Tales from the Cripps – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Pedro Oliva had a dream when he was just a kid, that he was going to see the world and do something great. A good way to fulfill that dream? Be the guy that Ben Stookesberry can count on to always say "yes" to his next crazy mission.

That attitude propelled Pedro around the world on countless kayaking expeditions, gave him a brief stint as the world waterfall descent record holder, and landed him as the star of a syndicated television program showcasing his adventures.

Using his energy, passion, and recognition, he's now focused on passing on his experience to the next generation and raising awareness around the importance of protecting the natural environments that he's spent a lifetime exploring.

Find Pedro on instagram at @pedroolivakaiak
You can find a multitude of media on Pedro on the internet.

Check out the awesome Red Bull film Locked In documenting their first descent of the Beriman Gorge at: https://www.redbull.com/us-en/films/locked-in

A super interesting video documenting the history of the highest waterfall record descents in a kayak compliments of kayakhistory on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cer_5T3AUER/?id=2858659403761008913_48729946411

An article by Eugene Buchanan with a nice compilation of large waterfall descents: https://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/going-over-and-staying-in

An awesome account of running Anaconda Falls by Jesse Coombs: https://oregonkayaking.net/tales/anaconda/anaconda.html

A clip of Rafa Ortiz's descent of Anaconda Falls: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1812859069146646

Today's episode's sponsors:

4Corners Riversports
4Corners Riversports is located in Durango, Colorado. They are a full service paddlesports retail and rental store! If you are looking to get on the water, look no further than 4Corners Riversports. Call them at 970-259-3893 or visit their website www.riversports.com

Taylor Barker with The Group Real Estate Steamboat
I have known and paddled with Taylor for years. If you're interested in purchasing a property in the Steamboat area, Taylor is happy to share his expertise and help you find the perfect property. You can reach him at 336-314-4353 or by email at taylor@brokerintheboat.com.

This podcast is being featured in the podcast section of paddlinglife.com.  If you haven’t already visited the site, check it out for news, stories, reviews, and just about anything related to the paddling life.

For comments, questions, or if you have a story worth sharing, pitch it to me:
talesfromthecripps@gmail.com

Send me a text message with any comments, questions, or suggestions.

Support the show

From humble childhood float trips on the Colorado River to navigating some of the stoutest whitewater in Ecuador, Will Griffith has some stories to tell. In today's episode we might rattle a few cages discussing some controversial paddling behaviors, but there's no denying the paddling skills of Jamboy, and that he's made an imprint on the paddling scene. So open your ears, open your mind, open your heart, and let's go jammin'.

Here are links to some of the videos we discussed:
Climb - Yosemite 2013 (includes a clip of the Yosemite waterfall footage)
Gore Canyon - Kayaking & Climbing - Griffith Brothers
Gore Canyon 8400-8600 cfs



Today's episode's sponsors:

4Corners Riversports
4Corners Riversports is located in Durango, Colorado. They are a full service paddlesports retail and rental store! If you are looking to get on the water, look no further than 4Corners Riversports. Call them at 970-259-3893 or visit their website www.riversports.com

Taylor Barker with The Group Real Estate Steamboat
I have known and paddled with Taylor for years. If you're interested in purchasing a property in the Steamboat area, Taylor is happy to share his expertise and help you find the perfect property. You can reach him at 336-314-4353 or by email at taylor@brokerintheboat.com.

This podcast is being featured in the podcast section of paddlinglife.com.  If you haven’t already visited the site, check it out for news, stories, reviews, and just about anything related to the paddling life.

For comments, questions, or if you have a story worth sharing, pitch it to me:
talesfromthecripps@gmail.com

Send me a text message with any comments, questions, or suggestions.

Support the show

Who is Brad Higginbotham: Stunt man? Mad man? Lover? Naturalist? Cover boy? Educator? Family man?

Find out that and more in this episode of Tales from the Cripps with Whitewater of the Southern Rockies cover boy Brad Higginbotham.

