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Shannon Christy shown here finishing up Hammer Factor at a juicy 18' during the high water 2013 Jerry's Baddle race in April.

Nice photograph taken by Christine Boush.

Tragically, Shannon died on July 11th, 2013 while paddling the Great Falls of the Potomac in preparation for the annual race there.

She was 23 years old. A brief account can be found in this Washington Post piece. The race was canceled in Shannon's honor,

and a moving memorial service was held instead. Also, see this piece in Canoe and Kayak, as well as this tribute from

her employer, Confluence Watersports.

Written 10 weeks after the accident, a fine and thoughtful retrospective from Stever Fisher, on the scene at the time as a paddler

and film-maker, can be found here. Steve was working with producers from Showtime's '60-Minutes Sports' on a piece about the race,

coincidentally to include Shannon. This is the promo for that show. And finally, browsing through American Whitewater's Accident Database

makes for sobering reading anytime.....Shannon's report is no exception.

Much beloved by all who knew her, Shannon's passing leaves a hole in the paddling community's heart that can't be filled.

Memories of her ever-present-and-effervescent infectious smile, however, those will last and last.