Ben Stookesberry
Whitewater Kayaking
| Age | 30 |
|---|---|
| Hometown | Greeley, CO |
| Experience | 10 years of international expedition class V kayaking. |
| Achievements | Production of an annual film series that now numbers 8. Paddle Film of the year (2002). Finalist Banff Film Fest (2003, 2004), National Geographic Adventure Hero (2007). |
| Biggest Adventure | My 3 attempts to be the first to descend the Rio Buey in interior Colombia. To date I have made the only attempts on this incredible tributary to the Rio Cauca. On my first attempt, we tip toed through a Paramilitary controlled ridge top during a hike out which put us in the middle of a raging narco conflict. During my second trip, we were able to push only a mile further downstream before we were forced to hike out by deteriorating weather and an ever-steepening canyon. Upon meeting up with some friendly locals on our subsequent hike out, we were informed that the situation had improved considerably and that we should spend some time getting to know the locals. This is when I met the coffee grower Ramon Rojas. The following year I returned to the Buey, leaving only a short 4 – 5 mile section of the Buey still unrun. I am sure that I will try again to Descend El Buey, but I am nearly as sure that I will probably hike out again as well. Yet a river is certainly more than the sum of water and stones: it is a different way of life. |
| Off the Water | I help my best friend Devin Knight and his family's construction company build a bridge or I am relaxing at home in Mount Shasta (CA). |
| Website | www.clearh2ofilms.com |
Team Kokatat
- Jesse Coombs
- Christie Glissmeyer
- Ruth Gordon
- Eric (EJ) Jackson
- Dane Jackson
- Chris Korbulic
- Anna Levesque
- Adriene "Lil A" Levknecht
- Darin McQuoid
- Ben Stookesberry
- Clay Wright
Whitewater Kayaking
Stand Up Paddle
Sea Kayaking
Kayak Fishing