FAIRFIELD, Maine (WABI) - A Fairfield woman died Saturday morning in a whitewater rafting accident. text-align: center !important; } We went down the river in groups of three rafts and waited after every large fall to make sure someone was not unlucky and fell out of the boat. Rotorua Rafting was built around the love of the river, extensive local and cultural knowledge, as well as the best-handpicked guides to best showcase the aroha of the kere awa. } It is a winter destination for paddlers from the northern hemisphere. .fh-button-true-flat-yellow.fh-fixed--bottom.fh-size--small{ The first of the three gorges is known to paddlers as Awesome. The truth is, his girlfriends death that horrible, nightmarish event I will never get over taught him plenty about life. The Kaituna is a white water enthusiast's dream come true. } bottom: 60px !important; margin:0 auto; If it is not the place of drifting, then it is the place of drifters. border-radius: 3px; In Okere Falls, however, hes just a regular guy in a spray skirt. Combine Maori culture with stunning scenic vistas and 360-degree panoramic views. . width: 100%; e.gh = e.el===undefined || e.el==="" || (Array.isArray(e.el) && e.el.length==0)? top: 20px !important; Roy then dragged Ryan from his kayak and revived him. } Take the ultimate thrill ride on this Kaituna River white water rafting tour. Furthermore, about 30% of those deaths come from heart conditions or heart attacks. @media screen and (min-width:770px) { e.gw : [e.gw]; bottom: 5%; li#field_1_2 { Join in group. } color: #fff !important; margin-bottom: -20px !important; They teach you to paddle forward and paddle back. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. There are three waterfalls in the upper section of the river, the first of which sits alongside the remains of what was one of the first hydroelectric power stations in New Zealand. z-index: 999; In winter then, youll need to be flexible if you want to get out on the water, but when you do, youll probably have the most exhilarating white water rafting Rotorua experience of the year. It isnt every day that you get a chance to raft class 5 rapids and negotiate a 7-meter waterfall, the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the World. width: 98%; Her parents would often only later hear what she had been up to. } text-align: left; Shes just a crack-up, she has so many amazing stories from her adventures, Jones says, skipping between past and present tense, as if she still cant get her head around the fact her best mate is gone. They know the rapids well and will have dropped over the big waterfall countless times. That feeling was unbeatable. American tourist 23-year-old Alabama man Matthew Stidham died while kayaking on a piece of river known as Awesome Gorge after getting trapped under a fallen branch. Whangamarino School greets you as you drive in, further down on the left is the general store and seconds later youll be hitting the 100km/h zone again, headed towards Tauranga. background-color: #f7e222; newh = (e.gh[ix] * m) + (e.tabh + e.thumbh); Rapids water splashing all over while you are crashing thought the water, trying to stay in. Meet us at our base Hangar 14s, Rotorua Airport, 837 Te Ngae Road . From here on it is continuous whitewater, like a fast-moving hydroslide winding through a boxed-in canyon. 0 : e.tabh; By the time police and a rescue team reached the area and were properly briefed, it was too dark to launch a search. The first drop at Okere Falls is simple enough, and you will adjust to the raft and get used to paddling, while still getting very wet. .vc_custom_1619577787216 { Others have returned in their own time. Ride the rapids of the Kaituna River in a safe and fun way that's perfect for rafting beginners. } Its interesting, we worry about our kids when they are at home when theyre under your roof youre always conscious of what theyre up to but when theyre away we kind of decided that we couldnt worry or wed drive ourselves mad, says Liz. He finally reached the point in the river where he thought Louise had been ejected. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. After 20 minutes of increasingly frantic searching, Ryan made his way back downstream to Morley, who, with a shake of his head, heaped terror upon the dread. text-align: left !important; At the time of her death she was only two months into her first fulltime teaching gig at Western Heights High School, a move she undertook with far more trepidation than any waterfall shed paddled, for it meant being tied to one place. Louise had plans off the water as well. