Middle Palguin 10/11/08

So I have been asking and talking about going to run this drop since the day we arrived in Chile. This is my favorite big drop in the world, no questions. Big big drop! The water was super high and the drop looked very intense and scary. You have to do a 15 footer seal launch into the boily cauldron... fight, and then suave a stroke off a seeming lip with around 70 feet to fall.

Ian, Me, and Graham geared up while Freddy and Jared went to go collect some media from below. Once we got there after portaging the first two rapid of the middle (Turbina y boof to swim) we arrived at the biggen. Ian looked at the sea launch and the pool and choose to walk around to shoot some video on this day. It was just the two of us above this monster. I had run it two times the year before, but at much much lower flows... we talked it out a bit then I set up to run it.

My seal launch was perfect, I landed flat and paddled left to the lip. Took a right stroke but then something caught my blade pushing it under my boat. From there I looked a long way down and tucked. What ended up happening was super crazy... let the pics explain...



photos by jared seiler

It felt as crazy as it looked... I'm sure of that. But the landing was soft and I went deep as heck. I was really fired up and ready for more when I came up...

Graham was next... He did the dry launch, which we couldn't see from the bottom and got swallowed in some boils. Coming in hot a bit on the right side of the curler he stroked and had a really sick line...

Demshitz at the top taking the curl with with blade.

Graham deep in the hyrup...

buried in the falls his skirt kinda imploded and his front blade broke. With out any problems... we gave each other high fives at the base safe and sound... But it just wasn't enough for me...

I really wanted to stick this drop at the high level so, alone I ran back to the top which is no easy feat, and stoked myself for the double dip! When I got up there I could not stop thinking of why I should do this.. other than I just wanted to. So with no time to waste I got back in my boat and gave a huge warrior cry and dropped in.



Money shot of the day by Fred Norquist.





This time the pool did not treat me as well... I fought hard and got left... With a left stroke I flew off the beast. Falling far I could feel myself go a bit flat, so I did a little stomp action, and landed perfect. I came out fired up and didn't even flip over... What a day of hucking!

A long hike out we got back to the truck with all the boys and drove back to town ready to start a trip to Argentina. Chile baby can it get any better? We drove late that night and checked out another 70ish footer that was so crazy... no takers no that. More to come

Later E.G.