Chasing Waterfalls & Pursuing Life with Retired Pro Extreme Kayaker Pat Keller Artwork

Exploration Local

Come journey with us as we explore and highlight the people and places that make the Blue Ridge and Southern Appalachian Mountains special and unique. We explore the towns, trails, rivers, scenic byways, businesses, and people that fuel the life & adventurous spirit in these mountains. Listen in on this relaxed conversational style podcast as host Mike Andress interviews Authors, Business Owners, Photographers, Athletes, Adventurers, Travelers and Friends who have a deep connection to the outdoors and directly influence the culture of the Blue Ridge. We’ll even explore the many ways nature & the outdoors can positivity influence our health and well being.

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Exploration Local

Chasing Waterfalls & Pursuing Life with Retired Pro Extreme Kayaker Pat Keller

June 02, 2023 • Mike Andress • Season 1 • Episode 75

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Pat Keller is known for his waterfall first descents as well as being a repeat winner of the coveted Green Race, winning the Great Falls Race and the inaugural Rey del Rio Waterfall World Championships in Mexico where he battled the world’s top boaters over three back-to-back waterfalls—a 25-footer, a 55-footer and a 35-footer. Accolades also include being a two-time Teva Mountain Games winner and the first Descents as I just mentioned including: Toxaway Falls, Linville Falls, Valser Rhein Falls, Cane Creek Falls, Wolf Creek Falls, and Ozone Falls.

All these accomplishments are super impressive, but what also stands out to me is Pat’s passion, zeal for life, and his constant need to set goals and push himself in whatever he does.

Although Pat now considers himself a retired pro-athlete, the quest for finding outdoor pursuits where he can totally immerse himself and find that flow state is as strong as ever. He may spend more time rallying around the endless network of gravel roads on his motorcycle these days, but he admits there are more whitewater kayaking missions on the horizon.

In this episode, Pat drops by the studio and we unpack all of this. We also talk about how being born and raised in the western North Carolina mountains has truly shaped him and helped develop his passions.

Mentioned In This Episode
Liquid Logic
Dagger
Green Race
TAT TransAmerica Trail
Dagger Green Boat
Blindfold Run of Green River

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
mike@explorationlocal.com

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