I’m excited to announce that Steve Baskis, Grand Canyon “Vision Team” kayaker will be the featured speaker at the annual meeting and banquet of Northeast Wisconsin Paddlers (NEWP) here in the Green Bay area on Jan. 26, 2019.
As I have reported, I had the honor of being one of Steve’s safety boaters during Team River Runner’s September 2018 Grand Canyon expedition in which five blind military veterans kayaked 226 miles on the Colorado River. At the NEWP event I will introduce Steve and briefly share what it was like to paddle with him through enormous rapids of the Grand Canyon.
The meeting and banquet are open to the public with advance registration required. I expect a large crowd on hand to hear Steve’s stirring story. Details about the NEWP meeting at Legends Brewhouse and Eatery in DePere, WI, including registration information, will be posted soon on the NEWP website.
ABOUT STEVE
Steve Baskis was severely wounded by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2008 while deployed with the US Army 4th Infantry Division. He lost his sight and suffered multiple shrapnel injuries to the head, neck, arms and legs which resulted in significant blood loss, hearing loss, loss of smell and nerve damage to left arm. Despite that catastrophic event, Steve has an amazing outlook on life. After extensive rehabilitation, he has gone on to climb some of the world’s tallest mountains, compete in half marathons and a half Iron Man triathlon, cross-country ski racing, road bike racing and whitewater kayaking.
The 2012 documentary “High Ground” (available to rent from Amazon Prime and other sources) captures Steve and other veterans’ amazing journey to climb a 20,000 foot Himalayan peak in the shadow of Mount Everest.
Steve is also featured in the 2015 documentary “On Me”, which follows five blind veterans as they prepare for whitewater river kayaking in Montana. View it here:
If you watch either of these documentaries and/or attend the meeting on January 26, you’ll learn what a remarkable person Steve is. If you’re in the area, save the date and make your plans to meet him by joining us at the NEWP meeting and banquet on January 26.
And a couple of more videos featuring Steve:
