Flow

Explore diverse women’s narratives in adventure sports in this anthology that challenges stereotypes while promoting unity. It advocates for a transcultural feminism, one offering hope and empowerment to break barriers and live fully.

Flow takes readers on an inspiring journey through the world of women in adventure sports, challenging stereotypes and celebrating the strength, resilience, and unity of women across the globe. This unique collection highlights the powerful, diverse voices of women who are redefining what’s possible in outdoor sports like whitewater kayaking, climbing, mountaineering, and highlining.

With photography and stories from around the world, Flow captures the personal narratives of women from a wide range of countries, including Ecuador, India, México, Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, the United States, and Canada. These women share their unique experiences, whether as newcomers or seasoned professionals, offering insights into their journeys and the challenges they face.

Edited by Denisa Krásná and Alena Rainsberry, Flow examines the intersections of gender, race, class, and sexual identity within the context of extreme sports, offering a fresh perspective on the barriers these women have overcome. More than just a collection of stories, this book is a celebration of the diverse paths these women have taken, and the common drive that unites them in their pursuit of adventure.

Flow is not just about extreme sports; it’s about the women who are shaping them. It’s about empowerment, breaking down barriers, and embracing a more inclusive vision of outdoor adventure.

Specifications

• Format: Paperback / softback With flaps
• Page Count: 336
• Publisher: RMB | Rocky Mountain Books
• Publication Date: May 20th, 2025

ALENA – Excerpt from Part I – Rivers: Chapter 5

The first rays of cold morning light are just starting to peek through the treetops. Icy streams trickle down from the forest above, weaving through the moss-clad rocks of the canyon wall, finding their way always to the waiting river. Jenny and I snap our skirts over our cockpits without speaking, our breath forming miniature clouds in the early morning air. We slide our boats into the water and steer our bows into the current. 

We both have work in a few hours. There will be co-workers to chat with, spreadsheets to organize, and emails to send. But the early morning is ours. We carve in and out of eddies, flowing over and around the rocks, using the current to move our boats and to move us. 

Sometimes we paddle quickly and efficiently in the early mornings and other times we savor the quiet moments between rapids like sipping morning coffee. Today we linger and in a calm section we drift gently apart. I lean back, rest my head on the stern of my boat, and close my eyes, letting my mind drift too. My body fills with gratitude for this regular Wednesday morning. But no day is regular if it starts like this, and I know the rest of my Wednesday will carry a little extra magic, captured in the frosty morning. Tasks to be completed at work. Groceries to be shopped for. Taxes to be filed. The river rinses away the flurry of thoughts and slips each one the cold water with a plop. 

More than yoga, I prefer this surrender on the river. I am content as a temporary part of this moving landscape. In moments of fear in big rapids I have to dig deep to find resolve and strength to power through. Sheer stubbornness keeps me trying to roll up when it feels like the river is holding me down. I love tapping into that fire, fueling the adrenaline-filled moments of pure focus and commitment. But I also cherish these hushed moments gently flowing over water-worn rocks. 

I sit up, breaking my reverie, and see Jenny paddling ahead of me. She is a bright splash of Gore-Tex against the living backdrop of moss, water, and stone. I dig my paddle into the water to catch up, ready for the next rapid.

Alena Rainsberry is a queer American kayaker who wants to explore rivers all around the world. After being introduced to whitewater kayaking in 2021, she quickly fell in love with the joys and challenges of whitewater and has been dedicated to improving her river-running skills ever since. Before long, she found herself navigating rapids from the Ecuadorian jungle to the Indian Himalayas. She thrives in immersing herself in diverse cultural environments and has a knack for making friends and community wherever she travels. She is a passionate advocate for increasing representation, getting women into the outdoors, and encouraging people to experience new things. She is from the Pacific Northwest, where she currently lives and kayaks.