tylers waterfall record broke

[waterhog]

http://arkansaswhitewater.com/viewforum.php?f=4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Fish]

If so, those are some serious Swedish meatballs.

Looks like this will continue at least until there is a really major injury. I guess when you're paralyzed for life, that's how you know the waterfall is too high...

- Fish

[waterhog]

people have paralized themself on 20 foot wqater falls i dont see that stopping nor do i see those pros stoping i think the next thing is the technology will have to get better as far as the equipment gos but i dont see it stoping because someone breaks a back or gets killed lots of people have died kayaking maybe not because of sheer impact with the pool jessie sharp was never found and they continue to fire it up how do you explain that fish

[FarPastGone]

http://vimeo.com/18712495" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That is the 70fter on the Middle Palguin in Chile.

[waterhog]

so its a lie huh just a dingie run what a joke

[A Savage spanke]

What a joke? Running a 70 footer in a dingy is no joke.

[Fish]

I was joking about paralysis being the sign that you've gone too far (a grim joke that reminds me of the joke about how to rate a rapid: class 3 if you make it, class 4 if you flip, class 5 if your swim, and class 6 if you die). But in all seriousness, if (when?) one or two of the top pro waterfall jumpers get hurt bad or killed, it's bound to have a chilling effect on the race to run ever bigger falls. Hard to see how it wouldn't.

I think a lot of today's top creek boaters look at Sharp and think that he wasn't that prepared or all that skilled, but was just going for it. They see themselves as far more prepared and skilled than he was. And they're probably right. It's a little hard to defend a guy who purposefully wasn't wearing a helmet or PFD when he went over Niagara. So I suspect Sharp getting killed will seem very different than Brandt getting killed. Not a lot of top paddlers would say Brandt isn't as prepared and skilled at jumping big falls as a human can possibly be. In other words, Brandt ain't no Sharp.

I'm not opposed at all to someone running big waterfalls. I've pointed out on this board several times before than "crazy" is definitely a relative term. There are tons of people who think even class 3 kayaking is crazy. I've been called crazy more than once. Hell, I did some stuff in my 20's where I might deserve it. But I was pretty good for back then, even though I was never as prepared or had as much skill as you do Chuck. Equipment, skill, etc. just keeps on getting better and better, and what's possible (as well as what's routine) keeps getting pushed further and further out., That's true for pros running giant waterfalls as well as casual boaters running the Upper Gauley.

I'm not calling anyone crazy and I'm not saying that these big waterfalls shouldn't be run. I'm just wondering out loud when we're going to see the injuries/deaths that seem inevitable and wondering what that will do to extreme edge of the sport.

- Fish

[A Savage spanke]

I honestly thought multiple people would die before Tylers record was beaten, the human body has it limits.

[waterhog]

ive heard jessie ran several 70 + footers before hand and yes he made some bad decs (not wearing life jacket) ect. but i think for the period of time that was done in he was about a prepared as anybody at that time maybe he truly thought that no life jac would help him who knows what was going threw his mind then

when someone dies from sheer impact even though they have a good line yes that will send shevers up spines but they"ll just develope gear and or boats that will absorb impact as tyler did with his sprayskirt

[Fish]

Good point about gear enhancements making more things possible. I wonder if purists will debate whether attempts made with boats / gear that have lots of extras are not even "real" kayaking? Or maybe a "supermodified" class of kayaks/kayakers with asterisks by the world records? :)

I'd bet that given enough time, the late, great William Nealy will prove to be visionary and eventually waterfalls will be run with kayaks outfitted with rockets and parachutes (not to mention grenade launchers)! :-)

- Fish

[canoe]

Have any of you actually seen the video? Just saw it on Vimeo via Boatertalk. No special equipment, no advances, not actually a successfull run, unless you count not dieing. TB still has the record from what I saw. dale

[Lazer]

Almost as good at the Mako Shark and Shamu runs over Celestial Falls in the film 'No Big Names II: Amped'

[knu2xs]

Big waterfalls = big balls

There are plenty of rapids requiring infinitely more skill to execute, and moves can easily be set on class IV demanding twice as much skill. Measuring skill in feet...sounds strikingly similar to measuring something else...and is almost as accurate a determinant.

[Cathy]

Well put Joel.

[waterhog]

recently ohiopyle state park started allowing people access to the strait forward 18 footer after seeing thousands of safe decents on those falls and other falls even higher as far as class iv rapids requireing more skill than running a 180 foot waterfall thats a bunch of BS being able to put that fear aside is a skill within itself you not gonna be as worried about that class 4 rapid as you are that 180 i guaruntee it if you dont think thats true then go fire it up and if tou tell me it didnt take any more skill than a class 4 rapid then i will concur with you

as far as measuring things sounds like theres other things on your mind than kayaking