movie doing it. Someday you wil get tired of no one believing you've been there and done that. Will probably buy a raft someday again, as I know I can still drive those.

Eric Esche

[Mike_P]

Great thread. As someone who sat with his 16-mos-old son in an intensive care a few years ago (during Canoe School weekend of all times) due to a medical illness, not to mention the stuff I see at work every day....I'm very thankful to God for every day I get to paddle & do my best to make decisions that allow me to come back & do it all over again...And getting better about documenting these memories.

Be safe. Mike

[RandyJ]

I will have to agree with roman on the wife, kids, and being able to take care of them. I have walked a few rapids that I would have probly given a shot had it not been for them. in return i can say They have helped keep me safe

its really funny to watch a good group of paddlers pick a hard run apart. there are so many different styles and likes/dislikes that eventully most rapids get run, maybe not by everyone in the group but by somebody.

its also cool to see someone you wouldnt expect to step up and run something, simply because there haveing a good day on the river.

Great observations, Heath. Sometimes surprising to see who chooses to walk, and who chooses to run. I usually use the "Let Mikey try it" approach...let someone else go first. :shock: Maybe it's a little more than coincidental that line is from a "Life" cereal commercial?

[Fish]

I know I slowed down about one full gear after I dropped Rattlesnake Falls and hit bottom hard. Very lucky to walk away from that one. I'd have had a very different life in the past 10 years if that 2 seconds had gone just a bit differently...

I was never a "big drop" guy in the same sense of what that means today, but I ran a lot of drops in my 20's where a bad landing would have been very serious. I both had more and less to lose then than I do today - fewer years to lose now, but a lot more in terms of my wife and children. My biggest, craziest stuff is all behind me now, and I'm OK with that. I'm proud to be in the same group as Randy Jackson, Dave Reid, and many others.

But I gotta admit, I still feel a pull toward my boat every time I watch someone run a drop I wouldn't run these days. I sometimes yearn for those 20-something days when I would push the boundaries out a bit. While I don't want to encourage anyone to do stupid things, doing something a little stupid every now and then is a good thing.

The "Team Stupid" guys I boated with a bunch in the past 10 years were not stupid because they went for it in crazy looking drops. I remember everyone doing their fair share of portaging to make it a safer trip for themselves and everyone else. The best paddlers I know have always been the ones who sometimes are watching others run what they don't... and who sometimes run what no one else does.

No, we were stupid because we willingly, no joyfully, hiked into the tops of steep gorges in the pouring rain with little plastic boats and the goal of coming out the bottom, hopefully in the same day. Didn't matter if we boated class 2 or class 5, or if we ran everything or portaged most of it. We just showed up and did it.... and had a lot of fun and adventure along the way.

A lot of great Ozark paddlers I know fit that description. I think Team Stupid has a very wide (if highly disorganized) membership. I plan to be an active member till I can't lift a paddle anymore, even if I'm no longer pushing the limits so hard that they yell "hey, stop pushing me!"

- Fish

[Ryan Center]

I'm beginning to think we need to change the name from Team Stupid to Team Stumped!