This video is a change of pace. While the footage itself is of various good, bad, and ugly lines I've taken over the past 2 years, my voiceover narrative is taken word for word from an essay by Louis Geltman. The essay is called Style, and it was originally published on the Site Zed website in 2012. Here is a link to the text:

http://sitezedjournal.com/pushing-it/

Here is the video referenced in the article:    • Carnage In The Nars June 29, 2012  

The reason that I posted this lies in the perspective that Geltman shares, which is particularly relevant to me at this point in my paddling progression (slowly moving from comfort in some III to comfort in some IV).

One of my paddling mentors always says "practice hard moves on easy water." He's right- in my personal view, I'd rather be prepared and in control when I step up to a bigger rapid.

I don't think that surviving by the skin of your teeth is to be applauded, and I don't think that higher grades of whitewater are worth paddling for the grade alone.

In my view, competence-enabled confidence is to be applauded. You may feel differently- if so, please sound off in the comments.