Class 6 World Record Kayaking

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Most popular comments
for Class 6 World Record Kayaking

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Hugo Campos - 6 years ago

eso es tener huevo !

Galleta's Dad - 7 years ago

So gay...

Chris LikesPPR - 7 years ago

Class 6 = unrunnable. No exceptions! Its been dropped and it dose not look that hard or scary. Hell I'll met its been tubed??? Its class 5+ at best.. And yes I've boated some hair in my day.

MeeloHaysack - 7 years ago

one of cool dash's greatest achievments

Jimmy Elsen - 7 years ago

Upper cherry creek?

Skip Drake - 7 years ago

For all the naysayers; What would happen if he missed a roll, his line of decent, or had to pull the plug and swim? There is a definite risk of injury or death i.e. Class VI. That's not even considering vertical pins body entrapment! If you're so inclined maybe you should do a decent then tell everyone what you think.

Jakob Folmar - 6 years ago

Absolutely broooo.

Sean Baskett - 7 years ago

I literally bough my kayak from the guy that posted this video. He knows what he's talking about.

ClashWithOctec - 7 years ago

Lmao class 6 means unrunnible thats just a big.class 5 slide

Jimmy Elsen - 7 years ago

ClashWithOctec no class VI means drops only occasionally run although rescue is often impossible

THX 1138 - 7 years ago

John Grace and the boys from LVM!! Always loved these dudes!! Green Race forever!!!

10. comment for Class 6 World Record Kayaking

DJ Studios - 8 years ago

Ha what a scrub class 6 i can do 7 ha lol if yall really knew my connection

Jimmy Elsen - 7 years ago

But you can't capitalize your I's

Ashley King - 8 years ago

I was under the impression that grade 6 was unrunnable... but k.

Kathryn Streletzky - 6 years ago

Class 6 is risk of death

Edwin Hughes - 8 years ago

There are 2 kinds of Class VI, runnable, and unrunnable.

If 51 out of 100 boaters who attempt it do not die, it is runnable.

ihatecrackhead - 8 years ago

Class VI my ass, that's a big water slide, the only danger is banging your head or elbows on a rock

consmelly because - 7 years ago

word! this was gay!

oowee - 7 years ago

No. Otherwise any remote pond could be graded high.

oowee - 7 years ago

I was hoping to see some difficult paddling. Not a rock slide.

Edwin Hughes - 8 years ago

Ability to evacuate the wounded is calculated into the classification of a river.

Definitely Class VI here.

SteepVisions - 8 years ago

class VI. I laugh

oowee - 7 years ago

I laugh as well bit of a stunt all noise and no power rock slide.

Avacarho - 9 years ago

Pretty cool. If it didn't have that 30 ft. drop and I didn't have to carry my kayaking and camping gear in or a torn ACL, I might consider doing this.

john L - 9 years ago

Wow Class 6 rapids....... How stupid are you retards ? Class 6 means pretty much DEATH.

Kitos96 - 8 years ago

Don't watch any Redbull videos. I don't think you can handle it.

Saint Mars - 8 years ago

+john L What was once classified as class-VI is now routinely run because of far better equipment than what existed, when they were designated as class-VI. Now, a lot of the old class-VI are considered IV+.

Their has been a lot of discussion of creating a new classsification system, such as 1 to 10, with .5 increments, between.

What those hardcore stoners ran is far from a class-VI. Most of it was like a water park slide. In Washington state, we have many steep creeks that are far more difficult and dangerous than the little waterfall at the last. We have many technical steep creeks with giant granite boulders, large drops (what many call "waterfalls") in a row, with logs and log jams--steep creeks that would kill these stoners.

jmr1068204 - 9 years ago

So this is a "Class 6" because of...the danger of the rocks? There isn't much water flow over those rocks.

I didn't think that counted if it wasn't based on water alone...

Jimmy Elsen - 7 years ago

Sean Baskett is VDrive harder that Site Zed

Sean Baskett - 7 years ago

You obviously have never been in a kayak. A legend was born in this video. That shit is dangerous as hell. I'd run VDrive on the Stikine before I dropped down Graceland.

