Mexico's Rafael Ortiz has become the second person to plunge in a kayak from Washington's Palouse Falls and paddle safely to shore. At 189 feet, Palouse Falls is 17 feet higher than Niagra Falls.



The feat would have tied a world record but because Ortiz was thrown briefly from his kayak upon impact it's merely a remarkable accomplishment that produced an adrenaline rush for the ages.

"Let's face it, it's pretty scary, man!" Ortiz stated on the Red Bull website. "It's pretty far from human limits. You're not supposed to do these kinds of things!"

Montana's Tyler Bradt, 34, is the record holder for negotiating the same waterfall in April of 2009.

Ortiz, 24, is working with fellow paddler Rush Sturges on a documentary titled, "Chasing Waterfalls," which entails conquering some of the biggest waterfalls on the planet.

The daredevil started running giant waterfalls five years ago and prior to conquering Palouse Falls he safely descended the 130-foot Big Banana Falls on the Alseseca River in Veracruz, Mexico.

Of the moment of impact at Palouse Falls Ortiz said, "It's a pretty big hit. Your natural reflex is to be terrified and to close your eyes, hug yourself and your boat and pray. "But what you have to do is keep your eyes open , and really focus on your target.

"You need to end up hugging your boat and lean as far forward as possible, flat on the boat. You have to hold on to your paddle as well. There's so much happening when you land that you can end up behind the waterfall so you have to have your paddle. The impact wasn't so bad, though. I think I've had worse from other waterfalls."

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Adventure racing combines multiple endurance activities such as paddling, biking, climbing, hiking, and rope-work. Distances range from a 6-hour sprint to a multi-day expedition challenge, bound only by mandatory checkpoints and transition areas.

Competitors face multiple hurdles as they trek through unfamiliar terrain. The appeal for most adventure racers is the excitement of the unknown. Will your body hold up? Will you get lost? Will you run out of supplies? Did you bring the right gear? These questions are all unanswered until you embark on the race.

An ideal adventure race for those looking to get their feet wet is the 12-hour dusk 'til dawn adventure race in Central California. The 2012 race was long and challenging but Santa Margarita Lake and San Luis Obispo provided the perfect playing field for all levels of racers. The race consisted of kayaking, trekking through the hillsides, running through vineyards, swimming over obstacles, mountain biking uphill and a finish-line party in downtown.

Although this was my first adventure race, along the way I learned valuable lessons mostly through rookie mistakes. To help other first-timers, I developed a list of 7 overlooked necessities that you'll need complete any adventure race.

Hone Your Navigational Skills- It's highly recommended that you take a navigation class beforehand. Learning how to plot coordinates on a map is essential for getting through unfamiliar territory. So make sure your navigational skills are on point before embarking.
Critical Item-Adventure Racing Compass: It's virtually impossible to plot your path without this helpful tool.
Cost-$26

Waterproof Map Case: This easily overlooked item will save you time and hassle, not to mention keep your most important item safe. Quick access to your map at all times is critical when working your way through the race. More often than not you'll need to double-check your location, so with your map around your neck, you'll save valuable time.
Critical Item-Seal Line Waterproof Map Case: D-rings for easy attachment to kayak, canoe, handlebars or backpack
Cost-$20

Proper Apparel and Footwear- One of the most difficult challenges you'll face is going from wet to dry. It's a difficult one to handle, so making sure your clothing is lightweight and waterproof. Don't spare any expenses with your shoes. You'll need something waterproof with traction and comfort.
Critical Item-Asics Gel FujiRacer: A lightweight, breathable cushioning and water drainage system.
Cost-$110 (photo-Samantha Brandt)

Hydro Pack- 12 consecutive hours of exercise require a lot of water and unlike a triathlon or marathon you'll need to carry it with you. Staying hydrated in the hot Central California weather is an enormous challenge you'll need to conquer. Don't waste your time with water belts or fanny-packs.
Critical Item- High Sierra Quick Shot 70: This 2-liter bladder provides enough water while still remaining light enough to run with.
Cost-$20

Portable First Aid Kit- Not only is it a mandatory item, it's a useful one-- especially with the combination of difficult terrain. Beat blisters that commonly occur when you're running with damp socks from the lake. This is an item your feet will thank you for later.
Critical Item- New-Skin Liquid Bandage-1 fl oz: For fast and easy application.
Cost-$5

Gaiters- Provides ultimate protection from the natural terrain you're trekking through, such as high grass, gnarly oat heads, bar- wire fences, cow-dung, and poison oak.
Critical Item- Mountain Hardwear Nut Shell High Gaiters for Men: These easily attach to the top of your shoes, so you can swap them on and off when you need them.
Cost-$35

MTB Gear Tool Kit- Don't end your race because of mechanical issues with your bike, especially on difficult sections of terrain. Many racers are often forced to retire early due to broken spokes and flat tires. Get a gear bag complete with a 7-function folding tool, dual spoke wrench, universal chain tool, two tire levers, and a patch kit.
Item-Compact Seat Saddle Bag: Attaches to the seat of your bike for easy transport.
Cost-$45
Next week, check out part 2 on adventure racing, which lists the top 10 events worldwide.

Photos courtesy of Kaori Funahashi. (kaoriphoto.com)

Burke Mountain, in Northeast Vermont, has new ownership with strong ties to the region.

