Pat Keller... sometimes I try to not like him. Especially everytime he beats me in a race or runs some shit I always wanted to but, never sacked up to do it. Can't really help but love him though. Super proud to be good friends with him and to have shared some of the finest rivertrips ever. He was already the sikest paddler when the Tdub got ahold of him around 15 years old. We held him back from running a few things when he was still a minor; not because he wouldn't have stuck it, but because none of us wanted to set safety for a kid running shit no one else would run. I think he definitely got pissed at us a few times back then.

Since he's "matured" aka (gotten thick enough to beat us all down) he has seen the best and worst of what kayaking is. Through it all, hype and bullshit, he has stayed true to actual kayaking. For me, I take comfort in the fact that Pat really defines the future of kayaking. Or at least the direction the next generation of kayakers are looking to. Which is that basic exploratory riverrunning experience. A lot of "professional kayakers" still think kayaking is a sport, and they want to be the best in their sport, huck the biggest waterfall, or throw the nastiest McFruitloop. Pat can beat all those guys. Sure, Pat can be the best "professional sport kayaker guy" if and when he wants to, but mostly Pat just loves to run rivers, which is what actual kayaking is all about. And that really pisses off the people that think kayaking is a sport.

by Tommy Hilleke