Gregg Silk - 9 years ago

+jmr1068204 Based on being drowned while simultaneously getting rag-dolled over numerous vertical rocky ledges at 30 mph.

Keith T. - 10 years ago

This reminds me of backwoods sierra, flowing into the park. Nice!

whiro77 - 10 years ago

That first descent looked it would cause some serious, literal butthurt.

IGotThemNuggets - 10 years ago

This looks like horsetail falls, either way. You guys are getting it.

20. comment for Class 6 World Record Kayaking

dirtypeetzee - 10 years ago

Where do your balls go in that little boat?

Jimmy Elsen - 7 years ago

Louie Chi damn that's sick

Louie Chi - 7 years ago

thats not a small kayak i run class IV+'s in my playboat

MrHappyfuntimeskayak - 8 years ago

He already sent them. He broke the universe and he's sending it outside of the space time continuum.

Fleek Dasheek - 10 years ago

Damn I wish I was white. My niggas never want to do this shit

MEEP - 7 years ago

im not black but id do it with you lol

Beto - 9 years ago

+Fleek Dasheek LMAO!

Rich Stewart - 10 years ago

Late 1960's we had 9 classes of whitewater, I am not sure when they decided on the 5+ water, but I am sure that despite the lack of #'s 6-9 these levels exist. Try New Zealand where the rank is 9+.

Jimmy Elsen - 7 years ago

Theodore Roberts well the Colorado rivers and creeks book says class VI is turned into a V.x if it is run more often not just once

Jimmy Elsen - 7 years ago

Rich Stewart is Nevis bluffs (sorry if I spelled that wrong) a 9+

wrbrbl irbl - 9 years ago

+D King Wow, you just described my dream one day as a kayaker! The Stikine, that is monumental. I can see how that could be a peak in one's career. I have read everything on Oregon Kayaking, such a good site. I hope to expedition kayak one day but need some mountaineering skills first. I've been on the water my whole life, but only in the last 7 years have I been in whitewater and recently took to kayaking so I can scout class 3-4 and run unknown stretches safely but don't care to run V difficulty until I have a solid roll and better coping skills. And like you mentioned the difficulty with V can vary drastically in magnitude. I've run the Lake Creek rock slides, but at that flow you couldn't really call it class 5. It was more of a 4 technical. The Owyhee has been on my list for a few years now. I like good rapids but really I am there for the river. I also hope to hit up the Donner und Blitzen if I ever have free time with the narrow windows. If you guys ever need another paddler, I'm game, though I'm still a greenhorn in the kayak.

Nor Wester - 9 years ago

+hempwort anatase The Clack at 11K was... yes, completely INSANE. Between the river level and the River Games going on it was quite the show. I swam at Carter Bridge and I had to listen to the announcer talking about me over the PA while I was trying not to drown (even with a C5 High-Float Vest I was struggling that day)... I love the Clack, I too learned a lot about rowing and actually learned to Kayak on the Clack so I'm with you on that one mate, it's such a neat river to have that kind fo access to. It may not be my favorite river to run, but it;s always fun and it's so easy to get up there and get on the river that it's hard to say "no" to a Clack run aye. I wonder if we've ever been up there at the same time, I've spent a LOT of my younger years on that river between the River Games and other weekend/mid-week runs.

Yeah, we have a big group of guys (well "had", and it keeps shrinking as we all get older) so we flood the permit applications system for any rivers we want to run and see what we come up with then plan a few trips every spring/summer if we can work it all out. The Middle Fork is AMAZING (you gotta try to get on it man, you'll love it), it's so crazy to be that far removed from civilization and think about the history and all the people who used to live/work up the draws and what not. It's an amazing run that I suggest any river lover should do. But the permit is a PAIN... We put in for I think 4 years and finally got on twice. I've since Kayaked it with another group of friends too, but that flood run was the most memorable of the Middle Fork trips I've done.

