PADDLER
After this, we knew what we needed to work on, so we returned to sections we had run before to dial in our body position, stroke placement, and boofs. We returned to Jalacingo, and roadside, we took some rest to finally be ready to hit the main section for Big Banana.
This time, we tackled the second half, from the waterfall down to El Silencio, where the IV( V) section of Big Banana starts. It was nothing short of spectacular – volcanic gorges cloaked in rainforest and whitewater that made every ounce of effort feel worth it.
We took our time scouting all the rapids, starting with Houdini through Curtain Drop and finishing with Freestyle Drop. For Meat Locker and Boof or Die, we took a quick portage and enjoyed all the other rapids along the way. It was an incredible experience, and we couldn’ t wait to paddle it more!
One of the crew who joined us, 65-year-old John Brian Clough, said it best,“ I have a book with pictures of this section, but I never thought I would ever have the opportunity to paddle it.”
That’ s what this trip was about – realising dreams, pushing limits, and discovering places we never thought we’ d reach.
GEAR, LOGISTICS, AND THE DREAM SETUP
Thanks to our hosts and Aventurec, logistics were seamless. We had a top-tier selection of boats to choose from – Jackson Gnarvana, Flow, Waka Steeze, Stoke – all ready to go. Shuttles ran like clockwork, meals were wholesome and delicious, and our only job was to show up and paddle.
PADDLER
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