When the spring snowmelt starts, the fun begins (or continues, depending on what you've been doing all winter) as rivers froth with feisty rapids and rinse-cycle cataracts. All the better to play in yell the river rats. And we'd have to concur. Bone up on the history of everything paddle-powered, meet river-running hero Brad Ludden, and find out how and where to get waterborne.

PLUS: Check out our all-new EXTREME ADVENTURES slideshow, with awe-inspiring photography and links to articles on adrenaline-fuelled sports from kiteboarding to surfing to heli-skiing!