I have definitely done some classic runs... I was lucky to grow up here in OR with a Dad who was a rafter from way back and I got started pretty early. My core group of friends (6 of us) did our first run at 16 on the Snake/Hells Canyon and it just took off from there. I can't even remember exactly how many rivers I've run but I keep a log and it's a lot. I've been fortunate enough to run rivers in Central and S.America, Australia (I lived there for several years), and Canada. We even did the Grand Canyon Stikine (which was possibly the scariest, most intense trip I've done to date, not sure I'd do it again. Thankfully I have a background in EMS/Fire/Rescue and Wilderness Medicine/Search and Rescue cause I've needed those skills several times over the years). For years we used OreognKayaking.net as a "what to do next" planner and we've ticked off a LOT of those creeks/rivers too and we try to go out to the Lochsa and Payette every year for a big get together. We also try to do the Owyhee (I will often take my truck out there to do some exploration camping and take the Kayak along for a bit of playing) and then we run down into Nor Cal to play in the Cal Salmon/Kalamath drainage's (that's a really neat area) every few years.

Sadly as of late I have so many family and other "things" to do, as well as having a C-spine/neck operation and I haven't been on the water in over 9 months!!!! So lame, but I'm all healed up (now I need to get back in shape... BOOOOOO) and the wife and I just finally finished a big move into a new house so hopefully I'll be able to get my but in gear and get out there.

Cheers mate

wrbrbl irbl - 9 years ago

+D King I have always wanted to run the Salmon but I heard the permit has a waiting list. Sounds like you have run some classic stretches. I first learned to boat on the Clackamas, but haven't boated it above 3,000. 11k must be insane!

Nor Wester - 9 years ago

+hempwort anatase Hell yeah man, me too, I love the PNW and I love our water-ways. Sorry, I should have clarified, it was the Middle Fork Slamon. I'm trying to remember what year it was but it was at a crazy flow level. That was a very strange trip cause half the camp sites were under-water and we were cruising down the river at speeds we'd never seen on the Middle Salmon (the year before we ran it fairly low and it was kind of a lazy, "party trip"). Always happy to jaw about rivers aye. Cheers mate.

wrbrbl irbl - 9 years ago

+D King Thanks for the discussion! Any talking points on Oregon rivers always interest me. Especially how they compare with Idaho and Washington. When you mentioned the middle fork were talking about the Santiam?

Nor Wester - 9 years ago

Yep, good call and again, solid way of putting it. Cheers.

wrbrbl irbl - 9 years ago

+D King I think it helps to look at the rating system based on measurable qualities of the river, like recycle volume, vertical drop, gradient, angle of attack, line curve, how many people have been injured or died, etc. So it can line up with the boat handling/boater skill but that is subjective and not as accurate. One way boaters can get in trouble- they might be used to a class 4 with beta but put them in a scouting situation and they will be in trouble. Continuous vs pool drop is also a big deal as well as far as difficulty goes(Clack at 3000 vs Bruno Mountain at 3000), but that generally doesn't change the class rating.

Nor Wester - 10 years ago

+hempwort anatase All great points man. Good analysis, It also has a lot to do with flow which sadly I find beginner boaters are terrible at checking and getting the nifo on cause even the Upper Clack here which is something you can run three times in a good day because of access and good speedy flow is a solid class three river... Until it becomes a 11,000cfs river (like back in 09) and nearly everything's class 4-5... Or when we ran the Middle Fork from Boundary in an early spring run that was at 8Ft. on the upper gauge and going so fast we were covering what should have been 3-4 maybe 5 hr rowing days in an hour and a half... With most of the camp-sites under-water. Rivers change/grow/move like living things and if I could give any boater advice it'd be to simply ask other people who've run the river "What the hell's down there???" if they don't know exactly what to expect. Hell I still do it if I haven't been somewhere in a year or maybe less depending on the river.

wrbrbl irbl - 10 years ago

+D King Seems like the more amateurs on the water, the more they apply a general rating to apply to most craft (including driftboats) to accommodate. This is to prevent bad planning as you mentioned, but also thwart initial attempts by beginners. It is rarely skewed more than one level though.

Rich Stewart - 10 years ago

+Theodore Roberts That is in today's whitewater universe, you are probably to young to know otherwise. Sometime ago they applied rafting grades to kayaking.

