Explorers
The Explorer category includes adventurers, scientists, or expedition leaders who exemplified superior feats in previously unchallenged whitewater.
Herbert Rittlinger
Herbert was an explorer, pioneer and advocate for whitewater as well as paddlesports in general.
Julie Munger
Julie has been a big part of the rafting world for over 30 years, she was a huge part of breaking down barriers for women in the sport and her accomplishments at the time were as big or larger than many of the things men were doing.
Lars Holbek
Lars Holbek was one of the most accomplished whitewater explorers of all time. Futaleufu, Stikine, Fantasy Falls, Golden Gate, Hospital Rock; these titles conjure some of the world’s most difficult, top-quality whitewater, and Lars was the first to paddle all of them.
Mick Hopkinson
Mick Hopkinson began his whitewater career with ten years of training for slalom competition, developing and honing his technical skills before completing benchmark first descents of the most difficult stretches in the world.
Mike Jones
Mikey Abbott
Mikey Abbott is paddling’s first truly global adventurer. Few have gone as far as he who has opened up whole regions and inspired so many to find their passport and seek new adventures.
Mikhail Kolchevnikov
Kolchevnikov founded a number of national rafting competitions in Russia and was also a pioneering river runner compiling an impressive list of First Descents on Class V and VI Rivers.
Nikki Kelly
Nikki’s achievements are an inspiration to all paddlers, but in particular to women paddlers who have seen her achieve greatness in a discipline that has been male-dominated.
Peter Knowles
Peter (a.k.a. Slime) has dedicated his life to white water, conducting expeditions around the world since his earliest big river experience on the Grand Canyon in 1973.
Richard Bangs
Richard Bangs has been the preeminent whitewater rafting explorer of the last forty years. His always inquisitive mind and spirit of adventure has led him and his Sobek teammates to pioneer whitewater rafting on rivers throughout the world.
Rob Lesser
Rob set the standard for big water exploratory Class V kayaking in the 1970s, ‘80s & ‘90s.
Scott Lindgren
Scott Lindgren is one of the most luminary explorers of global rivers of his generation; seamlessly blending complex logistics with beautiful filmmaking to capture the spirit of adventure like few others have.
Walt Blackadar
Walt changed the face of kayaking in the 1970s from a conservative slalom philosophy in the U.S. to a “go get it” whitewater attitude. Not only did he develop a U.S. style and technique for big whitewater, but he created the hype and popularity becoming the basis for today’s whitewater stars.