Issue link: http://bluemagazine.uberflip.com/i/25120
Addicted to running rivers. whitewater pi Igrims are constantly on the move to explore the earth's waterways. They are living a passion-not a trend. Migrant TEXT: AARON H. BIBLE whitewater addicts travel in search of the best whitewater on the sickest rivers and creeks. They scour the earth for gradient. they pioneer new rivers around the world. they follow national and international circuits of competi tion. And in the process. they are redefining the field of kayaking. "For surfers it was the Endless Summer, for skiers it was the Endless Winter; for others hell-bent on staying wet, kayaking provides the outlet," explains whitewater author Jeff Bennett. "Once you've got the fever, the only way to quench it is to dunk it-as often as possible." The motivation of the migration is paddling, but the essence of the cul ture is people and rivers. "Paddling different rivers often puts you in bizarrely different worlds," says Katie Nietert, who, along with well-known hairboater BJ Johnson. makes her living producing whitewater videos and video boating. "One day you can be in a canyon of sheer rock with churning gray water and 1,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), and the next day you can be on a creek with 300 cfs and emerald green water and dense vegetation all around you. One day you're surfing monster waves and the next day you're flopping off waterfalls. It's a love for the unexpected challenges and the feeling of accom plishment." Paddlers travel the globe to satisfy that feeling. Whitewater addicts. once they have paddled all the rivers in their states or regions or even the all the hotspots in the US, will always need more. Fortunately, international compe tition circuits. varying regional climates and ever-increasing travel opportuni ties allow paddlers to circle the globe to satisfy their thirst. The global flow of river seekers goes from Chile to Nepal, from Germany to Japan, from Croatia to Zimbabwe. from Costa Rica to New Zealand. PHOTOGRAPHY: OAN GAVERE in one location and paddle the same river day after ddlers are the ones who make their lives out of trav to another. paddling one river after another," says "The fact that paddlers travel is the bond that links doing this is doing it because it's what they love; only really getting anything monetary." explains rodeo itewater migrant Jimmy Blakeney, who spends his snowboarding industry and his summers traveling on about not getting caught up in the societal norm for be doing with your life." So how do they pull this lifestyle off? "Ramen noodles. loans from Mom and old VW buses ... says Jeff Bennett. . - Others rely on boat company sponsors. gear sponsors. parental sponsors. photo incentives, win incentives. instructional clin ics. video kayaking, according to Clay Wright. whitewater pilgrim. renowned steep creeker and squirt boat champion. The transient nature of river-seeking paddlers makes for a good exchange with kayak and other whitewater-oriented companies. "Our prod ucts are seen all over the world." says Wave Sport's Lovett. "When paddlers see someone from out of town in a brand they rarely see pull out and do tricks none of the locals have ever seen. it's. ·hey. that boat rips. I must have one.'" Sponsored or not, the people within this culture keep it rolling. "The peo ple you meet along the way are a big part of this migration." says Nietert. "There's nothing like traveling thousands of miles full of anticipation about what you will be paddling-and seeing a friend there when you arrive." •