Rising star killed in attempt to master extreme kayaking
Kayak 11 years ago 271,036 views
The Potomac River has some of the most extreme rapids that only the most skilled kayakers can navigate. CBS News correspondent David Martin recently followed young kayaker Shannon Christy for "60 Minutes Sports," as she prepared for a race down the river. Two days before the competition, Christy was killed in a practice run.
10. comment for Rising star killed in attempt to master extreme kayaking
This is similar to flying using wingsuits. There is NO real value to this sport.Why not take up Ping Pong.I could respect that much more.
20. comment for Rising star killed in attempt to master extreme kayaking
30. comment for Rising star killed in attempt to master extreme kayaking
50. comment for Rising star killed in attempt to master extreme kayaking
It isn't that "she died doing what she loved", it isn't "do you really want to die like that?" What it is: we really want to LIVE like that. Sure, we could hide from risk, but that's not how we are wired. Yes, it most certainly is sad that she'd lost her life, but Shannon (I didn't know her) would almost certainly have been in the forefront of those fighting for the ability to take these risks. We've all lost friends to the river, at least if we've been doing it long enough, but it dishonors them all to claim it was "avoidable" by just not paddling it in the first place. You are right Hellespont in that she wouldn't have advised people to go and die doing what they loved; she'd have advised them to live doing what they loved.
http://archive.vcstar.com/news/ojai-teens-get-personal-at-forum-ep-367138976-347059242.html
I have not been there, but it is clearly a place with lots of lines to choose from, and not all of them are safe. I've done runs of that nature, and the rule is you do not go in alone you first few times. In general, you don't go solo when whitewater kayaking.
You are right that I don't know the run or what happened to her, but that doesn't change that going out there alone was questionable at best.
I definitely say she should not have rushed out there on her own.
Also, even the best might have a bad day and pay the price.
I understand if you are hurt by her loss (many in the local community knew and loved Shannon, including many I know) but please do have respect. You kayaking for ten years doesn't mean anything just like me kayaking for 15 years or 1 year or someone paddling for 30 years, risks are a part of extreme sports and in 40 years hers was the third death. It happens. I too wish she'd just stayed home that day but it's our OWN call to make ourselves proud and push our own limits. She went out doing what she loved.
She didn't do something wrong by running the falls, but maybe she made a wrong stroke. Who knows. People have run waayy bigger falls and continue to, and it looks crazy but it's not stupid. It's living life. People JUMP OUT OF AIRPLANES. Just saying, THAT'S stupid to me. Maybe stupid to you, too!
Anyway, all due respect. Just sharing a thought. Cheers.
Boats, they are so tied, you not get in, you not get out, and in boat fixed with belts. This was risk.
The previous death in this center section was in the next set of ledges upstream, in which the victim was also trapped in a complex of underwater boulders and undercuts at the base of the drop.
The "Falls" are the middle of mile long rapids. Every time it floods, huge boulders come from upstream and get stacked by the water. You see a boulder that you figure has been there forever, and then you see a flattened golf ball under it. There are plenty of strainers, many of which are no doubt unknown.
see https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Accident/detail/accidentid/3743/
- doing it right would make her do some challanges she can do... and leaving her too live 40-60 years more with a lot of other nice things to do and challange..
- NEVER go beyond your limit of your skill, as it will make you end up dead..
With respect to Shannon and her family, our kind regards. We salute Shannon.
100. comment for Rising star killed in attempt to master extreme kayaking
I'm a firm believer in the thought that when it's your time to go, it's your time to go. You can't cheat death.You can live your whole life as cautiously as possible and still step out the door and get run down by a drunk driver. I'm going to bury my brother in law tomorrow, the man raced motorcycles for 20 years, powerboat enthusiast, he was taken out in a diabetic coma on his couch.
No one knows the particulars of Shannon's death, so it's all just speculation after the fact.
I don't believe for one second you've been given anyone's boat, let alone destroyed it (them). Please, next time it happens, post a video of said destruction and message me the link. You can make a big deal of it and preach the evils of kayaking in the commentary.