Nor Wester - 10 years ago

+Theodore Roberts Yes, we all know that... Problem is it's still based off of what different people think about X rapid. Plus what was "Class 6: un-runable" 5 years ago has possibly been run today... It doesn't change that rapid to a class 5 for the average boater, (especially if you're talking Kayaks vs rafts/inflatables) it means someone charged it and lived half the time and while there might be "a line" it's usually razor thin and has serious consequences.

Again, Come out to Oregon, hit the river and check out what is classed as a 5 (many MANY class 6 waterfalls here too that have now been run too but are far from now being simply "class 5") then head out to Idaho right next door and run oh say ANY of the class 5 sections of the Payette or the Lochsa... there's a BIG difference and a LOT of "discretion" in the rating system.

Luckily Creekers have kind of come up with a more reasonable system as it applies to THOSE BOATS, not this generic idea that what is a Class 5 for a Kayak is the same for an 18' Gear Raft loaded to the gill.

Good boaters are reading the river at ALL times and know what they/their boats can do regardless of a number. to me, after all these years, Rating Systems, be it Rapids or DH trails etc. are all about PLANNING so you don't get surprised/stuck/injured/killed by something you didn't see coming.

Theodore Roberts - 10 years ago

http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Wiki/safety:start According to this, there are only 6 grades with grade 6 being considered too dangerous to run. If a grade 6 is successfully run then it is usually downgraded to a grade 5. This is in line with what the BCU (and Wikipedia) say.

Nor Wester - 10 years ago

+rpeagram Or try going from Oregon to Idaho... an Oregon "class 5" is like an Idaho "class 3". And these are all "pacific NW" states where most of the rating system and most US play boating was invented back in the day. it's fricking confusing sometimes. Then you get into the differences in class ratings for different crafts. "Class 3" in a Kayak can be a "5+" in a Raft so it's all kinda arbitrary at some point. it's more about "can I personally run this". It's nice to be able to get an accurate feel for what you MIGHT get into before you drive 500 miles to get there, but really it;s down to the individual boater. For example I've seen guys like Jesse Coombs run things that were rated "Class 5" and make them look like a class 2 riffle. And I've run "cass 5+" things that I popped out of thinking "that was easier then the last class 4+" That's all down to the boater.

rpeagram - 10 years ago

Try Africa Victoria Falls.... LOL 100+

Ano Nym - 11 years ago

Wow that is so rapid-.i paddled a lot of shit but that is crazy. :D

Andrew Lees - 11 years ago

Grade 6 = If you fuck it up you are dead. I would have to say if you uck this up you would be dead

Jimmy Elsen - 7 years ago

Andrew Lees some class VI are just so damn hard even in the best conditions like easy rescue pool at the bottom and plenty of safety precautions it is still class VI like barrel springs upper death look up Jonathan satz upper death he did it and I wouldn't say he fucked up because it has no line but he flipped and he lived some rapids are just class VI because of the actual rapids.

Luke Towler - 11 years ago

First of all wight water kayaking is stupidly fun and second of all you walk back to the top.

Chrismzeller - 11 years ago

Of course Class VI is really an enigma. Class VI is technically unrunnable. Once he does it, it's no longer Class VI. It's like saying something is impossible, then someone does it. It's now possible. Badass YES! But now that it's been done its technically Class V+.

Razzupaltuff - 11 years ago

How many spinal discs had the guys left after bumping down that chute?

theGnarlz - 11 years ago

class 6 is defined by American whitewater as 'Unrunnable" - Given that the drops have now been run, they are no longer class 6.... kuyakers these days are running much bigger.

Jimmy Elsen - 7 years ago

JonoMDK lol kinda true accept for the few fuckers who wrote the Colorado rivers and creeks Book

JonoMDK - 7 years ago

Yeh the only reason why Americans class grade 6 as unrunnable is becuase they are pussies

Nostra Bonghits - 11 years ago

Class shut the f up---- this is bad ASS is more like it....

30. comment for Class 6 World Record Kayaking

FMaz - 11 years ago

Skill level: successful completion of a Class 6 rapid without serious injury or death is widely considered to be a matter of great luck or extreme skill and is considered by some as a suicidal venture

Jimmy Elsen - 7 years ago

FMaz some rapids like upper death are more luck than skill

Colin Murray - 11 years ago

Anyone who thinks these rapids are less than a VI knows nothing about whitewater.

