Ben Aylsworth used to write a column for Rapid. He called it Reactionary. If you know Ben or remember his column, you’d get the double entendre. In a 13-issue streak, Ben pissed off just about everybody in whitewater. Canoeists. Rafters. Dogs. Rodeo stars. Slalom racers. Women. Babies were too young to read and write, so mothers wrote angry letters on their behalf. These were fun times here in the Rapid editorial office.
Ben was saddened—poor Ben—that his paddling buddies were being sucked from their boats for romantic walks and lamaze classes. He wrote: “it’s not waterfalls or boulder-choked creeks, it’s chicks and newborn babies that are the most dangerous things that can happen to paddling guys. It’s lonely on the couch and they will soon resent your paddling trips and your friends. Babies are no different, except you can see them coming. Tick, tick, tick…you have nine months.” you get the idea. Let’s face it, good whitewater—play parks not withstanding—is a whole day affair. I don’t know if I’ve ever said I’d be home for dinner and actually was. Adventure always seems to get in the way.
Ben’s secret, which was not really that much of a secret, was to take small truths and then blow the roof off. But he was only half right about chicks and babies…
To read more about chicks and babies, check out Rapid, Early Summer 2013. Download our free iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch App or Android App or read the rest here.
