Mens_Health_USA_JulyAugust_2017

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PHOTOGRAPHS
The Thrill of
Letting Go
At Tuck Fest, adventure athletes
compete against regular Joes,
seeking glory in the water, on trails,
and up walls. / BY ANDREW DAWSON
Boosh! One by one the climbers fall. Ka-koosh! This is the deep water solo, the main
event at Tuck Fest, three days of crazy adventure games at the U.S. National Whitewater Center in
Charlotte, North Carolina. Climbers go head-to-head in this knockout competition, racing up a
45-foot wall that arcs over a pool. It requires muscle, dexterity, and smarts. “It’s about strength but
also trusting your instincts,” says Nathaniel Coleman, 20, of Murray, Utah, who finished second. He
says climbing is a great workout; try strengthening your grip with forearm trainers ($7, blackdiamond
equipment.com). At Tuck Fest, mountain bikers charge up trails, paddleboarders and kayakers ride
whitewater, and runners dash through the woods. Sweat, beer, and adrenaline flow freely. We had to
find out: What does adventure mean to these guys, and how do they scratch the primal itch?
Push and Pull
When deep water
soloing, “you’ve got
to push with your feet
as much as you pull
with your arms,” says
Coleman. “If you don’t,
your upper body will
tire. Rushing too hard
can lead to slipups that
land you in the water.”
EVENT
TUCK FEST
APRIL 21
BY
APRIL 23
Nils Ericson
C H A R L O T T E , N C