just found out as many of you may be as well that Isaac Ludwig drowned in or near the west prong yesterday. Isaac was a good friend of mine I met on the Upper yough three season's ago. He was a great kid who I was fortunate enough to paddle many great rivers with. I believe some bwa'ers first met him two years ago when we all had the "23 people on Little stoney festival wknd". Isaac ran his first russell fork race last year and did very well. I talked briefly this past friday with Isaac and his Dad on the Upper Yough and he was excited to be back up north. Never once saw Isaac when he wasn't smiling!

RIP Isaac

matt walker

I'll second that...

I met Issac last summer bumming shuttle on the Green. Since then it sure seemed like every time i was on the Green so was he. After Connerd and i brought up the rear the night of the Cheat race this year i ran into him and true to form he was all smiles and an extra Pabst Blue Ribbon in hand. I didn't care much for the PBR but i sure did enjoy his great attitude towards paddling and life.

He had a highly tuned sense of humor about him as witnessed by his "GOD BLESS AMERICA" and bald eagle airbrushed PFD and handlebar mustache. I was always cracked up by his antics.

This makes two wonderful people in my small personal paddling community that have passed in less than a year...it's sucks. I vote let's go a long, long time before another.

Sorry for Matt Walker, Jay Ditty, John Pilson and other WV and A-Ville paddlers who have lost a close friend.

ViVa El Griffo y ViVa El Issac...

Damn! I am sorry to hear that. Live each moment and treat each other like it is the only moment when you are out there and our friends, now ancestors, will live forever with us. I seem to feel them best when out there on the rivers we paddled together.
Brent

Damn Damn-it! Yet another tragic loss in our family! I loved that kid! I can't quite remember where I met him, or when, but it was prob 3 years ago or so, maybe with Matt. I do know he had a passion for kayaking and had placed himself in a position to do what he loved. He ran the shit and I, for some reason, was always surprised how graceful he was with his lines. As I read others stories and their memories of Isaac, I couldn't help but get a smile on my face reflecting back to a few silly memories I had with him. The shuttle ride BiggB speaks of has always stuck in my head...it was no ordinary shuttle ride. Griff was there too. I have a picture that captured the moment perfectly. He was gracious for the ride, and offered a gift of peace to all in the vehicle...which segued into a competition that words cant describe...just good fun. He and I followed Matt Walker down the Russell fork the morning of the race to learn the race lines. He was in a Pirouette I think. He promptly went back up and whipped my ass in the race. I haven't forgotten that, and was really looking forward to trying to redeem myself this year...probably to no avail. The boy always had a smile on his face, and always would run over to say hi and catch up if he saw me. I think I last saw him at this past Tallulah release, and true to form, he was over at my ride before I even saw him or even was able to get out of my car. All smiles.

You will be missed my kayaking brother!

WarrenC