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Someone kayaked over Ozone Falls – but that doesn't mean you should, too

Kayaking is a great recreational pastime. Whitewater kayaking takes a lot more training and isn't for the faint of heart.

Most of us will never kayak over a 110 foot waterfall. But Levi Rhodes did it.

The whitewater kayaker from North Carolina said his trip over Ozone Falls in Crossville was a peak in his career.

"I just had this feeling overcome me of, 'Oh yeah, I'm running Ozone right now,' and it was a really good feeling because my dream of running it was actually coming true," said Rhodes.

A woman posted a video of his feat on Facebook, which got hundreds of comments.

Some of those people commenting said they want to try it. That's probably not a good idea if you aren't truly experienced.

RELATED: Knoxville kayaker drowns in North Carolina river

"Ease yourself into the sport," said Rhodes. "Do not go trying to fling yourself off of big waterfalls, because if you don't know what you're doing it can be really devastating to you."

Rhodes has 10 years of experience doing this kind of thing.

"I've taken swift water rescue courses in my time. I've been a whitewater raft guide for seven years," he said.

He was scared before taking that plunge, which took a lot of preparation.

Rhodes came to the falls several times to study every part of the water he'd have to navigate.

RELATED: Latest Fit and Fun Adventure: Ozone Falls

Every section of his run over Ozone Falls was planned, especially the fall.

He said he had to accept the fact that he might hurt himself at the bottom.

"I just did my best to kind of prepare my body for impact and it was a pretty ferocious impact," said Rhodes.

Rhodes made it out unscathed, but he knew what he was doing.

It's not for the faint of hart.

Ed McAlister, president of River Sport Outfitters, has been kayaking for decades.

"My first waterfall was on the Hiwassee," he said. "It was about 2 feet high and I thought I had run Niagara Falls when I went over it. It was the scariest most thing I'd ever done."

RELATED: TWRA: Crews recover body of kayaker who died after being trapped under a log in Rhea County

He and Rhodes said when it comes to extreme sports like this, don't shy away from the whole experience.

But walk before you run, and never do it alone.

"The best education I had was getting some instruction from people that knew what they were doing and a group to paddle with," said McAlister.

Whitewater kayaking requires a lot of safety equipment and a different boat.   

This sport doesn't work with your average canoe.

Both kayakers said a great place to start if you're interested in this sport is to try whitewater rafting. You can do that in the Smoky Mountains.

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