A few different kinds of whitewater kayakers have made a name for themselves. Some are known for jumping off big waterfalls, while others have done hard, multi-day runs alone.
But what makes these kayakers different from the rest is that they are willing to test their physical and mental limits. We made a list of the world's most famous kayakers who have done this.
Rush Sturges is a kayaker, filmmaker, freestyle rap artist, and river guide who is known all over the world. He was born and raised in California on the Salmon River, where his parents ran one of the best kayak schools in North America. He has honed his whitewater skills on big rivers in places like Pakistan, China, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is far away and hard to get to. He has been a part of many first descents and has helped many people break waterfall world records.
As an expedition kayaker, he pushed himself to the limit on some of the world's most remote and rugged rivers, like the Murchison section of the White Nile in Uganda, the Stikine River in Canada, the Indus River in Pakistan, and the Betsibuku River in Madagascar.
After a decade of kayaking around the world and selling his films to pay for them, Rush moved to White Salmon, WA, to access class V whitewater almost yearly. The clean waters of the Little White Salmon and White Salmon Rivers allow him to keep improving his technical skills and find new ways to use his creative vision.
Those who like to kayak have probably heard of Ben Marr. He is one of the most well-known kayakers in the world and does some fantastic things in a kayak. He is a professional whitewater kayaker who has done many incredible things. From big wave freestyle to first descents, he is one of the world's most famous and well-known paddlers.
His most memorable trips include a three-week trip down the Nachvak River in Canada, a very technical trip through Papua New Guinea, and the recent first descent of Filer Creek in British Columbia, which was 66 km long. How he feels while paddling is more important than how well he does. He likes to live a balanced life by taking cold baths, teaching yoga, and eating well.
If you ask any South American kayaker on the rise who their hero is, they will say Rafael Ortiz. He is the person to go to for big waterfall descents and a relentless pursuit of the world's most extreme whitewater. Rafa's dream has been to kayak at Niagara Falls for a long time, and he's finally making it come true. The movie Chasing Niagara, produced by Red Bull Media House and River Roots, follows his quest as he trains and prepares to drop the massive falls.
Ortiz is a Mexican kayaker with a big heart and many friends. He isn't afraid to take risks. He is also an experienced expedition paddler who has spent years looking for and finding routes that are only sometimes on maps.
The 189-foot Palouse Falls in Washington state is one of his most impressive runs. This vast waterfall has only been run by two people so far. It's a run that will last for a long time.
If you're a kayaker who wants to push the limits of your sport, you should watch and learn from some of the world's most famous and skilled athletes. Some of these athletes have jumped off waterfalls that are 80 feet high, and others have taken their skills to the next level by running solo for days through the wildest rivers on the planet.
Evan Garcia is a co-founder of Substantial Media House and is known for sending big drops with style and grace. He is also known for making some of the best whitewater movies available.
He just won the Canoe and Kayak award for Male Paddler of the Year and is known for being one of the best whitewater kayakers in the world. Even though he has a lot of impressive skills, he has always been humble, and his love for kayaking is apparent.