An ownership group made up of principals in Jay Peak Resort,Vermont has purchased neighboring Burke Mountain. Ariel Quiros, who along with Jay Peak president Bill Stenger bought Jay Peak Resort from Mont Saint-Sauveur Valley resorts in 2008, is heading the group, called Q-Burke. Stenger is involved as well.

"This is a separate company with the same ownership principals," says Steve Wright, Jay Peak's V.P. of marketing and sales. Jay Peak is a beacon of Eastern skiing, in part because they boast the most snowfall of any ski area in the region, with an annual average of 355 inches, but also for their customer service and access to expert terrain. The resort has made headlines in recent years with several new upgrades, including a championship golf course, an indoor water park, extensive lodging and an NHL-size indoor ice arena.

Wright is quick to point out that the improvements at Jay are not necessarily an indication of what could happen at Burke. "We have a lot of fact finding to do," he told SkitheEast.com. "Clearly we have similarities in audience and location, which will work well for cross promotion and products. There's a lot of history at Burke and there's been many master plans that did not roll out."

A skier scores a powder day on Burke Mountain. Photo: Courtesy Burke Mountain

"Burke Mountain embodies what is best about Vermont Skiing: a quality mountain experience, employees that love the sport and a community that is full of authentic Vermont character," Stenger says in a press release. "Jay Peak and Burke Mountain have much in common and I look forward to seeing the resorts continue to prosper and grow. We expect some exciting promotional cooperation between the resorts this coming winter as we review the plans for Burke Mountain's future."

Burke is located about an hour from Jay Peak, in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, and features 260 acres of skiable terrain across 50 named trails with 2,011 vertical feet and 100 acres of maintained glades. It receives 217 inches of snow annually.

The area is perhaps best known, however, for Burke Mountain Academy, an elite private high school that has produced champion skiers such as Wendy Fisher and Shane McConkey, and current U.S. Ski Team phenomenon Mikaela Shiffrin. The Academy is privately owned and not part of the sale. Wright says Jay Peak already has a long tradition of working closely with the Academy, and that Burke Mountain's new owners and the Academy have a good standing relationship.

The resort was sold by Ginn Companies, a troubled, Florida-based vacation real estate developer. Ginn bought the ski area in 2005 with plans to build out the resort. When the real estate bubble burst, however, those plans were put on hold. Wright told Ski the East that the current purchase is debt-free, and that Burke Mountain has build out permits already in place.

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A beglua whale calf born Friday night at the Georgia Aquarium has died, despite receiving 24-hour nurturing from animal care experts at the Atlanta facility.

"This is an extremely sad day for the Georgia Aquarium family. Over the past few days, our veterinary and animal care teams have been giving around-the-clock care to Maris and her calf," Gregory Bossart, chief veterinary officer, said in a news release issued Wednesday. "We initially became concerned when the calf was born and needed assistance from the divers to bring it to the surface to breathe.

"The calf was significantly underweight and appeared to have a significant number of medical issues. Based on our knowledge of healthy calves, we knew this calf would probably not survive, but our hearts gave us hope that she might be able to pull through. Our primary concern now is the well-being of Maris."

Animal care experts at Georgia Aquarium tend to the female beluga whale calf over the weekend, with the mother watching on. Credit: Georgia Aquarium

Maris is the 17-year-old mother beluga whale. She and Beethoven, the 19-year-old father, are the only captive-born beluga whales to have naturally produced a calf.

The female calf emerged from her mother in a weakened state and weighing only 82 pounds. Her tail flukes were too soft for her to navigate through the water on her own.

Her death is not surprising considering that first-born beluga whales often do not survive, in the wild and in captivity.

Maris was closely monitored throughout her pregnancy. The calf was carried to full-term.

"A better understanding of belugas is critical to conserve and protect the species," said William Hurley, chief zoology officer. "When we can study and observe belugas in human care, we continue to gain a better understanding of their biology, physiology and the diseases that affect them, all with the goal of learning how to help these populations in their natural habitats."

Of the calf he added: "Even through her short life, Georgia Aquarium was provided the rare opportunity to advance the zoological community's knowledge about the reproductive health of beluga whales."

Georgia Aquarium is one of only seven accredited North American aquariums and zoos committed to public display and breeding of beluga whales.

A necropsy is being conducted by Aquarium veterinarians and specialists from University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.

The beluga whale exhibit was closed Wednesday and Maris remained under close observation.

Gary Connery on Wednesday became the first skydiver to make a successful landing without a parachute. The British stuntman leaped from a helicopter at 2,400 feet, used a wingsuit to fly instead of plummet, and landed on a runway made of more than 18,000 cardboard boxes.



The well-planned stunt, which was completed in less than a minute, was performed over Connery's hometown of Oxfordshire, England.

Afterward Connery told the BBC: "I have been training and planning for this record attempt for many years now and I am so proud to have achieved a world first.

"I want to thank everyone involved for their support and belief in me because this really has been a team effort."

His wive Vivian stated that she was "relieved it's all over."

Connery, however, added without providing details that he's already plotting his next challenge.

The daredevil, who has worked on several films, has made about 880 skydiving jumps, and about half as many base jumps.