PADDLER 102
PADDLER 102
stern was getting caught on the entrance , and then it was a question of where the boils were sending you . If you flipped , you were going to the hole at the bottom of the drop ; if you made it upright , you were trying to get to the only piece of green water in the eddy to turn the kayak , set the angle and make the gate . If you were unlucky , the boils pushed you further lower in the eddy , killing your speed and ending your chance of a podium finish - it truly was an Extreme Slalom , and this was before the main waterfall !
It was a full day of extreme action , and by the end , we had the top three , but in my eyes , all the kayakers who competed on the second day were heroes .
The prize giving was in Pucon , where the party went on all night . What a couple of days !
Those two days of competitions were full of action , adrenaline , friendship and a community coming together .
THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF MY HIGHLIGHTS THROUGHOUT THE EVENT :
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The inaugural women ’ s event was a great addition . Though the ladies only raced on the first day , they put on a great show . I am sure this will inspire not only the future generation of female kayakers in and around Chile to come and compete not only to compete on the first day but the second day of racing especially set up for them to develop and show just what they can do on such a serious piece of whitewater ! Watching the youngest competitor of the race at the age of 13 ! Vicente Villagran certainly made his father proud , though I have to say his Mum was a nervous wreck watching her son race in the time trial , but he paddled well and learnt a lot , and while watching the second days action with his Dad , you could see Vicente ’ s goal of competing with the best in Chile as he gets older ! Also , the affection within the Chilean kayaking community ! Chile ’ s top kayakers were travelling across the country to come and compete . Travelling to Pucon from Patagonia is an adventure in itself . Seeing their support and respect for Santiago ’ s passion for organising the Mariman Race is truly special . And finally , I would say the opportunity for me to get some sweet shots that showcase Chile ’ s best whitewater kayakers !
STEVE BROOKS
Steve has lived in Austria for over 25 years , from being a place to come and work seasonally on the river to a base camp and finally making Austria his home ! Steve ’ s love for kayaking and adventure is infectious , especially in the kayak school he set up 12 years ago . Based out of the Arlberg Region in Western Austria , the school runs courses for beginners , coaching and instructing kayakers through all the whitewater grades , including creeking and river running . Between the kayaking season in Austria , Steve can be found kayaking , leading courses , adventure trips and expeditions in the Soča Valley , Indian Himalayas , Peru and Chile in South America . He speaks Austrian German like a local and has picked up a little bit of an Argentine dialect in Spanish .
When Steve is not kayaking , he searches for that perfect powder run in the backcountry in his home mountains of St Anton am Arlberg or riding his Royal Enfield Bullet in search of undiscovered rivers in the Himalayas .
With their stunning newly built lodge in the Andes above Pucon , Steve and Mati , a Chilean local , show guests some of the best rivers Chile has to offer , from Waterfalls to Big Water to Alpine Style . Steve loves taking his Canon 1DX and lenses out on the river , looking for that perfect shot that showcases a kayaker ’ s skill and technique and some of the most spectacular scenery and rivers on the planet !
Connect with Steve : www . gokayaking . at ; Facebook : SteveBrooks ; Instagram : @ kiste _ wala
Finally , a huge thanks go to everyone who supports me in being able to keep kayaking , travelling , exploring and having fun :
Peak Paddle Sports ; Striebel Designs Paddles ; Waka Kayaks and Arcteryx St . Anton - Austria