0:00            Introduction
9:00            If I could just get off of that L.A. freeway
30:24         Rediscovering kayaking and more
43:00         Living in Washington state
1:03:33     Climbing back from rock bottom
1:11:00     Training for the Stikine
1:20:19     High water in Russia
1:28:15     High water in Baker's Box
1:31:50     Waste not want not with the pooper's society
1:43:47     Q&A
1:53:56     Conclusion

Today's episode's sponsors:

4Corners Riversports
4Corners Riversports is located in Durango, Colorado. They are a full service paddlesports retail and rental store! If you are looking to get on the water, look no further than 4Corners Riversports. Call them at 970-259-3893 or visit their website www.riversports.com

Taylor Barker with The Group Real Estate Steamboat
I have known and paddled with Taylor for years. If you're interested in purchasing a property in the Steamboat area, Taylor is happy to share his expertise and help you find the perfect property. You can reach him at 336-314-4353 or by email at taylor@brokerintheboat.com.

This podcast is being featured in the podcast section of paddlinglife.com.  If you haven’t already visited the site, check it out for news, stories, reviews, and just about anything related to the paddling life.

For comments, questions, or if you have a story worth sharing, pitch it to me:
talesfromthecripps@gmail.com

Send me a text message with any comments, questions, or suggestions.

Support the show

I had the good fortune to sit down with paddle maker, fitter and turner, kayaker, sailor, adventurer, and all around crazy Kiwi, Mike Nash. Listen as he shares some adventures: learning to kayak in New Zealand, sailing around the world, and his most dangerous adventure of all, learning to make kayak paddles.

Hammer Factor, eat your heart out, because in the last half of this episode we'll explore some of the technicalities of paddle design and paddle making. For those looking lay treats, you'll learn the perfect feather angle, perfect paddle length, grip width, and more.

0:00                        Introduction
7:28                        Learning to paddle in New Zealand
17:24                     How not to paddle solo
21:01                     The pitfalls of wearing a PFD
22:52                     Sailing the seven seas
28:17                     How to roll a sailboa
34:00                     Vetting passengers to Madagascar 
42:08                     Discovering the Pacific Northwest             
47:50                     Fear and loathing in Fear Canyon in British Columbia 
51:20                     Finding the minivan of kayaks
59:14                     Founding Hard Core Paddles
1:41:21                Paddle Taxonomy
2:23:38                Conclusion

Want more?

If you're into #vanlife conversions, you haven't seen a true conversion until you see Mike's rig.
https://paddlinglife.com/travel/paddling-rigs-hard-core-paddles-owners-chevy-express-van-conversion-into-an-adventure-rig/

Learn how Mike found the perfect watercraft to take his wife and 2 large dogs whitewater paddling with him.
https://paddlinglife.com/canoeing/grabner-outside-inflatable-canoe-review/

Check out Hard Core paddles at:
https://hardcorepaddles.com/

Today's episode's sponsors:

4Corners Riversports
4Corners Riversports is located in Durango, Colorado. They are a full service paddlesports retail and rental store! If you are looking to get on the water, look no further than 4Corners Riversports. Call them at 970-259-3893 or visit their website www.riversports.com

Taylor Barker with The Group Real Estate Steamboat
I have known and paddled with Taylor for years. If you're interested in purchasing a property in the Steamboat area, Taylor is happy to share his expertise and help you find the perfect property. You can reach him at 336-314-4353 or by email at taylor@brokerintheboat.com.

This podcast is being featured in the podcast section of paddlinglife.com.  If you haven’t already visited the site, check it out for news, stories, reviews, and just about anything related to the paddling life.

For comments, questions, or if you have a story worth sharing, pitch it t

Send me a text message with any comments, questions, or suggestions.

Support the show

As David Olson put it, when running the Jarbidge Bruneau section, a series of remote canyons in southern Idaho, "we always thought, ... what would happen out here, if we had an incident..." Well, David and his two companions decided to put that question to the test when they missed a critical portage eddy and dropped into the largest rapid on the run completely blind.

Timeline
0:00               A misadventure on the Jarbidge Bruneau
1:55:44        Jon Hindman: bonus stories, joint replacements, and more

Today's episode's sponsors:

4Corners Riversports
4Corners Riversports is located in Durango, Colorado. They are a full service paddlesports retail and rental store! If you are looking to get on the water, look no further than 4Corners Riversports. Call them at 970-259-3893 or visit their website www.riversports.com

Taylor Barker with The Group Real Estate Steamboat
I have known and paddled with Taylor for years. If you're interested in purchasing a property in the Steamboat area, Taylor is happy to share his expertise and help you find the perfect property. You can reach him at 336-314-4353 or by email at taylor@brokerintheboat.com.

