Gradient and Water

Story by: Jordy Searle Photos by: Ari Walker, Barny Young, David Bain and Jordy Searle

By KAVU

June 11^th, 2019

Ari Walker, Barny Young and I are currently getting ready to head to Cali with hopes to get amongst whitewater from what is looking like the best snow pack since 2011...... and may actually rival it, if temperatures stay low or there is a late Spring snow event. We're definitely psyched! Prepping for this trip got me thinking about our KAVU adventure from about this same time last year. Looking at photos and reliving some of the best moments reminds me why I feel so lucky to get to visit amazing places with my best friends.

adventure

Last Summer, my friends and I had heard and confirmed an unusually high level snow pack in Norway. Chasing high water and powerful rivers has brought us to some of the most memorable and epic places to kayak in the world. So, Ari, David Bain, and I joined our normal crew of Barny, TT Atkinson and Taylor Weston for yet another trip packed with KAVU days

The plan was to head to some of the kayaking hot-spots further south, like Voss and Sjoa, where we hoped to send some of the classics before heading FAR north in search of new or lesser known rivers or sections of whitewater.

The unseasonably warm spring eroded what was meant to be an all time snow pack but we managed to get the best of it in the south before heading north toward Trofors, Junkerdalen.

for the love of it...

When I ask myself "why" we go on trips like this, the answer is simple and genuine:

It's because we love it.

change

Each of us have lives that are ever-evolving. I've committed to medical school, Ari now manages a gold mine in Mongolia, Barny is an entrepreneur and substitute school teacher at a rural school, David is now one of the main managers for NRS Europe, TT is an exploration geologist and Taylor is just about to begin his journey to become a helicopter pilot but..... although we can't do the "endless summer" like we used to.....

our passion for kayaking, adventure and new experiences remain as strong as ever.

.....And filling as many days with good friends, and experiences in places we love is what its all about.

For us, balance is important and that is what we really love about KAVU. They practice what they preach and we are very happy to be flying the KAVU banner in all the place we go!