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)}; } Thats all I had left of her, he says, crying. Its been [two years] but its still a struggle to think about, it just gives me nightmares.. .ekit-wid-con .elementskit-accordion.accordion-4 .elementskit-card-header > .elementskit-btn-link { As you near the edge, follow your instructors commands and hold tight. color:#fff !important; color: #000 !important; background: #000000 !important; If you are not scared of the water, you and your team can paddle up the rapids into the waterfalls to let the falling water spray into the front of your boat. font-size: 16px !important; The section of the Kaituna River that most commonly forms the white water rafting Rotorua experience, is the area focused around Okere Falls. It is here he finds his ultimate joy going places physically and spiritually most people will never experience. It features powerful rapids, large drops, abrupt turns, weirs, fast boiling eddies, and numerous obstacles in the main current. A 50 minute action packed ride down 14 epic rapids featuring the worlds highest rafted waterfall! This is rare, but if it does happen, then just follow the training you are given at the start and dont worry too much because the worst of the rapids are over and there will be plenty of time to climb back inside the raft. right: 0px; Her paddle came downstream straight away, followed closely by her upturned yellow and lime kayak. } position: absolute; font-family: Roboto; } Start at a spot where wild waters meet subtropical rainforests and canyons engraved in the earth. } }*/ padding: 12px; It is not a stretch to say she felt her presence in Rio de Janeiro last year, when she pulled off the run of her life to claim the silver medal. #carousel-container .carousel-container-content h2 { It hits you; you just went down a real, not man-made, 7-meter waterfall. He was Madhu Shah, a tourist who is understood to be from Mumbai (Bombay) in India. max-width: 100px !important; a.book-btn.fh-button-true-flat-yellow.fh-fixed--bottom.fh-size--small { padding: 10px 10px; Co-owner of Kaitiaki Adventures Jason Wright said his sympathy went out to the Shah family. It would have been the last thing that Louise wanted, says Adrian. background-color: #f7e222; } color: #000 !important; padding:0px 10px !important; @media only screen and (max-width: 600px) { Once you discover this place, its hard to get away from it.. Feb 17, 2023 | louisiana high school 100 meter record | louisiana high school 100 meter record newh = Math.max(e.mh,window.RSIH); Companies in Rotorua run trips all throughout the year, with more scheduled departures each day in summer than in winter. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Vavrinec Hradilek, who first met Louise when she bounded up to him on the steps of his home boat club at a canoe slalom event in Prague, has been a regular visitor since 2009. The group had only just entered into Gnarly gorge Morley went through first, followed by Ryan, with Louise trailing the pack a decision Ryan still beats himself up over. #floating { border-radius: 3px; As you keep paddling, the sounds of water falling over the rocks become the soundtrack of your day while your guide tells you how to navigate the river. margin-top: -70px; .elementor-2460 .elementor-element.elementor-element-73743d91 .elementskit-accordion .elementskit-card-body p { .home-banner-text-btn h2 { e.gw = Array.isArray(e.gw) ? padding-right: 0; This is the story of her death but it is also a story of renewal, as those closest to her keep her memory alive by celebrating her sense of adventure. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a273d8792fdd09b8a47fda5587b80cfd" );document.getElementById("d2f8ec4791").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); We are David & Lina Stock, a married couple from NW Wisconsin who have been traveling together since 2001. Trailhead address: Pilot Quay, Mt Maunganui, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, 3116, New Zealand. margin-top: 30px !important; .elementor-slideshow__description{ The base for this tour is located on the banks of the Kaituna River, meaning no long bus rides to your destination or waiting around in wetsuits to get picked up. Its a great place to train, a great place to hang out. font-size: 16px; Our sweet Rafting Base in Okere Falls is in an awesome sunny location, surrounded by a scenic reserve and backs onto the shores of the Kaituna. display: none; } } The local guides though will always have final say over the matter when it comes to the weather, and if the rapids are deemed too intense after a heavy storm, then the trip may have to be rescheduled. Embrace a thrilling whitewater rafting adventure infused with Maori culture. } 14 Geothermal Mineral Baths Experience: Pavilion Pools for 12+. She had navigated this section of the river without incident numerous times that summer, including just four days earlier. This reflects the fact that things are very much busier in New Zealand during the summer season, which roughly runs from November to March. border-radius: 3px; Working in Rotorua had its benefits, however, with Louise able to take up residence with Lucas at Okere Falls. window.rs_init_css.innerHTML += "#"+e.c+"_wrapper { height: "+newh+"px }"; Raft past beautiful cascading waterfalls, including the stunning Tutea Falls, and even take the opportunity to do some adventurous cliff diving. He wouldnt be the first to question the psychology. [GoPro] 18,193 views Dec 29, 2016 Whitewater rafting the beautiful Kaituna River near Rotorua, New Zealand. window.RSIH = window.RSIH===undefined ? right: 285px !important; The beauty of the Kaituna River is unmatched around the World and its hard to keep your eyes on the rapids as they come up. } e.gh : [e.gh]; As a guide to the level of fitness required, participants