If you knew someone who had kayaked off a 189.5 foot waterfall, you’d want to have a beer with them and ask them a few questions right? Well we can’t arrange that but we’ve got the next best thing. Outsider’s paddling editor Kipper Maguire recently caught up with Tyler Bradt, the 25-year-old American professional white-water kayaker who holds the unofficial world record for the highest waterfall successfully run in a kayak. Here’s what the kayaker had to say about that fateful paddle off Palouse Falls, Washington, back in April 2009 and a few other things besides. And if you want to watch the video of his record-breaking paddle, scan this code here. Insert qr-tyler.png here Olly. Maybe run the text around it?

“Palouse Falls is about 20 feet higher than Niagra Falls. It’s 189.5 feet tall and quite a phenomenal waterfall. It was created by an ice dam holding back a huge glacial lake which broke and sent a huge volume of water rushing from Montana across the west and into the Pacific Ocean. The Palouse River is one of the many canyons it carved out and so the falls are quite an anomaly because the pool at the base and the canyon it is in are much more dramatic than a river its size could have ever created. It’s the reason it is such a perfect waterfall.”

“Palouse is a picture-perfect waterfall and I ran it simply because I believed it could be done. I assessed it as runable. I knew it was risky but I believed it was possible.

“I was quite anxious when I woke up that morning. I hadn’t slept much the night before.”

“As I paddled towards the waterfall, I was concentrated on the line. There is actually quite a fine line on the waterfall and not hitting it would be disastrous. I was focused and peaking with adrenaline.”

“The last paddle stroke I took before I went over the lip was a left forward draw stroke to bring my bow into the crease of the waterfall. I carried that same stroke through into my tuck.”

“There are many techniques for running waterfalls and it doesn’t matter which one you use as long as it has the same result – your boat dead vertical on the landing. I have watched many people develop their own waterfall techniques but many of the basics are the same; controlling your angle off the lip, tucking forward slowly to maintain the angle and holding that tuck through the impact.”

“More than a thought, it was a feeling as I dropped of the top. I knew I was in the right place and my angle was perfect. I had a great positive feeling in freefall.”

“The impact was hectic. It knocked the wind out of me, sprained my wrist, jack-knifed me out of my tuck, shattered my paddle and left me totally dazed.”

“When I realized I had landed safely, the feeing was incredible. It was a feeling of great relief and sheer joy to be safely at the bottom of the falls.”

“It felt great to have Palouse behind me. After so much time thinking about it, it was just a huge relief. It was a very thought-through and calculated decision which went accordingly. I look back at it with only positive thoughts. I was happy with the result but completely unprepared for all the media and attention it was receiving. I wanted to run it because I knew I could but I had not thought it through to the point of considering the publicity and popularity the drop produced.”

“When it comes to preparation for something like this, mentally, it is just a natural talent you have to have. I run lots of difficult rapids and huge waterfalls and I attribute it as much to my mental stability as my physical ability. Really the two go hand in hand. Physically, I was in great shape at the time having spent the previous month in Mexico living on a sailboat, surfing, swimming and hauling up the anchor multiple times a day. It’s very important to be in the best shape you can when doing a waterfall of that height.”

“I was planning the drop for about three months. I invented a device I name the chastity belt. It clamps the spray skirt on so it cannot implode or explode on landing. Apart from that my kayak was standard.”

“I had two kayakers in the water and one on land at the base of the falls. I also had someone on a rope from the lip of the falls ready to rappel behind it should I end up in the cave. We had the direct line to a helicopter on standby should something have gone wrong. Safety is the most import thing in doing what we do.”

“In essence I had been training my whole life for that waterfall.”

“My family didn’t know of my plans and I didn’t have children. I am sure having kids would affect my decision to do these things.”

“My goals are not to run a waterfall bigger than Palouse. I have numerous goals but just like Palouse I don’t like to talk about them until they are underway. I just came back three days ago from an expedition to run the last un-navigated section of the Congo River. In doing so we ran the highest volume, biggest rapids on the planet. That was a huge accomplishment that I am happy to be on the other side of.”

“I love running big waterfalls but my main area of interest is multi-day creeking and expedition kayaking.”

“I’ve too many favourite moments on the water to choose one but paddling away from Palouse is up there.”

“I am motivated by having fun.”

“Of course I get scared. The scariest thing that’s ever happened to me was breaking my back.”

“For me taking risks is normal but I don’t categorize it as that. If I didn’t do what I do I wouldn’t be happy or satisfied. It’s both who I am and what I do.”

Expert instructors will be on hand to guide you through the basic skills you need to get on the water. Participants will be taught how to set up the boat to your specifications, the basic strokes and how to get in and out of the boat – even when you upside-down in the water. Further details about the course are available at www.tollymore.com

The moonlight kayaking course is designed for experienced paddlers. The route will begin at Muckross Lake and head towards Devil’s Island before travelling deep into the ancient heart of Killarney National Park.

