Who knew? Turns out kayakers can have sick style as they pop, flip and surf big standing waves in some gnarly rivers.
Kayakers Bren Orton, Paul Palmer and Kalob Grady are all 19 years old and are apparently really really good kayakers. Their latest edit "XIX" (roman numerals for their age) even caught the eye of the good folks over at Tetongravity.com, no small feat!
Ladies and gentlemen, steez is no longer confined to the rails, boxes, and jumps of your local ski resort. Nineteen-year-old kayakers Bren Orton, Kalob Grady, and Paul Palmer go to work and murder this surf session on High Tension Wave on the Gatineau River in Ottawa. This is an absolute clinic if we’ve ever seen one.
If you’re not familiar, freestyle kayaking consists of performing tricks on a stationary river feature. Early variations of freestyle started in the 90s with competitions called “Rodeos.” As boat manufacturing and design advanced the sport, it took off in the early 2000s. Traditionally, playboats—like the ones seen in this edit—are shorter, stubbier, and lighter than their river running brethren. Recently the introduction of carbon-Kevlar materials has led to an explosion of creativity and progression on the river. As showcased in the edit, boaters can link tricks and aerial maneuvers for mind-bending results. Super stoked to see where the sport heads in the coming years.
I literally had to reassemble my brain after it was blown to pieces by the combination at 1:10.
Enjoy!
