The
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-pedition PADDLERS WITHOUT BORDERS
Rivers opened countries, are the highways to reaches unreachable and the barriers to what’s around the bend. The lust to discover and explore is deeply ingrained in the human psyche, but the ability is harder to fi nd. For our Rivers Without Borders issue we bring you six of pad- dling’s great explorers, their sound advice, harrowing moments and what the future holds.
THESE PADDLERS HAVE BEEN THERE, DONE THAT AND WILL DO IT AGAIN, SO SHOULD YOU.
FACTOR
MARIANN SAETHER 27
PADDLER AND GUIDE OTTA, NORWAY
WHY SHE ROCKS: Once the stereotypical daddy’s girl, Norway’s Mariann Saether grew up far tougher than her pink tutu, slight fi gure and familiar ponytail may imply. “I was the most girly girl when I grew up, doing jazz-ballet, synchronized swimming and baton twirling,” says Saether, now earning a teacher’s degree between international paddling expeditions and running a Norwegian-based paddling adventure and guiding company. “My friends from high school still don’t understand what happened—I went from being a straight-A student to a river bum within weeks.” BIG BALLS AND GOOD LUCK: Several years ago she ran Laksforsen, one of Norway’s largest waterfalls with a huge lead-in rapid and a thin line down, ending with an eight-metre vertical drop. For her, it was a defi ning moment and solidifi ed her desire to explore. “It was a rapid that required technique in river running and waterfalling, plus big balls and a touch of luck,” Saether says. “I am the only girl to ever run it, and the line we ran had never before or since been run.” Along with partner Tyler Curtis, she recently completed a fi rst descent down the Rio Bravo in southern Patagonia, the fi rst major expedition that she helped plan and execute. “It was the perfect fi ve-day mission, with everything from class II to V, outstanding scenery, hard logistics and incredibly remote,” says Saether. She organizes trips for a living now, using a 400-year-old, mountain-view lodge as a base for Norwaydaze. IN OTHER WORDS: “Mariann’s ability to paddle expeditions, and lead them, is something that is remarkable in our paddling community,” says Curtis, a freestyle champion, seasoned expedition paddler and guide. “She is committed to all aspects of the sport, being at the highest level in creeking, expeditions, freestyle and big water paddling. She is one of the best all-round paddlers in the world, male or female.” LOOKING AHEAD: Anyone who recognizes Saether may be more familiar with her four Norwegian national freestyle crowns or three World Freestyle Championships appearances. While she is already training in Uganda for a shot at the Worlds in 2009 she is far more focused on a fi rst descent run being hammered out for this summer in Norway and another possible fi rst descent this fall in Tibet. “Expeditions defi ne me as a kayaker, they are my heart and soul and make me happy. There is no better thing than exploring,” says Saether. —NEIL ETIENNE
www.rapidmag.com 35
TEACHER IN TRAINING, PROFESSIONAL
RAPID
PHOTO JENSEN KLATT
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