If you are lacking some of the necessary skills needed for such an expedition then check out the one-day kayak skills training day. This new course will cover a number of strokes and techniques. It is not a certified course so it can be tailored to meet your specific needs.

Finally, the Coomloughra Horseshoe Guided Climb is a challenging climb designed for experienced hill walkers. Outdoors Ireland will guide you over the three mighty peaks that form the Coomloughra Horseshoe. There will be strenuous climbs, scrambles and steep descents, but spectacular scenery is guaranteed.

To find out more about these courses and Outdoors Ireland, visit: www.outdoorsireland.com

Looking for a new challenge this summer? Well why not take part in the Blackwater Kayak Challenge. This exciting 40km paddle will start at 11:30am from Fermoy Rowing Club, Co Cork on 24 July 2011, and will travel up to Cappoquin Rowing Club, Waterford.

This is a spectacular route along second largest river which weaves its way majestically through stunning scenery, local wildlife and stately homes.

O’Keefe was treated for testicular cancer in 2009 and during his treatment he and four of his friends paddled 100 miles from the source of the Blackwater River in Cork to raise an amazing €14,000 for cancer care at the hospital. Last year O’Keefe decided to expand the event and open it to the public, due to its huge success it back again this year.

Registration costs €60 which includes a free BBQ after the event. The event is being run by Kevin O’Keefe in aid of the Mercy Hospital which is fighting against cancer and heart disease!

For more details or to sign up, tel. (021) 4274076; web: www.mercyhospitalfoundation.ie; Facebook: www.facebook.com/blackwaterkayakchallenge

This one-day adventure race consists of bike, hike, run and kayak. The course is 42km and will take you to some of the gems of the Dingle Peninsula. Biking over the spectacular winding Conor Pass, following in the footsteps of St Brandon climbing Ireland’s second highest Mountain range Mt Brandon, running country roads of the peninsula and kayaking in Dingle Harbour. Further details at www.dingleadventurerace.com.

Wacko on the Jacko is a 3 in 1 river race weekend. The aim of the game is to cram in as much paddling as possible while having a bit of craic. The event will take place on the Avonmore river from 26-27 February.
Participants must hold a minimum of a level three cert and be able to roll competently. Entry costs €35. For further details and entry check out www.wacko.ie

Share is offering participants camping facilities, an evening meal, rescue cover, changing facilities, event entry, prizes and a fun social evening for the nominal fee of £35 per adult and £20 for under 18s, students and the unemployed. Limited boat hire and accommodation are available at a small extra cost. There will be a number of activities available for spectators not partaking in the event including Leave No Trace – environmental awareness sessions, renewable energy demonstrations and introductory bushcraft. Non participants can also have a go at canoeing!

For more information on the brites Lough Erne Canoe Rally and other outdoor activity packages please contact Rory – Share Marketing Officer on 0044 28 6772 2122 or rory@sharevillage.org or visit http://www.sharevillage.org/upcoming-courses-and-events/

Participants can look forward to instruction from top class paddlers in an array of disciplines ranging from WWR, sprint/marathon, slalom, polo, GP and open canoe.

The event will be held at the Hidden Valley Camping and Caravan Park. The park has a small number of chalets, which can be rented; other accommodation options include tents, caravans or motor homes!

This is a club event and all participants must be current member of the ICU. If juniors do not have a formal qualification, the club leader will be expected to confirm that they are of ICU Level 2 standard.

The cost for the weekend is €40 per junior and €70 per family. This cost covers all activities and lunch on both days. All accommodation costs are additional and to be paid directly to the Hidden Valley Holiday Park (tel: 0404 41647)

For further details please contact Paul Donnelly at pdonnelly@greatoutdoors.ie or 0872477927

Having hit the grand old age of 50 last year, the grand dame of Irish paddling is back once again on 4 September for her 51st birthday. Started back in 1960 as an inter-club event, the illustrious Liffey Descent kayaking race now attracts paddlers from many parts of the world and is a major event on the international calendar.

It’s renowned for its Irish party atmosphere but also guaranteed good conditions. That’s thanks to the ESB which releases 30 tonnes of water from the Poulaphouca Reservoir to coincide with the race. This brings the river up to flood level and transforms small rapids and gentle weirs into furious torrents and foaming white water walls. Hey presto – the usually tranquil River Liffey is perfect for a world-class paddling event with up to 1,000 competitors taking part.

Some participants are serious marathon competitors. However, the best part about the Liffey Descent is that hundreds of recreational paddlers also attempt to complete the race each year in all sorts of craft.

The 28km course combines long flat water sections, swift currents, 10 weirs and numerous rapids, a heavily wooded section and a long portage around Leixlip dam. So paddlers will need skill, stamina and courage! Classes include Racing Kayak Doubles, Racing Kayak, Wild Water Racer, General Purpose, Touring Kayak Doubles, Touring Canadian Doubles and Canadian Singles. To register, visit www.liffeydescent.com