Rafael Ortiz: Life on a Kayak

It is called Rafael Ortiz, his discipline is kayak expedition and he was born on June 20, 1987 in Mexico City. His talent with the paddle and kayak has led him to navigate the most complex rivers in the world. His life philosophy is to die exhausted doing what makes you happy. While out of the water, he listens to Cuban music, blues, jazz, rock, and flamenco.

Photo: RedBull

The Mexican has earned a massive legion of fans with his aggressive style and approach, often seen launching himself in his kayak over 100-foot waterfalls. Ortiz learned to paddle in Veracruz, but perfected his skills in Canada and in 2005 became the first Mexican to compete in the Freestyle World Championship.

Photo: Extreme Sports

It was the daredevil Ben Stookesberry who introduced Rafael to canoeing. The thrill of paddling on each expedition makes this sport the reason that has led him to paddle all over the world. During an expedition in Veracruz in 2010, Rafael conquered the second highest waterfall in the world, the Big Banana drop (42m).

Photo: Kayakworld

In 2012, it was a very busy and laborious year for Rafael, starting with a 6-week expedition in New Zealand with Ben Brown, for Red Bull's River Hunters project. Shortly after, a brief adventure followed in Washington, United States, where he managed to land the highest waterfall ever dropped by a man, the Palouse Falls with 57.6m.

Photo: RedBull

Now, Rafa ended the year in Mexico, his homeland, with the start of Red Bull Chasing Waterfalls, a two-year project designed to discover unknown routes, rivers, and waterfalls along the course. He also embarked on a Red Bull project in the United States with Ian Walsh and other legends; usually, Rafa can be found navigating whitewater around the world.

Photo: Redbull

Bring out that adventurous spirit inside you and discover the world of Kayaking.

 

See also:

• Rowing only: What is Va'a and how is it practiced?
• Know where to practice canoeing in Peru
• Rafting: How to tame rivers on a boat?
• Steve Fisher: The master of impossible rivers.