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MOUNTAINLIFEBLUEMOUNTAINS
SUMMER2016
“Theskill needed to run
certain rivers that look less
impressive issubstantially
higher than just hucking
yourself off awaterfall.”
–KalobGrady
Kayakers running support and safety are seldom seen in waterfall photos. Floating at the bottom,
they look like spectators but are ready to perform rescues if needed. Obstructed by trees and rocks
upstream there may be other paddlers running safety near the crux move—which is not always the
drop itself. “There are countless scenarios where the journey to the drop is more significant than
waterfall or rapid itself,” says professional kayaker Kalob Grady. “The buildup or training to accomplish
a goal can be themost rewarding part of a newwaterfall.” Ottawa Valley native Grady has competed
in freestyle kayaking and extreme racing on theworld stage. “The skill needed to run certain rivers that
look less impressive is substantially higher than just hucking yourself off a waterfall,” he says.
Learning tomake decisions on your own is part of developing as a paddler. Grady recounts a
moment in his younger paddling years when he ran a drop that was above his comfort level at that
time. “No one toldme I had to, and no one forcedme intomy boat,” he says. “I ended upmaking
my decision without any thought on skill or outcome, just the fact that I wanted to be at the
bottom.” This decision led Grady to compressing his back and sidelined him for a month. “[It] gave
me a tremendous amount of time to reflect onmy decision.” That incident, he says, has shaped his
paddling decision-making process. Every situation is different, but Grady often asks himself three
questions before a big descent or drop: “What am I doing, why am I doing it, and how am I going
to achieve this goal?” This allows him to step back from distracting emotions.
Just as each waterfall is different, so too is each paddler’s approach. “My decisions and how I make
them are in the moment,” say BenMarr, an Ontario-born but West Coast-based pro kayaker. “I take
into account my surroundings, my environment, who I’mwith—and how I feel, more than anything.”
Marr recounts a recent occasion where he chose not to run Sahalie Falls, a 100-foot waterfall on the
Mackenzie River in Oregon. Having run Koosah Falls earlier that day, he decided he didn’t want to
take the extra risk by running a drop with debris in it.
Grady believes that paddlers are supportive when someone decides not to run a waterfall.
“Kayakers will often respect others more for their decision to walk a waterfall, or say ‘no, not today’,
rather than putting the entire team in a sketchy situation.” Peer pressure still exists—but
KalobGradyon theBlackMasswave,RivièreMistassibi,Quebec. JOHNRATHWELL
KalobGrady. JOHNRATHWELL
