OT: Kayaking new record set in PNW

Sella · Mon May 18, 09 2:47 pm **OT: Kayaking new record set in PNW**

Tyler Bradt, 22, kayaked over the 186-foot Palouse Falls in Southeastern Washington on April 21, breaking the waterfall world record by 59 feet. Sports Illustrated just released footage of the drop.

http://www.themountainculture.com/2009/05/14/sports-illustrated-palouse-falls-footage/

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Nice line for the first 60 feet! Wonder when you reach terminal velocity in a kayak.

This guy and the Jesus Huck dude should have a baby...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0SDQcm0VcU

Fun to watch when they don't eat death

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon May 18, 09 4:38 pm

Is that more skill or just balls?

FunShui · Since 16 Jul 2006 146 Posts Really, really Stoked

Definitely both.

Like G said, perfectly lined up for the first 60 or so, then folded in to the inevitable monster flow, surfacing with a broken paddle and sprained wrist. Really awesome. The kid has talent and giant cojones.

I've seen people get vertebral compression fractures from 20 ft. waterfalls.

It's all in the boof.

I do wonder if he had any other injuries. He looked a little stunned at the end.

Sella · Mon May 18, 09 8:04 pm

He did look a little stunned.....probably because he was still alive.

I wonder what he was thinking, or praying, just before he went over ??? Eventually his cajones and skills got him to his "best day of my life" quote.

I don't have an exact day in my life I can can pinpoint as the "best" but I hope I don't have to drop 19 stories to find it. Shocked

boonedog · Since 22 Jul 2006 49 Posts Hood River

Tyler is just the man, thats all there is to it. Stompin' the stout since day one

backtoCaLi · Since 15 Mar 2008 74 Posts Nor-Cal

I gots to agree with tha boondog- Hell Yea Tyler is "Da Man!" he has been droppin tall ones for a while, uhhh.. training. I dont think this record will fall anytime soon.

On another record waterfall note, PNW paddler Christie Glissmeyer claimed the womens waterfall record recently on Metlako falls (80+ Ft) on Eagle creek.

boonedog · Since 22 Jul 2006 49 Posts Hood River

Christie styled Metlako! It was very awe-spiring to see her drop it with my own eyes, gets me so AMPED!

lanej · Since 22 Jul 2007 8 Posts New Member

I was there and T-Bradt had a minorly sprained wrist and the wind knocked out of him for a bit. It was the most insane thing I have ever seen. Photos are out in the newest SI and Nat Geo Adventure will have a short writeup and photo essay on the day.

I have to say that Tyler is the most fitting person to run a falls like that. He has years of experience running lots of 60-110ftrs and sticking them. Most people dismiss it as a kooky thing to do - which definately has some validity - but he stuck it no doubt.

pdxmonkeyboy · Tue May 19, 09 9:18 am

I can only imagine what must be running through his head as he is rapidly heading downstream to the abyss. I think I would be thinking, "your going to break your spine, your never going to walk again, your never going to walk again, dude, this may kill you, I'm going to die, this is sooo stupid, this is soo stupid......... aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh".

Hats off to him though, he has got balls that clank for sure.

tinyE · Since 21 Jan 2006 2004 Posts not really an XTreme Poster

as i'm getting older, i'm realizing more and more that the term "balls of steel" really mean, "lacking critical brain power"

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Vertebel compression fractures...

I have had two good friends die running waterfalls - hard to persuade a 22 year old rockstar that the law of averages will catch up - if Tyler and Christie were my buds, probably bitch-slap them em and tell em to think about Mom (sorry Mom!)

lanej · Since 22 Jul 2007 8 Posts New Member

Risk is relative to knowledge. Tyler and everyone there believed it was totally doable. Half of the people there had run 100+ foot waterfalls.

If I didnt know as much about kayaking as I do I would think it was a way more kooky and loose thing to do also. No doubt it is pretty retarded stunt to put yourself through though. Nevertheless, we were all believers.

chanson · Since 31 Jan 2006 1874 Posts WISCONSIN Chimey

Hats off for sure..!

looks crazy yes...and def. is crazy... but just doesn't do it for me..

kinda reminds me of the skier who I guess got the highest drop on skies in Jackson... landed on his head, flat, and they claimed it...
to me dropping these huge features with no transition is not too exciting... more like watching Spike TV with some insane crashes where the rider should'nt have walked away but somehow he does....

I'm sure its super burly and a major rush, but just seems kinda weird... if you are dropping from that height to a flat landing and then appear later out of snow or water, is it really "riding away" or just "surviving a fall"....?

not bashing...I think its f-ing burly and insane Twisted Evil

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Thats sorta what i was thinking Jake - the vid is posted at the top of the page.

A 10 year-old kid survived swimming over Niagra falls (so awesome - hey those parents suck!)

No matter how skilled - you must admit that luck plays some part in this - he sprained his wrist not his neck

forrest · Tue May 19, 09 11:09 am

Ya'll are acting the same way most people in a sport act when something happens way before it's time. Accept it, it's the new standard for kayaking. Imagine kiteboarding without kiteloops.

pdxmonkeyboy · Tue May 19, 09 11:26 am

If I locked myself in a barrel, and then strapped that barrel to a kayak and launched off of Niagara falls, could I claim that i kayaked over Niagara falls?

I might be willing to try that...if my wife says its ok first.