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John Cornwell

@cornwell101

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Outdoor photographer and content creator. All donations for the art are greatly appreciated @john-Cornwell-23 on Venmo. Am for high Res versions.

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Ok first off know where you are. That is shipwreck rock rapid class III with a proven deadly almost river wide undercut rock at the bottom. Two different commercial deaths were precipitated by rafts having issues at the top. The Gauley doesn’t play. There is an issue within the whitewater community of downgrading the serious nature of rivers because the sport has progressed and people are running exponentially harder rapids than the class scale was really designed for years ago. It is a danger scale not a difficulty scale. Just because paddlers got better and are running harder stuff doesn’t mean anything got safer your perspective just changed. Familiarity breeds contempt. We have lost many super talented paddlers on this river to class III rapids because of the large number of hidden dangers on this river. Aside from the geology of the river bed which lends to its undercut nature almost every rapid and especially the Class V rapids have dynamite blasted rock features. This creates very unpredictable dangers. I’ve done this river since 1991 and have paddled it from 171 cfs to over 22,000. I know what is down there. Never underestimate this river and its ability to kill. I love it and respect it and I still fear it. No craft is invulnerable or indestructible. My first training trip I remember the trainer not talk about certain hidden dangers in this rapid and it disturbed me to the point that I said underestimating this rapid will get someone killed. Unfortunately I was proven right within about a year with the first commercial death in this rapid. Be safe respect the water and have fun. Love to all the boaters out there enjoying this gem. by @cornwell101

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3 days ago

Fruits of the video boater challenge. by @cornwell101

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4 days ago

The winners! Thanks to all our sponsors for making this a great event. I love see all the Vidiot get some good gear after all the hard work they do to get this footage and put it together with amazing creativity. I love this community. Even with the rain we had an amazing crowd of whitewater enthusiasts and video junkies. I can’t thank everyone enough for showing up and making this event incredible. We raised a lot of money for a good cause and gave a lot of gear to needy boaters. #whitewaterforever #bridgebrew by @cornwell101

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4 days ago

Video boater of the year Hayden Houston! It was so cool seeing how excited he was to win this honor. #videoboaterchallenge2026 by @cornwell101

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4 days ago

Come out to #bridgebrew for the video boater challenge tonight. It’s gonna be amazing. We have many tents set up for the rain and remember to bring a chair. There will be a food truck there and of course some of the best beer in Wv if not the world. They now also have Chardonnay on tap! Who woulda think it??? Let’s have fun and raise money for some kittens and puppies. by @cornwell101

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4 days ago

Tonight Only!!! You better show up in you finest “River Glam” look or be roasted by the most fabulous rivermen in the Gorge - live event covered until our batteries are drained. See you there! by @cornwell101

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5 days ago

It’s all about the footy #vbc2026 by @cornwell101

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5 days ago

by @cornwell101

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5 days ago

#gauleyanimalrace #gauleyrivernationalrecreationarea #cornwellness by @cornwell101

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6 days ago

We need volunteers for the stage show. Various position for extraverts and introverts who are shy. I need stage show people, ticket window people, and back stage people. Contact me here. I will be sponsoring a cookout and planning party tomorrow at my house. by @cornwell101

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6 days ago

Looking for volunteers to help with the show Like and share this post. Get your submissions in by Tuesday 9pm. #vbc2026 #videoboaterschallenge taken in Bridge Brew Works by @cornwell101

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7 days ago

by @cornwell101

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9 days ago