Published on October 15th, 2025 | by Kayak Session
Silent Descent: The Story of Great Falls Kayaking
In August 1975, Wick Walker, Tom McEwan, and Dan Schnurrenberger made history with the first descent of Great Falls on the Potomac River. Their achievement turned the Potomac’s most intimidating rapids into a proving ground, sparking fifty years of culture, community, and debate in the heart of Washington, D.C.
Silent Descent is a new documentary from Thompson Sky Productions, created to mark the 50th anniversary of that descent. The film looks at Great Falls not just as a Class V challenge, but as a place where risk, responsibility, and conservation collide, and where a unique community has grown up around one stretch of whitewater in the public eye.
The project weaves together interviews with pioneers like Wick Walker and Bill Kirby, with voices from Olympians, safety officials, and the next generation of paddlers. Their stories are the evolution of Great Falls from an unthinkable dream to an iconic proving ground, while also exploring the battles for access, the culture of safety, and the legacy left for those who will paddle here in the decades to come.
“Great Falls isn’t just about running big water,” says producer Brandon Thompson. “It’s about what happens when a community forms around something that is both beautiful and unforgiving. This film is about honoring that relationship and capturing fifty years of history before it slips away.”
Silent Descent will premiere in 2026. Learn more at silent-descent.com
Related Posts
A Voice From Sesia (Short Film Awards Entry #27) →
Émile Lalonde freewheels Mexican 20 (Entry #3 Superstyling 2025) →
Palm Superstyling Video Contest →
