SUMMER2016
MOUNTAINLIFEBLUEMOUNTAINS
45
ONTARIO-BORNPROKAYAKERSKALOBGRADYANDBENMARRTALKABOUT
WATERFALLDROPSANDHOWMEDIATELLSLESSTHANHALFTHESTORY
words :: Carmen Kuntz
Standing in line at the grocery store, you pick up a magazine. Flipping it open
you pause on a photo: a tiny red kayak embedded in a frothing vertical wall
of water. The image is crisp and clean—just a solo paddler and a massive
waterfall. Gripping the glossy pages, you say to yourself: “
Dudemustbecrazy—
howdidhesurvive that?
”
When we view adventure sports through the media, we are spectators, privy only to the information
within the frame or the video screen. We don’t see what goes on before and after the shutter
closes. For whitewater kayaking that means missing a world of information that makes up the big
picture. We don’t see the athletes study the rapids before the drop, scouting the location at low
water to assess the depth and landing. We don’t see the team gathered on shore discussing rescue
plans A, B and C and we don’t see the team pack up and head home when the level isn’t right or
the consequence too big.
BEFORE
THE
"Dudemust be crazy..."KalobGrady commits toTwistedPleasure, Rio Jalacingo,Mexico. ALFREDOMARTINEZ