OneSexyMelon - 11 years ago

Damn, I shit myself going on a class 2 river. Well I am a slalomist so I don't need to go on water this big!

Tomas Tango - 11 years ago

Hell yea and I thought jumping out of a c17 into a combat zone was on the edge.

Henry Kraft - 11 years ago

class6? thats like class 4. class six is way bigger.

raftingdon2 - 11 years ago

Very nice

Will Tirad - 11 years ago

This is insane who in their right mind would enjoy doing this? You guys are nuts!!

COPPERSWILLY - 11 years ago

That was an insane run...guys are crazy

mikefromspace - 11 years ago

You're kidding right? tell me you're joking. 2 feet left or right could snap your back in those shallows, not to mention how hard it is to stay upright to protect your headgear. These could be lethal to most.

Aaron Kilen - 11 years ago

Doesn't even look hard. Except your on the rocks most the time. Might hurt your back. But definatly not a "class 6"

Christopher Doubt - 11 years ago

Scale has been changed. It changed somewhere between 2009 and end of 2010.

Christopher Doubt - 11 years ago

Quit making shit up. There is none and will never be a class 7 rapid. Look up the international scale of river difficulty.

Christopher Doubt - 11 years ago

There's always a chance of survival. Class 6 just kinda says this run is pretty much a suicide attempt, if you live it's nothing short of a miracle, and you just might be a kayaking god if you can do it twice.

bruzote - 11 years ago

Craaaazy! Any top kayakers here or people familiar with the drop - does that long run down the stepped slab involve about half of the time or more doing bottom scraping? I would think that's a completely other regime of balance control.

Pat Brown - 11 years ago

too bad that's creek boating here out east.

Dylan Holt - 11 years ago

It isn't class 6, but that is what got you to click on this video, that's the whole point.

Ms. Nohotyoga - 7 years ago

Dylan Holt clickbait

pjbBuffaloNY - 11 years ago

Way above my skill level....If you get a chance check out "FIRST LEGAL DESCENT OF NIAGARA GORGE.

teestiger1 - 11 years ago

its because there isnt any eddies

MegaK445 - 11 years ago

no look it up

pjbBuffaloNY - 12 years ago

nice run, but if these are class 6 the lower Niagara river must be class 20...

50. comment for Class 6 World Record Kayaking

MegaK445 - 12 years ago

look it up dickwad

y0seph12 - 12 years ago

It would be impossible to catch a rope from that river. Outside of a pin situation which is astronomically improbable a rope would be useless.

y0seph12 - 12 years ago

Because they would fall off instantly if you flipped.

y0seph12 - 12 years ago

Such bullshit...

y0seph12 - 12 years ago

Definitions vary between different governing bodies. I've learned it as class VI = unrunnable, and that's how it's almost always used in paddling circles. The guidebooks say that but it's rare to find a decent boater who uses that definition.

Corbae L - 12 years ago

you are wrong and yes I know this a year old comment but it is just wrong. the definition of class 6 is certainly not agreed upon. most river runners I know, and a lot of other people, consider class 6 not possible and when someone actually runs something that was class 6 it is then downgraded to 5+. I would have put your definition as to what 5+ is. I have never seen any river guide book classifying anything that people have run as 6 not matter how dangerous or deadly.

Ryan Hiniker - 12 years ago

Is that the grand canyon of the Tuolumne?

Steven Rogers - 12 years ago

Given the gradient and speed I don't think 30 guys with throwbags would do much good beyond putting a lot of rope in the water, a hazard to a swimmer in its own right. Even if the guy could exit the boat, orient himself, get his hands on the rope and hang onto it while getting epically thrashed (difficult) the would be rescuer would either release or end up in the water, no matter what shoes he has on. Think mass x velocity squared. Throwbag rescue at that speed is a very dodgy prospect.

Robin Lewis - 12 years ago

Hmmm, seems a novel enough way to commit suicide.

