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TEAM PROFILE
THE 9-BALL WATERMEN CAPTAIN JOHN MARK SEELIG + THE U.S. MEN’S WHITEWATER RAFTING TEAM
Words by Lexi Reich | Photos by Robbie Prechtl
T
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he U.S. Men’s Whitewater Raft Team,
Canyon for 38 hours … that’s a pretty big bonding
based in Vail, Colorado, is comprised of six
moment.”
men: Robbie Prechtl, Jeremiah Williams, Matt
37 hours and 55 minutes to be exact.
Norfleet, Kurt Kincel and John Mark Seelig, the
This past January, the team and three
team’s captain.
experienced raft guides embarked on a mission
The team has been in the valley for over 16
to row 277 miles down the Grand Canyon in less
years, and the current lineup of men has been
than 34 hours, attempting to break the world
together for almost eight, forming their clan
record set by kayaker Ben Orkin in 2016.
in 2013.
“We’ve grown incredibly close over the
viewpoints in the boat. These guides have been
years. We’re just like brothers; we fight like
down the canyon more than 150 times,” he says
brothers; we work with each other like brothers;
of the three long-time guides that helped take
we’re there for each other through multiple life
over some positions.
stresses and struggles,” shares Seelig. “And, you
know, suffering with other people in the Grand
team had attempted to break the same record.
“It’s always nice having some other eyes and
Three years earlier on January 13, 2017, the
