CK-So what’s up with your new “mighty beard of power” mystique?
KY-It’s kind of like a Samson thing and my beard increases my riverboarding prowess ten fold, so I’ll have to watch out for any beautiful, but devious women with razors. No seriously, I started growing a beard out of convenience while backpacking in the Himalayas and have kept it ever since.

If you look at the heroes and mythos of old from our civilization; Hercules, the Greek and Norse gods, Leonidas and the Spartans, etc, you will see them depicted with a beard a lot of times; and if a guy goes out an expedition or survives in the wild, they’re going to come back with some awesome looking stubble.

I like the mightiness and ruggedness that is associated with a beard and see myself as a modern hero except instead of slaying monsters and saving princesses; I’m challenging the mighty rivers of the world. Plus, it’s just really fun to type like Thor and throw some th’s on the end of words.

CK-Most tense moment on a river?
KY-I have to give this one a tie. The first one would be on the Kaituna river when I got sucked to river left and shot between the remains of an old, blasted out power station and tree strainers, and the second one was also on the Kaituna, sitting in the eddy above Tutea Falls and summoning the nerve to do it.

CK-I would have thought exploring the Toaster Slot on the Wairoa would have been it. Why not?
KY-(chuckles) When I realized that I was off line, the water was too shallow to avoid it, so there was nothing to do but take a breath, go limp, and accept my beat down. There’s no point in getting worked up about something that it’s too late to change. I still keep a lone elbow pad as a souvenir from that day (its partner got sucked off in the slot).

CK-You sort of started boarding on your own when there weren’t many people doing it in the southeast. What made you want to try it and how did you get started?
KY-I credit my mom with starting my extreme sports obsession by leaving the baby gate open just long enough for me to go tumbling down a half flight of stairs in my baby walker. LOL! No seriously, I was too young to remember that.

I grew up in a town where football was king and had a great time, especially being the point of the wedge on kickoff returns. Couple that with seeing early X-games reruns on Saturday mornings and I got into snow sports and mountain biking during my college years, and even tried competing in a skiboard race.

I heard about someone taking a bodyboard through rapids and it sounded fun. For a few years I posted on bodyboarding forums and asked about it, but couldn’t find anyone who did it or knew about it. I didn’t even know it was called riverboarding.

The year before I started boarding I finally found some articles on the internet and pieced together enough gear from other sports, bought fins and a pfd, and rented a wetsuits so me and friend could give it a go.

My first year (2003) was a wet year for the southeast and I was fortunate to be able to get a crack at rivers that looked big, scary, and fun at high water, but that didn’t get much more technically difficult, which fueled my enthusiasm. I’d have to play catch up with my water reading abilities at the end of the season, but that’s a story for my autobiography when I write it one day.

CK-What other things do you like to do?
KY-I like pick up games of football, basketball, or ultimate Frisbee with friends and also enjoy a lot of outdoor activities; camping, backpacking, mountaineering, and trail running. I’m big into music and love messing around on the guitar and writing songs.

CK-Name a few goals for 2008.
KY-I’m really excited about all the new innovations in boards and gear over the last few years and can’t wait to get some rain and get to a lot of the creeks in the southeast that I didn’t get to do a few years ago before I left for Asia.

I also want to organize a few competitions on the east coast and try to get riverboarding allowed in the Tallulah gorge. So I guess in a nutshell; push the limits of what is possible in the southeast and around the world, get as many boarders in the states out riding together, and introduce as many people to the sport as possible.

CK-Every hero has his weaknesses. What’s your kryptonite or Achilles Heel?
KY-blondes, redheads, curly-haired girls and short-haired girls!

CK-Thanks for the interview, Kevin. I wish I could be as “super” as you.
KY-You’re welcome and don’t worry, Clark. I’m sure you will be.