MegaK445 - 12 years ago

that is not grade 6 there is only one river that is grade 6 and its in India

mike phillips - 12 years ago

you sir wikipidea

Lee Ryder - 12 years ago

Now that Sir is just Fun....Nice one.;)

nick tidwell - 12 years ago

goggles are for pussys, and thats how i know you dont kayak

Jesse B - 12 years ago

SICK!!!

Sparqemiester - 12 years ago

AKA Lower Meadow.

turrialba - 12 years ago

Class V/Class VI/Class 5.2/Class V++/Class VI- it doesn't matter - ratings are subjective. What matters is that it is badass, it is at the edge of what kayakers run and, most importantly, you would never run it. Also the boat is a Liquid Logic Jefe.

Nick Rosato - 12 years ago

what kayak is that? dagger?

tubeneophyte - 12 years ago

this is precisely what I imply when I refer to a rapid as class VII - so yes there is a class VII. Some of what I refer to as class VI+ may actually be class VII (likely never to be known as not likely to ever be attempted.)

mdwsttech34 - 12 years ago

Grade VI does exist; waterfalls that have not been dropped fall into this category along with uncharted territory. A class VI status can change to a class V once routes have been proven. To be technical, there are also class 5, 5.1, 5.2, etc, to further help tighten up the broadness of class V, so to speak.

Lord Rock - 12 years ago

ok, then there should be a class 7 for no chance of survival

Aaron Kilen - 12 years ago

There is class 6. It's above class 5. And how come you never see people wearing goggles when they kayak?

Rowdy Larson - 12 years ago

There is no class 6.

jem mountainman - 12 years ago

not n a raft

Michael Sande - 12 years ago

Watch Bombflow TV. This is class V.

John Hocking - 12 years ago

Are you kidding? It is absolutely a VI, part of the definition of which is, "cannot be run regardless of precautions without significant danger of serious injury or loss of life." Run it 10 times and you'll be dead.

John Hocking - 12 years ago

With youth comes an illusion of invulnerabily. You're obviously beyond expert,but still, I'd have gone in with a much larger group so that you could have set up throw ropes all the way down. You probably couldn't have found 30 beyond-expert-illusioned kayakers, but just 30 people who liked to hike, & trained how to use safety ropes, & when; every one wearing a good white water PFD and shoes; holding, & ready to throw, two bagged ropes, the kind that can be thrown 20 or so feet very accurately.

Jimmy D - 12 years ago

Put a vid of you running some stuff. Not enough vids from great kayakers like you.

Wes Brown - 12 years ago

Yyyyeeeaahhhhjjjjgaaaahhhhhaaahhhh!

Christopher Doubt - 12 years ago

must've been at a higher level than this video. You'd have trouble drowning a cat in that much water.

John Drew - 12 years ago

That does not seem like kayaking... I think I'd describe that more as sliding down rocks... with a little bit of water on them. Those guys have balls of steel.

Matthew Conner - 12 years ago

this is fucking awesome. Where is this?

Jamie Best - 12 years ago

The bottom of his boat must be ripped to shreds.

Arfon Harry Williams - 12 years ago

nuts

SittingMoose Shaman - 12 years ago

...a 'rapid' in a classification -all exclusive and its' own...

coldflesh - 12 years ago

MEGA-BALLS....OF STEEL!!!

Ben762x51 - 12 years ago

Damn. I think that might break my ass! lol Badass!

Christopher Doubt - 12 years ago

@triplestan666 Also, I'd say "more technical" than anything on the Ottawa... Come up here for high water to play on bus eater... man that's a ride you'll never forget!!! Everything up here is fluffy and harmless, but MASSIVE amounts of water!!! If you have time for it, apply to one of the 7 rafting companies and spend a summer. There's something different at just about every level, and almost ALWAYS eddy access to waves. It's all play though, no creeking.

Christopher Doubt - 12 years ago

@triplestan666 Naw you're thinking of his beer slide on the Mastigouche river in Quebec. That's a first D? definitely be proud of that... not many more river cherries to pop any more.

Francis - 12 years ago

dude that takes serious balls. theres barely any water in there, and its steep as fuck!