Rapid Redemption: A Kayaker's Journey From Defeat To Victory

[@SouthernPaddler]

Love it!! 😊🛶💪

[@PaddleTV]

So awesome. Nice guiding Pete! Good paddling Dan!! :)

[@RiverKingsKayak]

@@PaddleTV thanks Ken! He did so well!

[@SouthernPaddler]

Thanks so much, Ken!! Little by little!! 💯👍🙂

[@WilliamReece-r7h]

I noticed that at one point during the video that you guys all prayed with Dan giving reverence the almighty GOD this makes me like your channel even better!!!!!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks William! I would say that is the most central component of who I am.

[@shawhi1]

@@RiverKingsKayak I really appreciated that part, too. It's unfortunately a rare thing to see.

[@SouthernPaddler]

That was a special moment, William! It was a rough day and I had a 9-hour drive ahead of me. Dirt Dobber's prayer (and Pete arranging this) meant the world to me!!!

[@chrispetersen4863]

Amen!

[@shawhi1]

I loved the drone footage above the Falls. I got to do my pfd on Section 9 maybe the same day...Big Pillow sure seemed bigger in real life than the camera makes it look, lol. Super cool that Shatha got to meet you. I saw her on the Pigeon and she was killing it! Can't wait to go back in September. Congrats to Dan!

[@SouthernPaddler]

Thanks so much, bro!! 👍

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks Shawhi1! Kevin is getting good at that drone cinematography!

[@735138]

I can't tell you how much I appreciate your videos. As a newbie, I gain confidence in seeing what others with similar skills do on these rivers. As an experienced paddler, you do not have to take the time to teach the new ones and welcome them into the community, yet you do. Your patience, your encouragement, and your laugh is infectious. Thanks for all you do for us newbies. I hope to paddle with you one day.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks NJFam! That is what it is all about!!

[@SouthernPaddler]

Excellent observation!! Most subscribers will probably never know just how much Pete does to help people like me and SOOO many others!!! I'm not just a RK fan; I'm a Pete fan!!!

[@mattmccallum2879]

One of my favorite RK videos to date! Awesome job everybody! Congrats Dan!!🎉🎉

[@SouthernPaddler]

Thanks, Matt!! This was a special day (and the whole experience)!!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks Matt!

[@LIVE4THEADVENTURE]

Wow I am very proud of you Dan for getting back out there and conquering the uncertainty!! Pete I’m very proud of you for the help you put in helping Dan and I hope it will all be good. You guys are great!!

[@SouthernPaddler]

Thanks so much, Mike! Looks like you have a Dagger Katana, too! I'm loving mine!!! And yes, this was mostly Pete's encouragement and patience! He's the MAN!!!

[@LIVE4THEADVENTURE]

@@SouthernPaddler oh yes I have a katana just like yours! I need to find some people close by to help me lol !! Pete is a great guy and love his videos. Now that you got the hang of it then I want to see more videos by you.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks L4TA! Dan went beast mode!

[@LIVE4THEADVENTURE]

@@RiverKingsKayak yes he did!!

[@danawatts91]

Great video, Pete! Loved the camaraderie, loved the scenery, love that big bearded guy most. Proud of you, little brother! @SouthernPaddler

[@RiverKingsKayak]

@@danawatts91 thanks Dana!

[@SouthernPaddler]

Thanks, Sis- love you too!! This was an amazing experience all the way around!! As you can see, Pete is an amazing guy and friend!!

[@ericryan4695]

Great job Dan....well done Pete you nudged just the right amount 👍

[@RiverKingsKayak]

He did so well!

[@1013thorn]

Very cool. Many highs and lows on the journey down the river. Count yourself lucky to have a crew of friends around you to share them with. Keep it up Pete and crew!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks a ton!

[@SouthernPaddler]

The Crew makes ALL the difference in my story!!!

[@leonbax4655]

Awesome job Dan extremely proud of you😊

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks Leon!

[@PurelyRecreational.]

Redemption+, Dan! Welcome to whitewater (you can see the glow in his eyes)!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Right on PR! Thanks !

[@tntdoug2175]

Great to see Dan's confidence in his padding improve. He's enjoying the time on the water. Padding a loaded rec boat with camping gear is difficult enough through big water with moderate experience. Glad he had the opportunity to do it in the correct boat and a great teacher. Way to go Dan and Pete.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks Doug! However, the Yukon is not a rec boat! LOL. It is an amazing touring kayak that offers flatwater capabilities as well as a super loose hull for moderate whitewater. There is no other boat like it. It is, however, harder to run whitewater in a loaded touring boat than a ww specific craft. The whole purpose of the expedition was the challenge of FB9 in the loaded Yukons...that was the whole point of that trip and Dan wanted to give it a try. We even said while on the river how easy this would be in a ww boat...he didnt believe until he tried it! He did so well.

[@SouthernPaddler]

Preciate this, Doug!!

[@tntdoug2175]

Yea, that's what I meant. A loaded touring kayak. The camping gear adds another 50 + pounds.

[@anotherdayanotheradventure1]

Very nice 👍

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks AAA!

[@anotherdayanotheradventure1]

@@RiverKingsKayakWe have recently taken up white water kayaking, love your video’s. Someday we will make it up your way.

[@garybarfield2981]

Way to go Dan!!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

For sure Gary!

[@LoraBrewer-n7n]

So exciting! Congratulations Dan!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks Lora!

[@6yjjk]

Watching this as I pack up to go back out there tomorrow, a week after a mosquito-infested rocky swamp portage/drag that broke me, my boat, and a whole bunch of gear. Back on the horse!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

right on!!!

[@chrispetersen4863]

Absolutely epic! Congrats Dan! Well done!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks Chris! He did well!

[@batesoutdoors9179]

That was awesome.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks BatesOutdoors!

[@vryce6322]

I might be little late to the party here, but man it's good to see Dan getting some well deserved redemption.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks! I agree!

[@aarontorian]

Love seeing my fellow Arkansas/ACC paddlers!! Hope to make it next year!!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Come on out next year!!

[@aarontorian]

@@RiverKingsKayak that's the plan, Pete!

[@lifes2short4bs73]

Awesome story!! I’ll be 49 next spring and already plan on taking my first white water kayak class. I’ve always wanted to do what you all do… time to do it

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Do it! Never too late!

[@iowaadventures4701]

Grate video! Way to go Dam.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks IA!

[@SouthernPaddler]

Thank you very much!!

[@mountainhobbit1971]

awesome video, who is the artist singing that first song in the video Pete?

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Mattias Tell - Aeons

[@josephm106]

I ahd a very similar start to whitewater kayaking as dan. I started on the cartecay in february in a borrowed drysuit (that leaked profusely) i had done a couple roll practices but definitely was gonna swim if i went upside down. As one could imagine i flipped and suddenly i wasn't so sure about whitewater. After months of not being on a river i jumped back on the upper hooch and scared myself into portaging the ledges. It took my cousin tricking me into running horseshoe to get me back into it. I dove head first from there and never looked back. Almost a whole season later i'm itching for a nantahala PFD before the weather turns.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Right on Joseph!

[@hikinguphigh]

Need some more kayak surfing videos please. Although all the vids are awesome

[@RiverKingsKayak]

We will be heading the beach in just a few weeks! Looking forward to it!

[@hikinguphigh]

@RiverKingsKayak Awesome, ive just got consistent at my sweep roll and will hopefully be heading to the beach in the next few weeks myself.