SPRING 2011


DIRTY DOZEN FEATURES 30 PLASTIC SURGERY 34 HARDEST RUNS


Cold water + craggy runs = cracked boats. Keeping you abreast of the latest boatox procedures you can do at home—cosmetic and reconstructive.


IN THE NORTHEAST High water opens the gnarliest runs in New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Tougher than spring exams at Harvard and Yale, the local lowdown on the 12 steepest, woodiest, wildest descents in the Ivy League states.


36 NEW ZEALAND—


ENDLESS SUMMER Gin-clear rivers, heli shuttles and really bizarre birds—veteran defector Tyler Fox shows winter weary wanderers where to point their wheels and plant their paddles at the bottom of the world.


p.34 COVER: KELSEY THOMPSON, BIG HORN RIVER, AB. PHOTO: RYAN CREARY • THIS PAGE: ELI HELBERT, LOWER MOOSE RIVER, NY. PHOTO: ANDREW WESTWOOD Departments


RIVER SIGNALS 7


WATERCOLORS


12 Deep inside the Ashlu’s Commitment Canyon, wicked tat, acrobatic open boating.


STANDING WAVES


16 First-time flows in Oregon, how to get naked without getting arrested, and traveling the world saving rivers with Currents.


18 RIVER ALCHEMY: Perception before action—in a crisis, making sense can


make the difference between life and death.


22 PADDLER PROFILE: Extreme racer and Dagger team leader Andrew


Holcombe doesn’t fit the mold of ruthless champion…except for the trophy mantle in his living room.


GEAR BAG p.29 POUR OVER


COMMUNITY: Pimping your ride, goodbye Palmer Fest, winter kayaking lessons.


10 OFF THE TONGUE: The Rapid Book of Awesome.


24 KAYAK TECHNIQUE: Bottom of Gorilla, in the Hole that Ate Chicago, atop the massive boils of Callaghan Creek— three pros share their favorite rolls for dicey situations.


25 OPEN CANOE TECHNIQUE: Should solo boaters back ferry? Beth Kennedy


says yes.


26 BOAT INSIDER: Pyranha’s free running Varun equals downriver fun. If you’re


not in the Esquif L’Edge open creek boat, you’re taking up too much space.


26 RIVER 411: Experimenting with different positions—matching your tripping style


to your oar rig.


28 CLASS THREE: New column celebrating the best of class III. This


issue: Smokin’ spring park ‘n’ play spots.


29 GEAR BAG: Stay dry on any budget with these stylish new tops and


bottoms from Level Six, Kokatat and NRS.


FLUSHED 46 Why mountaineering is more extreme.


www.rapidmag.com 3


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