F RONTI ER OF FI RSTS How a team of kayakers, a bush pilot, and two filmmakers documented three first descents in a film entitled Frontier of Firsts presented by the U.S. National Whitewater Center. words SUNNY HUBLER photos COOPER L AMBL A, T YLER ALLYN, ERIC PARKER
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This is the story of six experienced kayakers who flew to rural Alaska to attempt a challenge no one had yet: They wanted to descend three world-class unrun Alaskan rivers. While they dove into the wilderness challenge, accompanied by their bush pilot, two of them also filmed the expedition. They returned stateside with Frontier of Firsts, a self-shot and self-directed short film that captured the whole experience from start to victorious finish. Presented by the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, Frontier of Firsts, is an epically shot, adrenaline pumping account of the trek Todd Wells, Eric Parker, Chris Korbulic, Jeff Shelton, Tyler Allyn, Cooper Lambla, and Charlotte-native turned Alaskan bush pilot Jay Mahan took to Lake Clark National Park.