This podcast is being featured in the podcast section of paddlinglife.com.  If you haven’t already visited the site, check it out for news, stories, reviews, and just about anything related to the paddling life.

For comments, questions, or if you have a story worth sharing, pitch it to me:
talesfromthecripps@gmail.com

Send me a text message with any comments, questions, or suggestions.

Support the show

In late June through early July Orin and Rowan Gartner made their first descent down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon in kayaks. At age 10, Rowan tied Bodie Hilleke's record for the youngest known kayaking descent down the Grand Canyon. Orwin, at age 14, also made an impressively young descent. The flow for the trip was around 20,000 cfs, considered a high flow for the run.

Join me for a quick interview with the boys a week after they got off their trip to hear about the experience from their perspective.

To read more about the trip, check out this article in the Durango Herald.

Today's episode's sponsors:

4Corners Riversports
4Corners Riversports is located in Durango, Colorado. They are a full service paddlesports retail and rental store! If you are looking to get on the water, look no further than 4Corners Riversports. Call them at 970-259-3893 or visit their website www.riversports.com

Taylor Barker with The Group Real Estate Steamboat
I have known and paddled with Taylor for years. If you're interested in purchasing a property in the Steamboat area, Taylor is happy to share his expertise and help you find the perfect property. You can reach him at 336-314-4353 or by email at taylor@brokerintheboat.com.

This podcast is being featured in the podcast section of paddlinglife.com.  If you haven’t already visited the site, check it out for news, stories, reviews, and just about anything related to the paddling life.

For comments, questions, or if you have a story worth sharing, pitch it to me:
talesfromthecripps@gmail.com

Send me a text message with any comments, questions, or suggestions.

Support the show

This bonus episode is a companion piece to episode 14 with Abe Herrera. When Abe described his experience with a rescue on the Foss River, he noted that a Canadian crew had a pin on the same log, but their river rescue took almost 2 hours.

Well, I searched far and wide and tracked down a couple of the Canucks who were involved in the rescue, and they're here to tell their story.

This story from 2014 was written up from two perspectives on my guest Adam's blog. It's an interesting read.

Today's episode's sponsors:

4Corners Riversports
4Corners Riversports is located in Durango, Colorado. They are a full service paddlesports retail and rental store! If you are looking to get on the water, look no further than 4Corners Riversports. Call them at 970-259-3893 or visit their website www.riversports.com

Taylor Barker with The Group Real Estate Steamboat
I have known and paddled with Taylor for years. If you're interested in purchasing a property in the Steamboat area, Taylor is happy to share his expertise and help you find the perfect property. You can reach him at 336-314-4353 or by email at taylor@brokerintheboat.com.

This podcast is being featured in the podcast section of paddlinglife.com.  If you haven’t already visited the site, check it out for news, stories, reviews, and just about anything related to the paddling life.

For comments, questions, or if you have a story worth sharing, pitch it to me:
talesfromthecripps@gmail.com

Send me a text message with any comments, questions, or suggestions.

Support the show

Kayak Session coverboy, HBO documentary logistics man, swiftwater safety instructor, Ecuadorian river guide, international exploratory kayaker - today's guest wears many hats. I was lucky enough to sit down with Abe today, hear some of his stories, and in particular discuss how his experiences have influenced his approach to river safety and river rescue.

Find Abe at Boof Sessions where he can help you out with all aspects of your river trip to Ecuador.

Check out Ecuadorian Rivers Institute  and learn about how you can help protect the rivers of Ecuador.

Timeline
0:00                        Introduction
7:55                        Ecuador season
10:25                     Jondachi Fest and river conservation
27:20                     Interest in river safety
32:00                     Foss river rescue
41:00                     River safety basics
43:05                     Cispus river rescue
54:30                     Exploring the Rio Cofanes
1:06:00                 The controversial tow teather             
1:28:25                ** Green Truss accident
1:39:30                Concluding thoughts
** Warning, this story involves a fatality.

