World News for Students of English

15-04-2021 07:00

Spanish kayaker Aniol Serrasolses performed the world’s first flip off a waterfall.

Before the stunt, Serrasolses had to overcome a crash that flung him 10 meters through the air. However, the main run itself went considerably smoother.

After moving onto land, Serrasolses steered his way down the 25-kilometer-long stretch that formed part of the Villarrica Volcano in Chile. Reaching speeds of up to 100 kmph, he performed tricks and jumps off rocks along the snowy descent. He slalomed through a forest, navigated his way down rapids, and ended in the river below. Once in the water, he performed the world’s first double kickflip off a waterfall, for ending up in the open water unscathed.

Serrasolses said that he had always wanted to kayak down the snow and unite the four elements: Earth, air, water and fire. He tackled his descent in September, the start of the Chilean spring, when the snow was still on the ground for the most part and the rivers were flowing well. He managed his trick on the first attempt and he couldn’t be happier.

Difficult words: slalom (to race downhill in a wavy course), rapid (fast and steep part of a river), unscathed (without suffering an injury or damage).

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