should be capable of sprinting 100 metres and recovering reasonably quickly. Conditions- You must be 13+ years to join this experience - your safety is our No.1 priority at Kaituna Cascades. We were having a really good summer, Ryan says. Join an epic grade 5 whitewater rafting expedition on the Kaituna River and get an adrenaline rush in its deep warm water canyons. /*color: #3A444D;*/ Grade 3 rafting on The Kaituna River available for 10-12 year olds for $60pp. We are the closest and most accessible company to the river. /* elementor */ Your local guides are going to be experienced and well versed in taking newcomers and old hands alike out onto the Kaituna River. Simply show up and get ready to raft! This is the upper section of the river commonly referred to as the Okere River close to its source at Lake Rotoiti, and its the most intense and exciting stretch of water in New Zealand. .bottom-text-block{ text-align: left; You just need to be physically fit and ready for a lot of adrenaline and a lot of water. He was thrown from a raft on the Kaituna River, at Tutea Falls, the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world, on Tuesday, the Daily Post at Rotorua reported. Going into the Olympics, Jones had a world ranking of 28. Weve been back a few times. Get wet, Get wild, Get stuck in! Your safety is our No.1 priority at Kaituna Cascades. a.dt-mobile-menu-icon { In that moment his life quite literally hangs in the balance. display: none !important; background-color: #f7e222 !important; } 0 : parseInt(e.mh,0); 0 : parseInt(e.tabh); } Only a few highly skilled paddlers dare to venture beyond Trout Pool Falls, the take-out point for the commercial rafts. Ryan obtusely refers to the inherent risks of his sport as consequence. by Matthew Martin matthew.martin@dailypost.co.nz I always try to think over her exact words. window.innerWidth : window.RSIW; A police spokeswoman said police and Hato Hone St John Ambulance personnel were advised of. The couple met in 2009 when Louise, an up-and-coming star on the canoe slalom scene, moved to the area, where the Lucas family have owned a bach for more than 20 years. #carousel-container .carousel-container-content { color: black !important; The minimum age is 15 years. } .dt-owl-item-description { She was right behind me and then I never saw her again.. For Louises parents, Liz and Adrian Jull, the Okere Falls landmarks provide tangible reminders of their youngest child: the general store, where Louise worked before embarking on a teaching career; Taheke Marae, where her funeral took place; the put-in area, where the family released flowers into the stream and said their final goodbyes. .contact-imb-boxes .elementor-widget-container .the7-box-wrapper{ We have created the best rafting adventures on the planet, packed with action and excitement and a life changing experience youll never forget. You and your team put your paddles together to give a celebration yell. } } A police spokeswoman said police and Hato Hone St John Ambulance personnel were advised of an incident at Trout Pool Rd, Okere Falls in the Rotorua district about 3.10pm. The force of the rapids had pushed Louises lifejacket over her head. Established in 2011,by locally born and bred 4 x World Champion Extreme Kayaker Sam Sutton. "I'm super proud of all the people who tried to help him, my guides, the nurse and St John." The remote stretch, which carries the outflow of Lakes Rotorua and Rotoiti northwards to Maketu, is isolated by its geography and singular in its sense of destiny for the people that run the rapids. } They decided to go further downstream. }} Be sure to make Kaituna river rafting your first stop adventure activity in Rotorua! background-color: #f7e222; .show-on-second-switch { } max-width: 120px; e.tabw = e.tabw===undefined ? Daily Departure Times: 9:00am, 11:45am, 2:30pm and 4:30pm (summer only). for (var i in e.rl) if (e.gw[i]===undefined || e.gw[i]===0) e.gw[i] = e.gw[i-1]; } A nurse who was on the river at the time performed CPR on the man, along with staff from Kaitiaki Adventures, before being taken to Rotorua Hospital by St John paramedics. margin: 20px; It was where she felt really good. Jump aboard and enjoy the fun with the team at Rotorua Rafting. Liz: We dont want what happened to Louise to discourage young people from chasing their dreams. .single-tour .page-title { If you want to enjoy slightly calmer rapids but great weather, then consider traveling to Rotorua in the spring shoulder season, just before summer, when the rivers will be full and the sun will begin to emerge from the New Zealand clouds. width: 100% !important; background-color: #fff; Rotorua Rafting offers spectacular white water rafting adventures on the world-famous Kaituna River, just 20 minutes drive from Rotorua, New Zealand. min-height:64px; VOTED#2 EXPERIENCEINTHEWORLD, #1 EXPERIENCEINNZ, and #1 EXPERIENCEINTHESOUTHPACIFIC.Rotorua Rafting offers spectacular white water rafting adventures on the world-famous Kaituna River, just a 20 minute drive from Rotorua, New Zealand. But we pretty much made a deal that if one of us died on the river that we wouldnt let it stop us doing what we love. 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