Whitewater!: The Thrill and Skill of Running the World's Great Rivers [BARGAIN PRICE] (Hardcover)

by Mark Blaine (Author), Scott Shipley (Author) "I can still remember the first time my father pushed me off the beach and I took my first few awkward strokes across the waters..." (more)
Key Phrases: Grand Canyon, Middle Fork, Chattooga River (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The popular sports of whitewater rafting, boating and kayaking come to life in this practical yet lavishly visual survey, featuring detailed profiles of the world's greatest rivers.

Adventure travel of all kinds-and whitewater adventuring in particular-is growing in popularity every year, but there has never been a book like this one, covering all of the world's great rafting destinations in colorful detail. WHITEWATER! features vivid profiles of 35 rivers worldwide, along with detailed and enlightening information on equipment, safety, geology, technique and so much more. Illustrated in full color on every page with dramatic action photographs-and featuring inspiring excerpts from lore and literature-this is truly a book for everyone who feels the lure of the river, from family vacationers and Summer Olympics fans to hardcore river rats. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From the Inside Flap
Whether you're paddling the powerful, high-speed waters of the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe, bouncing through rapids on California's Kern River or weaving through the rocks on a North Carolina creek, the exhilaration and adventure of running rivers is undeniable. Whitewater! Transports you to all these places and so many more - in glorious pictures and vivid, fact-filled chapters that convey all of the excitement of the sport as well as providing unparalleled information about every aspect of river-running by canoe, raft or kayak.

Here, in one breathtaking volume, is all of the nuts-and-bolts knowledge you need to choose the right river for your skill level, acquire the right gear, read and navigate the water and more. On these pages, you'll learn how to catch an eddy, scout a rapid, find an outfitter, choose a paddle...you'll learn how to insure that every trip goes smoothly, and what to do in the event that an emergency does arise.

And Whitewater! Offers so much more than just the mechanics of running rivers. It is an unprecedented celebration of the great whitewater, destinations of the world. Throughout the book, you'll find dozens of rivers profiled in words and breathtaking photographs, rivers on every continent and in every climate, rivers that take the skill of an expert to navigate, rivers that can be enjoyed over the course of an challenging week, and even rivers that provide a pleasurable, one day family outing. Each profile includes color pictures, maps and all of the essential information you need to plan a trip - or relive cherished memories. From the dramatic Grand Canyon of the Colorado to the steep runs on the island of Corsica to the epic Futaleufu in Chile, the rivers featured in Whitewater! will inspire you to yearn for the thrill of rushing water and the unique serenity of a riverside campsite at sundown.

The author brings his years of experience running rivers and teaching kayaking to this invaluable resource, suitable for hardcore river rats and novices alike. Every detail is included and illustrated, from paddle stroke to wetsuits, surfing holes to planning a trip. An extensive resource guide includes information on how to find guides and outfitters, paddling clubs, river schools, guidebooks and more.

Whether you are looking for a river nearby or an excuse to travel to remote corners of the world, this exuberantly illustrated, comprehensive book is sure to set you on a rewarding journey you'll remember for a lifetime. BACKCOVER: Experience the exhilaration of the world's greatest rivers in all their glory... Learn the skills, techniques, terminology and secrets of expert river-runners... Explore the unique joys of rafting, canoeing and kayaking... --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 175 pages
• Publisher: Amazon Remainders Account (October 1, 2001)
• ISBN-10: 1579122116
• ASIN: B000H2N8EQ
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,431,072 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HOT DAMN! THIS BOOK RULES!, November 9, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Whitewater!: The Thrill and Skill of Running the World's Great Rivers (Hardcover)

I just recieved Mark Blaines book last week as a gift and was instantly drawn to the catchy title and exciting cover shot. Judging a book by it's cover it looked great so I headed straight for the bathroom. No, did not use it for toilet paper! I just do my reading away from the hurricane that is my home. As a testament to this fine book my legs fell asleep and have fallen asleep a couple of more times since. Anyone that has spent anytime sitting on a toilet can tell you, you sit too long your legs fall asleep.
But I digress, the point of this meandering is that this book is great and fun to read. Interspersed within the more technical information are brief descriptions of whitewater rivers around the world. This is a format I really enjoy as it allows my A.D.D. afflicted brain a cunning diversion. I have done a bit of whitewater rafting and kayaking and find after reading this book a renewed feeling of desire for not only the boat but the feeling that a river rewards you with. The complete inundation of senses coupled with waves of adrenalin(and sometimes nausea) that a whitewater trip provides.
I am a practical person and a parent I may not be able to hit the river right away but atleast I can tuck myself away in my bathroom and escape to the rivers of my mind thanks to Mr. Blaine.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a complete handbook, December 22, 2003

By	"chairypick" (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Whitewater!: The Thrill and Skill of Running the World's Great Rivers (Hardcover)

very informative book a must own for beginners, i would like to see more from these authors

1 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Yin for which kayaking is the Yang, February 20, 2002

By	Phillip D Brown (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Whitewater!: The Thrill and Skill of Running the World's Great Rivers (Hardcover)

What can I say? From the first sentence, this book grabs you like a drowning child and doesn't let go until you're a weeping mass of emotional flotsam, flapping about on the bathroom floor. Uncontrollably weep at its brilliance! Wonder at the ability of this large man to stay afloat! Shudder with ecstasy as each new passage leaves you yearning, nay - aching for more! Cackle like a shrieking rooster, page after page after page!

No extensive whitewater library is complete without WhiteWater!