Today's episode's sponsors:

4Corners Riversports
4Corners Riversports is located in Durango, Colorado. They are a full service paddlesports retail and rental store! If you are looking to get on the water, look no further than 4Corners Riversports. Call them at 970-259-3893 or visit their website www.riversports.com

Taylor Barker with The Group Real Estate Steamboat
I have known and paddled with Taylor for years. If you're interested in purchasing a property in the Steamboat area, Taylor is happy to share his expertise and help you find the perfect property. You can reach him at 336-314-4353 or by email at taylor@brokerintheboat.com.

This podcast is being featured in the podcast section of paddlinglife.com.  If you haven’t already visited the site, check it out for news, stories, reviews, and just about anything related to the paddling life.

For comments, questions, or if you have a story worth sharing, pitch it to me:
talesfromthecripps@gmail.com

Send me a text message with any comments, questions, or suggestions.

Support the show

In this episode, Tales from the Cripps goes tubing with Rolf Kelly. But you're going to have to leave your foam cooler of beer at home for this tubing trip because when you're hanging out with Rolf, there's no such thing as taking it easy. If you've ever wondered how to prepare to tube a 100 ft waterfall in 10 years or less, you're going to want to tune into this one. 

Check out Metlako Falls in a tube as well some other beauties on Rolf's vimeo channel.

See Eric Boomer's report from Metlako Falls on the old The Range Life blog.

Timeline
0:00               Introduction
5:20               It takes 10-20 years to become an overnight success
7:30               Safety disclaimer
7:45               Hold your breath
11:20             NZ’s Turnbull river, lessons in breath holding
40:47             1st Descent Salmon River gorge
42:18             Tubing your troubles away at the Golden, CO playpark (Rigor Mortis)
1:00:50          Alaska
1:05:20         Futaleufu, Chile
1:18:20         Back in the kayak
1:22:09         Ldub tubing
1:23:15         Metlako with your tail between your legs
1:30:31         Resume building
1:35:25         Concluding thoughts

Today's episode's sponsors:

4Corners Riversports
4Corners Riversports is located in Durango, Colorado. They are a full service paddlesports retail and rental store! If you are looking to get on the water, look no further than 4Corners Riversports. Call them at 970-259-3893 or visit their website www.riversports.com

Taylor Barker with The Group Real Estate Steamboat
I have known and paddled with Taylor for years. If you're interested in purchasing a property in the Steamboat area, Taylor is happy to share his expertise and help you find the perfect property. You can reach him at 336-314-4353 or by email at taylor@brokerintheboat.com.

This podcast is being featured in the podcast section of paddlinglife.com.  If you haven’t already visited the site, check it out for news, stories, reviews, and just about anything related to the paddling life.

For comments, questions, or if you have a story worth sharing, pitch it to me:
talesfromthecripps@gmail.com

Send me a text message with any comments, questions, or suggestions.

Support the show

Alex Nicks may be one of the best kayakers you never heard of. His self-induced kayak affliction has taken him around the globe finding some of the best whitewater on the planet. In this episode he shares some of those unique experiences ranging from his time on the Zambezi river during a transformative time in kayak history, to exploring the arid mountains in the Middle East.

0:00     Introduction
5:30     Sandals vs. flip flops
9:40     Contracting the kayaking disease
12:10   Zambezi days
23:30   I tried
24:10   Murchison Falls
31:46   Iran
41:55   Mekong River
46:00   Reflections

Today's episode's sponsors:

4Corners Riversports
4Corners Riversports is located in Durango, Colorado. They are a full service paddlesports retail and rental store! If you are looking to get on the water, look no further than 4Corners Riversports. Call them at 970-259-3893 or visit their website www.riversports.com

Taylor Barker with The Group Real Estate Steamboat.
I have known and paddled with Taylor for years. If you're interested in purchasing a property in the Steamboat area, Taylor is happy to share his expertise and help you find the perfect property. You can reach him at 336-314-4353 or by email at taylor@brokerintheboat.com.

This podcast is being featured in the podcast section of paddlinglife.com.  If you haven’t already visited the site, check it out for news, stories, reviews, and just about anything related to the paddling life.

For comments, questions, or if you have a story worth sharing, pitch it to me:
talesfromthecripps@gmail.com

Send me a text message with any comments, questions, or suggestions.

Support the show