Woman paddles Lava Falls in canoe
 

Footage of an acquaintance of mine running Lava Falls on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. She's got titanium balls.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CLOipoP8qw

That is pretty awesome. I am sure it looks 10x scarier when IN the boat. :eek:

Titanium?

I've only rowed it once in a 16' raft but it's not an experience I will forget. There is no cheat route through it. You have to run it directly into the huge V waves. I had a passenger that simply refused to do it and climbed around the rapid to meet us at the bottom. The raft in front of me flipped in the first wave. He had 20 yrs of rowing experience whereas it was my first trip.
There's another short video on YouTube, taken from high above the rapid which gives a better perspective on the awesome power of the river there.
Bonnie's a great canoeist.

I have to add, it's a CANOE! (appropriate use of caps)

But KE, you're national 40+ canoe champion aren't you? :)

Indeed, I am the proud owner of the 1996 Whitewater Slalom Master's Class medal. The competition was particularly weak that year.
Bonnie is probably in her mid to late 40's making her run even more impressive.
For some interesting crash and burn footage of canoes in western whitewater, search YouTube for Hell's Half Mile which is a rapid on the Green River in Lodore Canyon, Dinosaur National Monument.

Amazing feat! That's not your typical canoe either.

I miss my Blue Hole. Never been out West with a canoe, but done everything to do in W.VA and NC over here. Does that woman shave her pits?:D

My Blue Hole Starburst is one of my most favorite canoes. Steve Scarborough, who used to design for Blue Hole, has an absolutely brilliant ability to put curves in a canoe. I have some friends who have run Lava Falls tandem in one of his designs, the Dagger Dimension.
I don't know what canoe Bonnie was paddling in that run. Could be a Mad River Outrage.

I bought my Blue Hole from Natahala Outdoor Center at a great discount out of their fleet when I worked up there for a summer in high school. That was in the days of styro floatation. I have never abused a boat like that and it never breached. I cut up the front floatation to fit a sealable 5 gal. bucket for my food and gear:wacko:

I paddle very calm water now and hunt out of my canoe too, so I bought a very cheap Mad River Adventure 16, which I have had for 2 years now and love. It gouges pretty easy, but I am supposed to be able to fix that with melted soft drink bottles;)

Edit: I just rewatched the video and it does look like a Mad River Outrage to me as well. Beefy gunwhales.

In Minisohda we call dat a portage don'tcha know!

Tandem whitewater at its best:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4iDiz-TOBY&mode=related&search=