Free Republic

Twitter Two kayakers were nearly swallowed by a humpback whale while trying to go whale watching off the coast of Avila Beach, California. The whale's attack on Julie McSorley and Liz Cottriel's kayak, who miraculously escaped unharmed from the animal's blow, was recorded from the kayak itself by the two friends and other witnesses to the event.

At least 11 people were injured — one critically, nearly losing an arm — when a ferry heading to New Jersey hit people kayaking, according to police. Five people were taken to hospitals near Jersey City, most with minor shoulder and back injuries after the Hudson River accident. The NYPD Harbor Unit says the instructor suffered a partially severed arm, according to WABC-TV. The incident happened just before 6 p.m. Tuesday near Pier 79 on Manhattan's west side as a group of 10 kayakers were paddling down the river, according to News12. The group was riding in eight kayaks, and...

Iranian girls in hot water after US trip (AFP) TEHERAN - Three female Iranian whitewater kayakers and their coach are in trouble after visiting arch enemy the United States without their federation’s permission, the press reported on Tuesday. The paddlers spent over a month training at the new whitewater slalom facility in McHenry, Maryland this summer, receiving instruction from US coaches in a rare sporting contact between the two foes. The secretary of Iran’s Canoe, Kayak, Rowing and Waterskiing Federation, Hassan Teymourtash, said the body had sacked coach Katayoon Ashraf who took the teenagers to the training camp. “We will...