Brainwaves: A Story of Kayaking and Mental Health

Most kayakers aren't strangers to injury or illness while paddling abroad. Dislocated shoulders, broken backs, concussions, and whatever that weird sickness everyone gets in Ecuador can all be fairly common parts of the sport. For Brooke Hess, injuries and illness took her from the best paddling year of her life to fighting tooth and nail for her mental health. An undiagnosed illness she contracted while training in Uganda along with a bad concussion from a missed line on Huka Falls in New Zealand left Hess trying to manage her health and spiraling into a dark place. Brainwaves tells Hess' amazing story of managing her health-- both physical and mental in the extreme kayaking space. Her journey serves as an inspiration to athletes in all disciplines struggling with injury, illness, and mental health.