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Hay River July 31 2003 Canada's Alexandra Falls

Ed Lucero 118 feet Current World Record Click Here For Video Clip of THE Run

Purpose: To find the speed acquired (in MPH) and the time required (in seconds) for Ed Lucero to hit the bottom of Alexandra Falls.

Height of Drop: 118.00 feet
1) Convert to meters: 118.0 ft * 0.3048 (conversion factor) = 35.9782meters

2) Determine the amount of time of freefall with height known (32.10 meters)
and acceleration of gravity known (9.8067)

Distance Equals: 35.9782 meters / (0.5 * 9.8067)
= Time Squared 7.3425
= Time in Seconds 2.7097
So according to this Ed fell for 2.7097 (the video looks like more than this?)

3) Determine Velocity acquired by v = gt where v = velocity, g = 9.80665/sec^2,
and t = seconds
v = g * t
v = 9.8067 * 2.7097
v = 26.5732 meters per second

4) Convert Meters per second to miles per hour
26.5732 meters per second
*2.237 conversion factor
59.444 miles per hour !!!!

According to these results Ed was traveling at a speed of 59.44 mph miles per hour when he landed.

Note: this is a free falling gravity case. Air resistance has been ignored. I should have included it since Ed was falling this fast obviously this was is an important variable. My estimate (if correct) is obviously a bit too high. Shape and density both need to be incorporated.

The real killer is the kinetic energy you build up. This goes up with the square of velocity. Therefore a graph of kinetic energy would be rising steeply with increased height. All that energy has to go somewhere when you land. If anything this velocity graph lulls you into a false sense of security.

Running Large Waterfalls is very sketchy business. You should be very careful when participating in this activity if at all. Make sure you have the necessary skills, safety set, knowledge of the drop and the depth of the pool, and probably some other stuff that I can't think of at the moment. Steepcreeks is in no way responsible for you if you misinterpret this information and injur yourself.

Here is what Ed had to say about running waterfalls in an internet forum: (I grabbed it from B.T. on 4-5-04)

"I belive running waterfalls is natural....but....high waterfalls have huge impacts that must be prepared for. I am sure a higher falls will be atempted soon. I would like to share some care before you huck. Make sure you land well. Realize force generated on impact and what it can do to your knees when your body ejects through the kayak. The kayak weighs less and is larger than the kayaker. This means the body keeps moving when the boat impacts the surface. I expected a big hit but let me say it was much greater than I antisipated. I am very happy I hit my line vertical. I am not sure I would be here if I had landed tweeked. Lots of force to play with when your moving that fast into water. One more thing to remember that which I learned.....water seperates from itself as it stretches towords the bottom of a high falls. There is not so much volume penitrating the surface tension of pool bellow. It may look good in live motion but when you freeze frame it on camera the seperation and airation is exposed. I am pumped to have survived my ride. I wouldent change a thing.......not even a fraction of a mm. I chose to run Alexandria because It looked good and I knew I would be able to speek about change in our country for a moment. I will not run that high again. The risks are too great for me. Be very smart and very carfull. World records are just for our ego. Running a huge drop does not make US great people or kayakers. Running a huge waterfall and getting dead or paralized is very very posible. I sent an email to guiness record book when I got home and now I feel rediculous for that. The real kayakers are kayaking with smiles oblivious to records or status. Have fun in the sun! Love ED"

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ben@steepcreeks.com

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