Yesterday we got the very sad news that our friend, Lars Holbek, died from an aggressive cancer he was diagnosed with last fall. Lars and Louis grew up in the same town and went to Boy Scouts together, although their friendship was really formed as they each discovered kayaking in the rivers of the Sierras. As anyone involved in kayaking knows, Lars was an incredible whitewater pioneer and leaves behind a legacy of exploration and adventure for generations to come. Thanks to our dear friends Phil and Mary, we had the good fortune to spend our vacation in Ecuador a few years back with Lars and his partner Nancy Wiley. We all shared many laughs and more than a few Pisco Sours as we kayaked the wonderful rivers of Ecuador, and we feel grateful to have shared that time with them. Our heart goes out to Nancy, Lars' brother Suren, and to all those who are touched by Lars' life and passing.