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A medical examiner’s office has confirmed a body recovered from the Grand Canyon is that of a missing California man... 67-year-old Mike Howard of Simi Valley... His body was pulled from downstream of Phantom Ranch on Sept. 14, about 10 miles from where he last was seen a week earlier.... Authorities say Howard tried to rescue his wife when she slipped into the Colorado River during a commercial rafting trip. Both swam through a river rapid. Others in the group that was setting out for a day hike pulled Howard’s wife from the water.

A Chinese rafting attraction has established a team of bikini-clad lifeguards to ensure the safety of its visitors and accompany solo tourists to enjoy the water sport. To become a member of the 'Goddess Lifesavers' at Gulongxia Rafting in southern China, candidates must wear bikinis and combat kung fu masters before being recruited. Pictures emerged from the media showed a team of keen applicants practising martial arts skills with monks from China's famous Shaolin Temple on June 17 at the attraction in Guangdong Province, reported the People's Daily Online.

...Vladislav Pavlenko, riding “Vanilla Pelotki,” held off more than 450 fellow competitors to win the 2010 Bubble Baba Challenge on Saturday, according to the website for the St. Petersburg Times of Russia... Competitors...are required to pass a sobriety test prior to the race and wear protective gear. Pavlenko, who finished with a time of 2 minutes, 47 seconds, was followed by Dmitry Arsentiev riding “Killer Whale” and Alexander Marasin, rider of “Fearless Zina” (2.55)...

NEW BRAUNFELS — In the midst of attempts to crack down on raunchy and rowdy behavior during traditional summertime tubing river trips through this city, a San Antonio topless club is planning a tubing excursion featuring strippers. Trey Maddox, a manager at Palace Men's Club, said Sunday's excursion on the Comal River — during which men can pay $25 to join the strippers — isn't meant to fly in the face of the city's new rules. "We're not hookers, dope dealers or Mafia thugs," he said, noting that the strippers will be appropriately dressed. "We're just coming to have a...

TUCSON, Ariz. - Grand Canyon National Park is refusing to add more names to its 20-year waiting list for Colorado River rafting permits, angering some private rafters. The decision won't affect people seeking commercial rafting tours, and the Park Service says it makes sense to stop taking applications because the permit process is under review, with a new plan expected by the end of next year. In an effort to preserve the canyon, the park allocates 169,950 user-days, giving 68 percent to professional outfitters. Nearly all the other permits go to private boaters. There are now more than 8,000 people...

RAFTING would gain special consideration vis-ˆ-vis power generation under proposed legislation. See story, "Bill gives rafting preference over hydropower."Democrat file photo by Joanne McCubrey By EDMOND JACOBY Staff writer State Sen. Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch, has introduced legislation that would block state agencies from furthering any uses of the South Fork of the American River that is not consistent with whitewater rafting or other recreational activities.The legislation, SB 2078, quickly moved from its introduction Feb. 22 through committee assignment and amendments, and is scheduled for what may be its final hurdle, a hearing Tuesday before the Committee on Natural Resources...